Our Regional Adventures in Cabernet Pack explores tip-top regions around the country. It includes a dynamite drop from Tasmania made by the masters at Domaine A. The Coal River Stoney Vineyard Cabernet reflects their extraordinary cool climate, Jurassic dolerite soil, and well-honed methods. Next up is the Dominique Portet Yarra Valley, a ninth-generation winemaker whose soils craft a Cabernet of poise and finesse. From the Coonawarra (where Cabernet is king), the Leconfield’s classic Cab Sauv is the estate’s stalwart – as their award history can attest. Last is one of the winning wineries of WA, a premium small-batch wine from Wilyabrup. The Juniper Cab Sauv shows depth, complexity and elegance from their state of the art Margaret River winery.
In each pack you receive 3 bottles each of the following:
STONEY VINEYARD Cabernet Sauvignon, Coal River Valley Tasmania
The Stoney Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic showcase of the Cabernet character of Stoney Vinyard and Domaine A. The drop begins with plenty of dark fruit and a flashing herbaceousness – think just-crushed mint leaf – before more fruit presents; currants and blueberries. The length is solid and layers nicely with time. Oak texture is fine and well integrated. Drinking seriously well now, but a few years in the cellar will only improve it.
DOMINIQUE PORTET Fontaine Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Valley
Ninth-generation winemaker Dominique Portet chose the cool climate of aptly named Coldstream in the Yarra Valley as the home to the eponymous winery he founded in 2000. The Fontaine grapes come from a range of warmer vineyards where the soils are rocky and hungry, with a clay base and lots of broken sandstone. These north-facing sites are excellent for Cabernet, showing evident, juicy, concentrated fruit with soft, silky tannins.
LECONFIELD Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra
Leconfield's Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship of Leconfield and a classic Coonawarra Cabernet. Blackcurrant aromas combine with cedary oak, and the palate is laden with sweet berry fruit balanced by fine lingering tannins. Paul Gordon has taken this classic beauty to even greater heights in recent years, as its award history can attest. Crafted in a refined medium-bodied style in which fruit plays the dominant role with oak in the background. Tannins are designed to be round and delicate to make a very approachable style on release.
JUNIPER ESTATE Small Batch Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
The Juniper Estate Small Batch Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, dark red with a purple hue. The nose is perfumed, showing aromatic, dark berry fruits with mint chocolate, sage, and cedary oak. The palate is medium-bodied, flush with red and blackberries, dark chocolate, roasting herbs & black olive notes. The various varieties contribute characters like a firework display. A thread of bright mineral acidity runs through the palate, which closes with a fine tannic grip. Excellent with BBQ lamb skewers.
90/4/4/2% cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc/merlot/petit verdot, hand harvested. Matured 24 months in seasoned French oak barrels. The little brother of Domaine A's iconic cabernet is wonderfully characterful and enduring. Brimming with all the fragrance of the lavender that lines this vineyard, this is a vintage of compact, crunchy blackcurrants backed with a long-enduring framework of firm, fine tannins, dark chocolate oak and lingering acid line. One of the greats. Boasting screw cap for the first time, it's set to live for decades.
93 points, Wine Companion (January 2021)
(86/6/5/2/1% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/cabernet franc/petit verdot/malbec. Quite what a classy Yarra Valley cabernet-dominant blend is doing at this price is beyond me. It is elegant, medium bodied and finely structured, the suite of red/blackcurrant fruits given 12 months in French oak (20% new).
95 points, Wine Companion (November 2020)
Top 100 - James Halliday 2020
This has very attractive cassis and blueberry aromas with some violet-like notes, too. There’s a very sleek and polished texture to the palate and such vivid blueberry flavors on offer. The tannins are seamless, even and polished and the acidity is pitched into the freshly balanced zone.
95 points, JamesSuckling.com (July 2021)
Gold + 95 points - Class 8 - Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Yarra Valley Wine Show 2020
The tune is Coonawarra but its melody is Leconfield. A riff of blackberries and satsuma plums, mint and menthol tempered by woodsy spices, and the oak just so. All flavours flow through to a palate just shy of full bodied. There's an elegance within, refreshing acidity and perfectly framed emery board tannins to close.
95 points, Wine Companion (January 2021)
Very deep, saturated purple/red colour. The bouquet is tremendously deep, gorgeously fragrant and varietal without any sign of greenness, while the palate is full-bodied and finely-textured, the structure excellent for cellaring without compromising its up-front appeal. A trace of coffee on the palate. It can already be enjoyed but has a long life ahead of it. Outstanding value for money, too.
95 points, The Real Review (April 2021)
86/5/5/4% cabernet sauvignon/malbec/merlot/petit verdot. Matured in French oak (20% new) for 15 months. Some bright and pretty fruit in here (blackcurrant pastille, mulberry, strawberry), however the tannins have a metallic edge through the finish that contributes an Italian mountain herb/medicinal character to the wine. All in all, lovely, however that small component remains a niggling quibble.
90 points, Wine Companion (February 2021)
This is such a bright and juicy blend bursting with lively ripe fruits delivered with high energy. It’s cabernet dominant using small amounts of merlot, petit verdot and malbec. This was a cooler vintage, and it shows in the bright red berry characters and seductive perfumes. Fine chalky tannins and a little oak support a medium bodied palate. Really nice wine for the next few years.
93 points, Wine Pilot (February 2021)
