2021 Wilyabrup Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Reviews

96 Points, 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards
"A superb perfume of dark plum, black cherry and blackcurrant intermingled with elegant potpourri and a fresh violet floral poise all framed by perfectly executed oak. Wow!"

95 Points, Ray Jordan Wine Review
"A stylish and seamlessly presented cabernet from this slightly cooler Margaret River vintage. It displays the refinement and elegance of the year, while retaining power and intensity. Bright red and black fruits are integrated with olive, oyster shell, and a hint of bay leaf. Currently tight and controlled, it will benefit from long-term cellaring."

95 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, 25 November 2024
"A difficult season, ’21, and this has plenty of herbal inflections yet is also a powerful and structured wine. It has a presence. It starts with appealing, heady aromas – all cassis, blackberries, smoky oolong tea, then Aussie bush and Moroccan mint, plus lots of cedary oak. Richly flavoured with pops of black plums and mulberries, licorice, mocha and nori – archetypal Margaret River cabernet flavours matched to plentiful tannins, yet still somewhat astringent across the full-bodied palate. It has been aged 18 months in French barriques, 45% new, and that’s having a big impact – both on flavour and tannins – so it needs more time to gel. It is coming together but cellar now because optimum drinking comes later; try again in a couple of years. Drink 2026-2036"

94 Points, Cassandra Charlick, Decanter Magazine, 8 June 2024
"Vibrant red berries laced with lovely vanilla oak and mixed spice, bush undergrowth, rosemary and pencil shavings. Palate has firm fruit and good intensity. Tannins are supple and structural. Acid lifts and displays the fruit on full display. Blackcurrant fringed with hibiscus and tea leaf spice. A firm handshake of a wine that will age well and offer much more with time. Drink 2024-2040"

94 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review, 02 Oct 2024
"Medium to deep ruby red in the glass. Blackberry, violets and cedar wood aromas. The palate sits with intensity yet poised and flowing with seamless integration of dark berry fruit into dusty earth and wood shaving savoury components. Great length, all carried by finely wrought gravelly tannins. Will reward cellaring handsomely. Drink 2024-2039."

93+ Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 6 July 2023
"The 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is tight and fine, and still one and a bit vintages away from release onto the local market. The wine will ease into itself in that time, so the release cycle makes sense here. Tightly wound cassis, boysenberry and graphite define the nose in this 2021 Reserve Cabernet, and the palate plays out with tension definition. There is rapier cut and thrust here. It parries, too. It is pretty, with loads of raspberry fruit and choc/malt oak. Lovely wine. Will be better. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2023-2043"

Awards

Gold Medal
96 Points, 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards

Gold Medal
95 Points, 2023 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards