96PTS

50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

$80.00 / bottle

50 Year Old Cabernet Sauvignon Vines represents less than 2% of the region plantings. Our vineyard is from the heart of the Valley Floor in Bethany on free draining sandy loam over a deep clay base. This famous sub-region is where the first village was settled in the Barossa Valley and the first vines in the Barossa Valley were planted.

WINEMAKING

The grapes are destemmed, but not crushed, and spend seven days on their skins in open fermenters with twice daily hand-plunging and pumping over of the cap to more gently extract colour, flavours and tannins. This is followed by careful basket pressing and malolactic fermentation in a combination of new and seasoned French barriques prior to 18 months of maturation in our cellars.

In keeping with our non-interventionalist winemaking style, we neither fine nor filter this wine.

TASTING NOTES

Deep magenta with a vibrant nose of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon aromas. An exotic and full-bodied palate driven by flavours of fruits of the forest, blackcurrant and a hint of savoury spice bound together by succulent fine-grained tannins. A wine of great length that will reward many years in the cellar.

Awards:

96 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
96 Points – Jeni Port
95 Points – Ray Jordan
94 Points – Ken Gargett
92 Points – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
90 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

SUITABLE FOR VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS

Reviews Vintages

2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2013

Specifications

Region

Barossa - Bethany

Maturation

18 months new and seasoned French barrique

Grape Variety

Cabernet Sauvignon

Closure

Cork

Winemaker

Jeremy Ottawa

Alcohol

14.50%

Reviews

96 Points

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

A terrific Cabernet, showcasing classic varietal aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, and rich floral with nuances of vanilla, cedar, and fennel. It's wonderfully weighted and deeply flavoured with beautifully infused chalky tannins, finishing superbly long and satisfying. At its best: 2027 to 2040.

95 Points

Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot

This is a quite beautiful example of Barossa cabernet. It's medium to full-bodied and quite generous, but there is that cabernet structural feature that holds the line with the firmish fine tannins and neatly integrated oak. Lots of those blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and black olive characters speak cabernet. It's focused, balanced, and precisely delivered through to its long finish. Excellent wine. Cellar 20 Years

94 Points

Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

We tend to think of the Barossa Valley as overflowing with ancient, gnarly old vines, but in truth, they are a rare and precious commodity. Cabernet vines in excess of fifty years of age represent just 2% of the plantings in the region. Those that provided the fruit for this wine come from the Bethany sub-region. Maturation was for a period of a year and a half in a mix of new and older French oak barriques.
Gleaming dark magenta in colour, the nose revolves around notes of mocha, cassis, licorice, chocolate and mulberries, which are supported by aromas of tobacco leaves and plums. Good concentration and balance throughout and we see notes of black fruits and spices emerging on the palate, along with some savoury touches of mushrooms and coffee grinds. Very good length here, through to satiny tannins, the plushness found in the texture is a highlight. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years.

92 Points

Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

Deep crimson with aromas of blackberry, black cherry and blackcurrant pastille with hints of fruitcake spice, crushed herbs, tobacco, cedar, dark chocolate, violets, licorice and earth. A swell of cassis and kirsch on the palate with superfine, ripe tannins, a sweep of sour cherry, blackcurrant pastille and a suggestion of bitter herbs. The flavours stretch out nicely on the exit. Drink by 2040

90 Points

Huon Hooke, The Real Review

Deep red with a good tint of purple and slighty jammy ripeness in its aromas of squishy berries. the palate diffuse and broad, and falling a bit short, with some vegetable flavours coming through. The tannins are grippy and very drying on the finish. Needs time and/or protein. 2026-2037