50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (in Gift Box)
$80.00 / bottle
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.
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 – where the first village was settled in the Barossa Valley and the first vines in the Barossa Valley were planted.
TASTING NOTES
Deep magenta in colour 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 which will reward many years in the cellar.
Awards:
95 Points – Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
95 Points – Jeni Port, Wine Pilot
95 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
95 Points – Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
95 Points – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
91 Points – Angus Hughson, Vinous
Gold Medal – Global Cabernet Masters 2024
Gold Medal – Berlin Wine Trophy 2023
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS
Reviews
95 Points
Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
Medium-deep crimson. Classical blackcurrant vanilla aromas with a hint of bush garrigue. Well concentrated blackcurrant, dark plum, hint roasted chestnut, marzipan flavour and long fine-grained tannins. Finishes claret firm with some leafy notes. Drink now–2032
95 Points
Jeni Port, Wine Pilot
Wow! An outstanding example of Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon from a top year. It arrives pitch perfect with everything in place led by the most arresting combination of intense, bright fruit and complex herbal interplay enhanced with an earthy varietal stamp. Spearmint, bay leaf, black cherry, dark plum, cassis, aniseed with darker, earth and bramble notes define both the aroma and the palate. Has taken and accepted 18 months maturation in oak easily, relaying fine tannins to the wine together with a natural, firm structure. This has plenty of class. Could open a bottle now very easily but the more cautious among us will wait. Drink by: 2024-2040
95 Points
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
Sturdy yet stylish, the wine shows dark fruit intensity, rich floral, olive and roasted hazelnut aromas on the nose. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent presence and fine flow, wonderfully framed by finely infused tannins, making it delicious and highly enjoyable. At its best: 2025 to 2039.
95 Points
Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
A truly exceptional expression of Barossa Cabernet in a good year, showing how in the best seasons the varietal characters of Cabernet can express itself impressively. It has the black fruits evident but then a lift of red currant edges to lift and brighten. It’s a vibrant, lively wine of great poise and refinement. Drink by: 2024-2039
95 Points
Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
The grapes here spend seven days on skins in open fermenters with twice daily hand-plunging before a year and a half maturation in a mix of new and older French barriques. The vines hail from the sub-region of Bethany.
An intense black/maroon hue. The nose exhibits chocolate and plums, spices, a pleasing flick of oak and aniseed. There are notes of soy, leather, dried herbs, licorice and beefstock. On the palate, notes of mint and coffee beans emerge. The wine offers a silky texture, satiny tannins and a lingering finish. A really lovely wine with ten to fifteen years ahead of it.
91 Points
Angus Hughson, Vinous
The open-knit 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon 50 Year Old Vines Barossa offers up fleshy aromas of blackcurrant and black olive with a seam of fresh cedar. Sturdy in style with firm tannins and fresh acidity, it shows good overall integrity and balance to enjoy over the next decade. Drinking Window 2028 - 2035
Global Cabernet Masters 2024
