2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

"2022 was a warmer, more expressive vintage which has showcased all of the strengths of the Deep Woods Estate Reserve vineyard. The classic dark fruits, bitter cocoa powder and lifted violet notes are all there, along with the most silky and accessible tannin profile you could hope for. This release offers immense quality, power and age ability, these are all the things that make a Cabernet great. Margaret river Cabernet is a thing, but our Cabernet is the thing."

Chief Winemaker Julian Langworthy

Colour

Deep redcurrant and mulberry hue.

Aroma

Crushed violets, blackcurrant and red fruits harness the aromatic lift of this Cabernet. Elegant, dried tobacco leaf and herbs are laced with olive brine, cedar and subtle cocoa dust.

Palate

The palate has a restrained energy, with ultra-fine tannins that finish perfectly in check with a sweet acid line. No part singing louder than the other, the wine builds on the palate slowly with grace and harmony, showcasing essence of a classic Margaret River Cabernet.

Cellaring

Optimum drinking from five to ten years from vintage, however this wine will cellar for the long-term collector.

Vintage

2022 was a truly exceptional vintage in Margaret River. The season started beautifully with a wet spring and late flowering, followed by a warm and dry season, producing wines with refined flavour, elegance and real personality.

Winemaking

2022 was a truly exceptional vintage in Margaret River. The season started beautifully with a wet spring and late flowering, followed by a warm and dry season, producing wines with refined flavour, elegance and real personality.Representing the pinnacle of the Deep Woods Estate house style, this Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from the ultra-low yielding, original vines on the estate planted in 1987, along with fruit from our neighbouring Abbey Vale vineyard planted in 1985.

The ferments were assessed daily, and pump-overs were performed as required to gently extract colour, flavour and tannin. The wine was gently pressed to a combination of new and seasoned French barriques, where it matured in oak for 18 months.

Region

Margaret River

Variety

Cabernet Sauvignon

Clone

Houghton

Analysis

• Alcohol: 14.0%
• pH: 3.54
• TA: 6.25 g/L

Charred barbecue scotch fillet with chimichurri sauce and grilled corn salsa.

Margaret River Wine Show 2024

James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon Challenge 2024

Decanter World Wine Awards 2024

Langtons Classified 8th Edition

LANGTONS Classification is the most respected secondary market guide to fine and luxury Australian wines. The Classification comprises the most sought-after Australian fine wines based on their strong track record at auction.

Barry Weinman, September 2024

Wow, wow, wow. This is so impressive. The power, intensity, structure and complexity are turned up to 10, yet this is still only medium bodied and offers immediate drinking pleasure. Brilliant winemaking, the integrated, highly polished oak is a highlight. This is more blackcurrant and spice rather than blue fruits and the tremendous length and the mouthfeel is a rare pleasure. Despite all the power, this is elegance personified. A point of differentiation between this and many of the other great Margaret River cabernets is that this uses Yallingup fruit of the estate vineyard right out the front of the winery, as opposed to Wilyabrup fruit.

97  

Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, November 2024

The 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a tremendous wine. The 2022 season was warm, early and dry, and the wines have been excellent thus far. Here, the warmth of the year shines through in the muscular tannin structure and ripe, powerful fruit. This has a profusion of tannin on board, which certifies its future in the cellar, but the tannin is matched in volume by fleshy fruit characters, key to its overall balance. History has shown that, generally, I prefer the even vintages of this Reserve Cabernet, and this year is no different. This is a super wine, one of the best. 

96

Ray Jordan WA Wine Review 2024

A high-class Cabernet that comes from the old vines of Deep Woods Estate and Abbey Vale. Delightful florals on the nose merge with dark blackcurrant and lifted bay leaf and subtle olive tapenade nuances. The palate is a domain of control and poise with fine chalky tannins and ample well-weighted use of new and seasoned French oak. I love that compelling combination of polish and power with a body that leans slightly to medium weight but with deep concentration.

96  

Simon Hughes, Max Crus, September 2024

As with most good Cabernets, this shows its true colours the next day. If only we had been restrained enough to save more of it. Alternatively, you could buy two bottles and open them both. One for today and one for tomorrow.

96  

James Suckling 2024

Very perfumed and deeply scented with layers of blackcurrants, blood plums, cedar and tobacco leaves. The medium- to full-bodied palate has seamless tannins and focused acidity, giving notes of wild blackberries, violets, mocha, lead pencil and spices. Wonderfully balanced and structured. Excellent.

Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, August 2024

Blueberry, blackberry, chocolate box, bay leaf, nutmeg and assorted dusty spices, plus some dried orange peel. It’s a rich and nutty wine, though kind of only pushing above medium-bodied, with plenty of grainy almost emery board tannin, a slight fresh blackberry tang to acidity, maybe even some raspberry coulis, and while it’s kind of polished in a mahogany sort of way, it has something of an X-Factor that I really like. The finish is bright and very long, and features some pimento spice. It sits well in the glass, and delivers a heap of Cabernet satisfaction. Very good. Very.

95  

Aaron Brashers, The Real Review, October 2024

A youthful, deep red and vibrant in the glass. Lifted aromas of cassis, bramble, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, blueberry and earth. Bright and snappy on the palate. Blackberry, dark cherry, spice, menthol and crunchy acidity drive the flavours. The tannins are firm, layered and sophisticated and there's real tension and texture on the finish. Cellar material.

95