Ranked #2 of 46 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot from Margaret River
97/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Deepish red/purple: excellent hue and freshness for its age at four years. Brilliantly intense, expressive bouquet of violets, cassis and blackberry, with 'crushed leaf' and nori/seaweed regional inflexions. Outstanding elegance and flavour: intensity combined with refinement. Very clean, with fine-grained, powdery tannins. A precision wine, which drinks superbly now and will age very well. The extra age before release is a bonus. Release date mid-July. 2% petit verdot.
Tasted: 10/05/2012
Drink: 2012 to 2032
95 Points James Halliday
There is an impeccably defined focus to this wine that not only looks more restrained than many from this vintage, but it also appears exceptionally youthful as one of Margaret River''s later released flagships. A brilliant bouquet of crunchy blackcurrants, graphite, tobacco and cedar introduces an impeccably and confidently structured palate, scaffolded around a rigid chassis of firm tannins. There''s plenty of oak, but the fruit triumphs in the end, and calls for a very long time to find its balance. This traveller has quite a voyage before it. Drink 2023 - 2033.
Source: James Halliday.
95 Points Tyson Stelzer
There is an impeccably defined focus to this wine that not only looks more restrained than many from this vintage, but it also appears exceptionally youthful as one of Margaret River''s later released flagships. A brilliant bouquet of crunchy blackcurrants, graphite, tobacco and cedar introduces an impeccably and confidently structured palate, scaffolded around a rigid chassis of firm tannins. There''s plenty of oak, but the fruit triumphs in the end, and calls for a very long time to find its balance. This traveller has quite a voyage before it. Drink 2023 - 2033.
Source: Tyson Stelzer.