Brokenwood Wildwood Road Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The Brokenwood team do not let borders – either for wine regions or states – diminish their enthusiasm for presenting the finest wines. And if you want to make a great Cab, you are not limiting yourself to the Hunter. For all its glories, this is not Cabernet territory. So, off to Margaret River we go. The result is more than worthwhile. The wine spent two weeks on skins and then subsequently, 18 months in French oak, of which 20% was new. This is their 8th release of this wine which is an inky purple hue with notes of spices, tobacco leaves, dry herbs, chocolate, blackberries, cassis and soy. There is good concentration here and firm, ever-so-slightly gravelly tannins. Focus and excellent length too, and the oak is already well integrated while fresh acidity runs the length. This still has a decade plus of pleasure ahead of it. A cracker.