Knappstein Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Sourced from the northern Clare district vineyards of the Knappstein estate, this shows plenty of what the region is justly famed for in terms of Cabernet. Importantly this wine has a genuine character about it, encouraged by judicious barrel maturation – older oak with just a 5% smidge of new wood. It makes all the difference in letting the black berry and currant fruit notes carry themselves across the more savoury elements, the bay leaf, kitchen herb and adult-level cacao, the compact, measured and tapering tannins, the medium-weighted ease of it all in synchronicity. Quite a serious wine with “now” drinkability as well as promising cellaring potential. Excellent value. And an extra note: this wine was awarded the best Cabernet in the Clare region trophy at the 2024 Halliday Cabernet Challenge.