Oates Ends Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
- 95
- $50
- Drink by: 2020 - 2040
Share
From a top vintage in Margaret River (what year isn’t?), and again from the Wilyabrup sub-region, this is my pick of the current wines (as was an older release of their cabernet sauvignon when I looked at the wines last time).
It’s wonderful stuff – dry herbs, tobacco leaf, a little chocolate and blackfruits. French oak also shines through, but it has integrated seamlessly, and the aromas are intoxicating. The wine is complex, concentrated and shows great length with the fruit intensity maintained on top of balanced, cashmere tannins. It has decades to go, if you can keep your hands off it – love it. After a day’s tasting, this was the bottle put aside for dinner.
Also Tasted
Oates Ends Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – 93 Points
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
