Xanadu Margaret River Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Strictly speaking, there is a small splash of Malbec (4%) and Petit Verdot (4%) nestling in among the Cabernet berries. Altogether, it is a Margaret River Cabernet at its flawless best but, first, some airtime is recommended. I gave it two hours and then it was swimming in Marg’s beauty bringing all manner of black berries, blue fruits, dried herbs, liquorice, allspice, cassia bark and some arresting violet florals to the fore.  Smooth running all the way, but also well-formed and structurally firm, dense in fine tannins. Beautifully presented and runs perfectly with a freshness, something that we rarely comment on with top-flight cabernets, but something quite integral to their lasting appeal. And this most definitely has lasting appeal.