Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

The word reserve on a wine label has come to mean so much . .  and so little. Who makes the call on what reserve actually means, how it should be interpreted and taste, its price point? Increasingly the wine marketer has made that call rather than the winemaker. Here, the winemaker takes back control. Xanadu winemaker, Glenn Goodall, and his team have a clear idea of what they want from a reserve wine whether it be a chardonnay or a cabernet. There’s no denying he sees age-worthiness as part of its drawcard, and that means some firm tannins come into play here. They are there for a very good reason. There are also multi-layers of flavours and textures.

It’s quite exciting, especially if you have time on your hands and a place to stash this little beauty. Blackcurrant, leafy/herbal/rosemary with wild berries and earthy-leather savoury notes on the bouquet. That hint of savouriness is alluring, tempting, whets the tastebuds as it reappears on the palate in league with dried herbs, anise, chocolate and salty liquorice. Just a lick of vanillin-toasty oak sets off the whole cabernet experience. A ripper cabernet but give it the time it deserves.