Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Regal, sleek and bright, this Cabernet carries upper-class certainty yet still feels like an absolute dude. Blackberry jubes, lavender, blood plums and graphite place it firmly in the pretty, perfumed era of Cabernet we now live in. The winemaking isn’t hidden, but plays a supporting role, allowing the quality of the fruit to remain the main character. The palate has immediate tension, with ripe strawberries, muddled red plums and bay leaf picking up everything the aromas put down. The tannins are cacao-powder fine, squeaky and abundant, carrying a long, sustained finish. It really is the epitome of modern Cabernet: vibrant, regional, detailed and restrained. I would love to see it in seven years, but with a decant and some kangaroo fillets, it will be sublime right now.

Cyndal Petty

Wine Critic at Winepilot

A hopeless romantic for wine and food, Cyndal is nearing 15 years in hospitality while still (just) under 30. A Chef-turned-Sommelier and award-winning wine professional, Cyndal recently left a Group Sommelier role where she curated seven wine lists across multiple venues and led the wine team to Gourmet Traveller Wine Bar of the Year—just months after opening. Now freelance, Cyndal is a wine consultant, event host, wine judge, and wine writer. Passionate about sharing wine’s story with the world, she brings a fresh voice and creative solutions to the industry. After studying and traveling through most of her 20s, she’s now based in WA’s southwest, proudly embracing her role as a WA coastal cowgirl.

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