Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Tasting Notes

Lifted aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and vanilla are accompanied by vibrant, dark berry fruits on the palate. The finish is long with fine-grained tannins from 18 months maturation in a combination of new and older French oak hogsheads.

Although drinking well now, this wine may be cellared for up to ten years from vintage.

Winemaking

For our Grand Barossa wines we select grapes grown throughout the Barossa and its myriad of sub-regions. It is this tapestry of ‘terroirs’ which enables us to create our classic and refined house style. 

The grapes are destemmed, but not crushed, and fermented in temperature controlled small stainless steel open fermenters. Fermentation takes place over 7 days with twice-daily hand plunging.

After draining the free-run juice, the skins are gently pressed before 18 months maturation in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels.

Reviews
93 Points
Review by: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
Offering excellent varietal purity, the bouquet shows blackcurrant, toasted spice, green olive and roasted nut aromas. It's equally satisfying on the palate delivering excellent weight and persistency, splendidly complemented by ripe fruit flavours with fine chalky tannins. At its best: now to 2033. 
90 Points
Review by: Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Deep ruby from core to rim. Cassis and tomato leaf with a hint of dry earth on the nose. Full bodied and weighty with ample ripe black fruits and well layered mint and black spices. Tannins are firm but remain in context and it carries quite long to a warm finish. 2023–2030
93 Points
Review by: Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
Grapes for the ‘Grand Barossa’ series hail from various vineyards throughout the region, but they still manage to retain notable Barossa characteristics and inevitably offer seriously good value. Hard to want too much more. This wine benefits from a stunning vintage and sees time in both French and American oak, new and used. Dark magenta, the wine gives us aromas of plums, black fruits, tobacco leaves, warm earth and coffee grinds. A richly flavoured palate, supple and seamless, the wine exhibits very good length, finishing with silky tannins. This is a terrific example of a warm climate Cabernet, a style that really does not get the respect it deserves. Cracking value, delicious wine, and a sure thing for the cellar for a good six to ten years. What more? 
93 Points
Review by: Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
This is a most impressive young cabernet from a very good Barossa vintage. In a good year like this the varietal characters of cabernet display themselves beautifully. In this case blackcurrant and fragrant scented violets and blackberry notes. The palate is typically firm through the core but there is excellent fleshy and generosity. A vibrant high energy cabernet ideal for medium term cellaring. Cellar up to 12 years.
DOUBLE GOLD
Review by: Gilbert & Gaillard 2022
89 points
Review by: Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
The first of the 2021 reds are starting to pull through onto the market now, and with all the hype that the vintage received at the time, I am eager to put it through its paces. It is essentially a cool(er) vintage than the three preceding it, and typified by 1) a distinct lack of viticulture pressures, and 2) healthy yields. Again, a stark contrast to the drought spell prior to this. So, the 2021 Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon is varietal and fresh, with layers of cassis, boysenberry, mulberry and licorice. It's not a complex wine, but not an expensive wine, either.
91 points
Review by: Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
Medium- deep crimson. Fresh simple blackcurrant, cranberry aromas with hints of black olives and walnuts. Juicy and sweet-fruited with ample cassis. Blackberry, black olive flavours, loose-knit chalky / touch chewy tesctures and fresh long acidity. Early drinking fruit-driven style. Now - 2026
92 Points
Review by: Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Matured for 18 months in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Bright blackberry and black cherry fruit notes flecked with hints of dried herbs, tomato leaf, spice, cedar, tobacco pouch, licorice, blackcurrant pastille and crème de cassis. Balanced and true with pure fruit, gentle, chalky tannins and a medium-length flow of rich black fruits, herbs and spices on the exit. Drink 2023- 2027
Gold Medal
Review by: Expovina 2023

 

Tasting Notes

Lifted aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and vanilla are accompanied by vibrant, dark berry fruits on the palate. The finish is long with fine-grained tannins from 18 months maturation in a combination of new and older French oak hogsheads.

Although drinking well now, this wine may be cellared for up to ten years from vintage.

Winemaking

For our Grand Barossa wines we select grapes grown throughout the Barossa and its myriad of sub-regions. It is this tapestry of ‘terroirs’ which enables us to create our classic and refined house style. 

The grapes are destemmed, but not crushed, and fermented in temperature controlled small stainless steel open fermenters. Fermentation takes place over 7 days with twice-daily hand plunging.

After draining the free-run juice, the skins are gently pressed before 18 months maturation in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels.

Reviews
93 Points

Score: 93 Points
Review by: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
Offering excellent varietal purity, the bouquet shows blackcurrant, toasted spice, green olive and roasted nut aromas. It's equally satisfying on the palate delivering excellent weight and persistency, splendidly complemented by ripe fruit flavours with fine chalky tannins. At its best: now to 2033. 

90 Points

Score: 90 Points
Review by: Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Deep ruby from core to rim. Cassis and tomato leaf with a hint of dry earth on the nose. Full bodied and weighty with ample ripe black fruits and well layered mint and black spices. Tannins are firm but remain in context and it carries quite long to a warm finish. 2023–2030

93 Points

Score: 93 Points
Review by: Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
Grapes for the ‘Grand Barossa’ series hail from various vineyards throughout the region, but they still manage to retain notable Barossa characteristics and inevitably offer seriously good value. Hard to want too much more. This wine benefits from a stunning vintage and sees time in both French and American oak, new and used. Dark magenta, the wine gives us aromas of plums, black fruits, tobacco leaves, warm earth and coffee grinds. A richly flavoured palate, supple and seamless, the wine exhibits very good length, finishing with silky tannins. This is a terrific example of a warm climate Cabernet, a style that really does not get the respect it deserves. Cracking value, delicious wine, and a sure thing for the cellar for a good six to ten years. What more? 

93 Points

Score: 93 Points
Review by: Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
This is a most impressive young cabernet from a very good Barossa vintage. In a good year like this the varietal characters of cabernet display themselves beautifully. In this case blackcurrant and fragrant scented violets and blackberry notes. The palate is typically firm through the core but there is excellent fleshy and generosity. A vibrant high energy cabernet ideal for medium term cellaring. Cellar up to 12 years.

DOUBLE GOLD

Score: DOUBLE GOLD Review by: Gilbert & Gaillard 2022

89 points

Score: 89
Review by: Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
The first of the 2021 reds are starting to pull through onto the market now, and with all the hype that the vintage received at the time, I am eager to put it through its paces. It is essentially a cool(er) vintage than the three preceding it, and typified by 1) a distinct lack of viticulture pressures, and 2) healthy yields. Again, a stark contrast to the drought spell prior to this. So, the 2021 Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon is varietal and fresh, with layers of cassis, boysenberry, mulberry and licorice. It's not a complex wine, but not an expensive wine, either.

91 points

Score: 91
Review by: Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
Medium- deep crimson. Fresh simple blackcurrant, cranberry aromas with hints of black olives and walnuts. Juicy and sweet-fruited with ample cassis. Blackberry, black olive flavours, loose-knit chalky / touch chewy tesctures and fresh long acidity. Early drinking fruit-driven style. Now - 2026

92 Points
Review by: Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Matured for 18 months in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Bright blackberry and black cherry fruit notes flecked with hints of dried herbs, tomato leaf, spice, cedar, tobacco pouch, licorice, blackcurrant pastille and crème de cassis. Balanced and true with pure fruit, gentle, chalky tannins and a medium-length flow of rich black fruits, herbs and spices on the exit. Drink 2023- 2027

Gold Medal

Score: Gold Medal
Review by: Expovina 2023

 

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