2017 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon

97 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion

An icon in Australian wine, Yalumba’s Coonawarra-born Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon has long stood at the pointy end of our country's fine-wine pyramid, and I’m sure many will fondly remember occasions when a well-cellared example of the Menzies has knocked their socks off. Nothing’s changed, perhaps the oak has been dialled back a little, but that classic, herbal-flecked blackberry and blackcurrant fruit at its core is all elegance and latent power. Fine spice and graphite-like tannins lay down layers on the palate. The finish is long and with impeccable balance, trailing off with a vapour trail of blackcurrant, cedar and olive tapenade. It’s a classic.

95 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Robert Menzies, an Australian who was ‘British to the bootstraps’. Blackcurrant, aniseed/liquorice, tobacco, some mint, dried herb and violet, with an overlay of nougat oak. It’s medium-bodied, good intensity of small dark berry flavour, a sage and dried herb mouth perfume, fine grained tannin, black olive savoury stuff, bright acidity, and a tobacco laced finish of excellent length. Classic Coonawarra. Excellent.

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2017 The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon is looking good next to the 2016 tasted beside it. It is fresh and vibrant, with layers of complexing dark earth characters, with cigar box, black olive brine, cassis, bramble, milk chocolate and cracked black pepper. This is very good, and it has what I am coming to recognize as a "Yalumba red character": dried herbs, particularly oregano. The juicy splay of fruit through the finish is a highlight.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

Pleasant aromas of blackcurrants, black licorice and fresh herbs. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. Articulate and well defined on the palate, with the notes from the nose continuing and evolving. Well-balanced intensity and depth. Fresh finish.

92 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

This is a rich wine even with some bottle age, but there're plenty of intriguing secondary characters to keep things interesting: Fruit cake, plum cordial, cherry chocolate, cola and toasty vanillin barrel notes. Powerful, oak-driven tannins are a little clunky on the palate beside the dried fruit and spice aromas but crack open beside a lamb roast and all will be forgiven. Drink now—2035.