Robert Oatley Pennant Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

97 POINTS

Ray Jordan - Winepilot

The comparison with the Frankland version of this wine is immediately evident. This is a more opulent and densely concentrated cabernet with all of the blackcurrant, bay leaf and graphite characters that are part of Margaret River DNA. Seamlessly structured powerful palate sustains a super long finish. Plenty of hands-on picking to get the best fruit for an excellent wine.

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

Any day one gets to drink a flagship Margaret River Cabernet is a good day. This one hails from the renowned Wilyabrup sub-region. The grapes are put across a special individual berry sorting table, going from there to small vessels for fermentation on skins for up to six weeks. Fifteen months maturation follows, in ‘tight-grained, low toast, new and one-year-old French oak’. The final blend is a barrel selection. Dark maroon in colour, this is still youthful. The nose is an appealing mix of intensity and elegance, with some early complexity already evident. Roast meats, dry herbs, tobacco leaves, black fruits. There is even an alluring hint of blueberries if one looks closely. Silky, supple, very fine if ever-so-slightly grainy tannins. A wine of grace and power that is finely balanced, very long and with a fine line of saline acidity driving the wine. A stunning Cabernet which will easily give pleasure for a decade and more (during which time, the score could easily rise further).

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Halliday Wine Companion

There can't be too many more 2018s to be released on to the market – this must be among the very last. It is savoury, dense and ripe; the concentrated flow of flavour shows the flux between sweet and savoury fruit, all of it framed within spicy oak. This is a big wine, muscly and tense. Give it some further time to stretch out – it needs it. Will go the distance, though.

94 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Tasting the Pennant and the Finisterre alongside each other (both 2018 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignons), the distinction between them is surely in the concentrated flow of fruit in the mouth. While they both speak of the 2018 vintage with eloquence, the 2018 The Pennant Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River is firmer, darker and denser in flavor. Matured for a slightly shorter time (15 months as opposed to 18 months for the Finisterre), this is a little fresher and finer, despite all the extra intensity. It's a lovely wine that is holding well. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

This is showing blackcurrants, blackberry leaves, tobacco, walnuts and dark chocolate on the nose. Balanced and refined, with a medium to full body and firm, polished tannins. Layered. Excellent persistency.

91 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

This 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon The Pennant from Margaret River is at the peak of its powers but also with the stuffing to hold for a little while. Strong herbal leafy elements are defining followed by a sinewy acid driven palate. Old school but will last.