96 POINTS
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2021 Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the Hickinbotham vineyard in Clarendon, in McLaren Vale. It is truly one of the lovely vineyard areas in Australia, with rolling hills, dramatic valleys and a proximity to the ocean. From memory, this vineyard was planted to Houghton clone, or includes some of the Houghton clone selection in it (from Western Australia), and the wine feels structural and velvety at once. You get cassis, raspberry compote, dark chocolate, tobacco, licorice (salted black cats!), cardamom and mulberry off the bush in summer. It's a wonderful wine, pleasurable, complex, poised and rounding out with a delicious delivery of ductile Cabernet tannin. Ripper. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
95 POINTS
Ned Goodwin - JamesSuckling.com
A large-framed wine defined by a serendipitous ripening season and skilled craftsmanship. The tannins, perfectly managed and refined. The oak, so enticing and appealing. The sheer density of currant, sage, black olive, rosemary and thyme, an immaculate forcefield. This is one for the cellar. An Australian wine that tastes, as it always has, as if it was made by an American with a deep comprehension of tannin management.
95 POINTS
Ned Goodwin - Halliday Wine Companion
A large-framed wine defined by a serendipitous ripening season and skilled craftsmanship. The tannins, impeccably managed and refined. The oak, all sex appeal. The sheer density of currant, sage, black olive, rosemary and thyme, an immaculate forcefield. This is built for the cellar. An Australian wine that tastes, as it always has, as if it was made by an American with a deep comprehension of tannin management.
95 POINTS
Cassandra Charlick - Winepilot
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from three different blocks, a combination of 2002 and 1971 plantings. Destemmed and 60% new oak for 15 months. Tightly woven, savoury and an intriguing ferrous quality on the nose. Not what one would initially expect from Cabernet, but the glass immediately draws you in for more. Yes, there are the classic notes of red plum, blackcurrant, bay leaf, black olive and a hint of Dutch liquorish, an ever so slight medicinal menthol note and toasty oak woven throughout. This works so well – Cabernet that walks the stylistic tightrope of modern and old school. There’s a lifted minerality to this wine, and it’s both refreshing and heady at the same time. Sinewy long limbed tannins and an acid line that provides finesse and verve on a muscular frame. This is a tightly knitted, yet supple wine. It’s still a baby, decant if you must drink now or watch it blossom with time. A joy.
94 POINTS
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front
The 2021 Trueman sees 55% from 2002 plantings, 33% from 1971 (block 200s) and 12% from 1971 (block 300s). Gets 60% new oak.
Blueberry, iodine and oyster shell, liquorice, cedar and nougat, some floral notes and dried mint. It’s ripe and sweet fruited, all blackcurrant, boysenberry and blueberry, kind of like a pie with a spicy crust, but also a little ferrous and earthy, with firm ironstone and silty tannin, and a huge volume of flavour, all black olive tapenade and sage and sweet dark fruit on a finish of excellent length. It’s a bold wine, and kind of overt as a youngster, but should turn out well with considerable bottle age.
94 POINTS
Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast
Supple black cherry and blood plum lead, the tobacco and mocha-toast barrel influence creeping in behind. It's a powerful wine with a taut line of muscular, dusty tannins currently dominating. Give this time in bottle though, and it should evolve with grace and beauty. Drink 2026—2041.
93 POINTS
Angus Hughson - Vinous
The cooler 2021 vintage has created a fragrant and reserved fine style of McLaren Vale Cabernet. Red currant and black currant aromas with gentle leafy notes are well-composed in a delicious package. Dry, mid-weight, it delivers a powerful core of dark berry flavor with firm but fine tannins driving a lingering gravel-scented finish. This beautifully composed Cabernet is a class act.
