This pinnacle of the Howard Park red wine stable is now a 100% cabernet sauvignon off the Leston Vineyard in Margaret River. The result is a firmer and more classically Bordeaux styled wine with a distinctive Margaret River nuance. There is a lifted of bright red fruit on the nose with notes of violet and blackcurrant, merging with other lifts of cedar and spices. The structure is still quite taut with firm chalky tannins threading deep and long. The cedary oak sits comfortably within the concentrated and intense fruit weight on the palate. This is a wine of long-term ageing potential.
97 POINTS
Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion
An impressive Abercrombie this vintage showcases all the varietal inputs – the cassis, the mulberries, licorice and nori plus the added extras – the judicious oak influence (30% new French barriques, aged 18 months) adding cedar and spice. It’s fuller bodied yet not weighty, with plentiful tannins yet textural and fine with some grip plus refreshing acidity keeping this composed.
Very perfumed, showing aromas of wild blackberries, blackcurrants, tobacco, graphite and cedar. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with refined tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of boysenberries, mulberries, mocha and olive tapenade. Very refined and fresh with an underlying power.
95 POINTS
Cassandra Charlick - Decanter
Dense, inky appearance with classic chocolate mint, menthol and aniseed pastille upfront, cassis and black fruit following. Oak sizeable but kept in check. This is a Cabernet built to cellar. Some lovely shy fruit reveals rosehip and smoked sundried tomato. Fruit swells with lightness yet density, savoury warm spice throughout. Very fine acidity and tannins, and juicy concentrated red fruits with fantastic length. Destined to age beautifully. Destemmed fruit, fermented in small open stainless steel vats. 18 months in French oak barriques, 30% new.
95 POINTS
2025 - Decanter World Wine Awards
Effusive herbal, minty black fruits slink and slither amongst the silky, mouth-coating tannins and impeccably pure acidity with an elegant oak warmth to support and maintain.
Award: Gold - DWWA 2025
94 POINTS
Kasia Sobiesiak - The Wine Front
Surprise! Before you get to the 2022 release, a mini vertical of Abercrombie, 10 years apart.
2002 13.5%
Museum Release. Michael Kerrigan era, an era of 100% new oak. This is a blend of fruit from Mt Barker (60%) and Margaret River (40%).
Ah, the old wine charm. There are still some vivid reflections in this wine amidst its predominantly garnet colour. Strong tertiary pull, old polished leather, dried red capsicum, dried herbs, nuts and a glimmer of red fruit, spark of orange peel and some meatiness, like biltong for the lack of better comparison. Interestingly, it’s quite light, almost translucent and with soft, brittle graphite tannins. Surprisingly, at 22 years of age and 100% new oak, this wine doesn’t strike as either of these things on the face of it. A glass will do, however. 88pts
2012 14%
For this vintage Janice McDonald was in charge. It’s 60% new oak. Still then led by Great Southern fruit in the blend.
This wine makes a statement. Dark, brooding, boot paste, fresh leather and ripe black fruit, dense and fine velvety tannins, creamy core but ferrous on the edges with the grip building up, mint and sage refresh the lot. It’s full-on, soy sauce and a fair bit of toast, cocoa dusting, stewed meat, dark chocolate and all the density. All dark and sweet-toned. I have to say, this drinks very well now. I saw some age brackets ‘out there’ till 2047 and sure, it will survive, but honestly, I wouldn’t want to drink it at its very end. Drink it in the next 10 years perhaps. 94-95pts
2022 14.5%
This one is Nic Bowen’s wine. Oak pulled back to 25% new and 30% second year use and the rest is three years old barrels. All Margaret River.
Black tea leaves, tobacco, mint, lavender. Bright red fruit, currants, hints of raspberries and even blue fruit. Vanilla and hazelnut oak, sandy texture, lots of freshness, blue-fruited on the palate, lovely lightness but impactful flavour, with graphite tannins, still very fresh, stony and pure fruit finish. 94+pts
Bonus: I dug out my note of 2022 when I tasted it a year ago [May23]
A good mix of red and black fruit, black cherries and raspberries, and a hint of blue fruit too. It’s a blood-rich mouthfeel, electric almost, lightly salty, with plenty of velvety tannins, elegant oak, all well-measured. Powdery finish. It’s a cool, calm, collected wine with purity of fruit, quality tannins and a great potential to age. Very fresh now! 95+pts
2021 – wasn’t made.
2020 – I tasted briefly some time ago but from memory it didn’t show as well, however, will leave this open-ended.
93 POINTS
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2022 Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon is bright, red fruited and floral, with a firm framing of oak that defines the middle palate and finish as well as the aromas. With raspberry, chocolate, game, leather and peppercorns, this is a powerful, solid wine that has a core of beautiful fruit. Structurally, it’s really quite firm but not heavy. Chewy, lovely wine. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
92 POINTS
2024 - Decanter World Wine Awards
Inviting and aromatic, with almond, liquorice and caramel leading to a polished palace layered with plush fruit and graceful tannins.
Award: Silver - DWWA 2024
