2023 Mystery Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Deal No. 6212

96 POINTS

Ray Jordan

This was a season that was as near as dammit to perfect as you can imagine, resulting in some marvellous wines throughout the state and this one is a wonderful example. It's a generous and full-bodied cabernet, but there is a typical vineyard and seasonal elegance that is captured here. On the nose, you get a light influence of black fruits with deeper mulberry and plum emerging before a lush coating of dark chocolate and a little bay leaf adds further. It's seamlessly integrated and perfectly structured, with the chalky tannins controlled. Has everything you need for further cellaring.

95 POINTS

Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion

Aside from the enticing dark purple hue, there’s a real energy and vibrancy to this 100% cabernet. The mulberry and plum fruits are shot with licorice, fresh coffee grounds and herbs as it builds across the fuller-bodied palate. Lots of sandpaper tannins and spicy, woodsy attributes, yet it's not overtly oaky, with enlivening acidity driving this to a long finish. Needs a bit more time to settle, but, if drinking today or later, it won’t disappoint.

93 POINTS

Shanteh Wale - Winepilot

Fermented in large format and French oak barrels before being transferred to amphora and oak for a further four months with extended maceration in amphora. This is a power dart of black and blue fruits straight to your face, such is the intensity and aromatic lift. If being pummeled by black forest fruits isn’t for you, I call BS. Because this is energetic in its display of boysenberry and blueberry, and delivers its intensity with smothering kisses of graphite, thistle and poppy seed. It’s certainly not a wine you need to go searching for its flavour profile, tannins are fairly powdery and fine allowing for early drinking but it has the ability to show those earthly and turned potting soil notes with further aging. I would recommend between 5-8 years. For now, change out of your good white linen, pop a smock on and embrace the Cabernet blitz. Serve with a nice scotch fillet and some roast purple taro.

92 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

This is leafy, elegant and ultimately long. It also uses reduction to positive effect. It tastes of redcurrant and blackcurrant with bay leaf, peppercorn, cedar-smoke and mint characters floating through. Structure is a key feature, acid and tannin, not because either are overt but because both are key drivers. You’d back this in to mature well.