St Hugo DR3 Cabernet 2021 (Gift Box)

93 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

The last time we saw this wine it was from Coonawarra only; it’s now from South Australia generally. You get the impression that it’s a wine range that is doing well, and that volumes are increasing. This sees 45% new French oak, and again is mostly from vines that around the 20 year old mark. If you want to buy and drink St Hugo DR3, buy the cabernet. It’s pretty much always better. As with the shiraz, this is soft and flowing, but there’s just a little more firmness, and length, and while it saw a higher proportion of new oak, it carries it better. Blackcurrant, mint, smoked cedar and sweet tobacco characters make for delicious, and impressive, drinking.

91 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

The partnership between superstar racing driver, Daniel Ricciardo, and St Hugo Chief Winemaker, Peter Munro, has continued into its second year with two superb wines from the 2021 vintage, quickly becoming a bit legendary itself. This Cabernet, from South Australian fruit, is opaque magenta in colour. The aromas weave through warm earth, cloves, spices, tobacco leaves and blackcurrants. There is some oak influence here but it is already well integrated. Good focus and bright acidity, there is also abundant but very fine, if ever-so-slightly chalky tannins. Well structured, this will be even better in two to three years and should then drink well for a decade. Under cork.