Wildwood Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 ($100) – This is the 11th release of this Margaret River Cabernet, although it is one in the portfolio which really does fly under the radar. Not sure why that should be, given the quality. Maturation is in French oak barriques for a year and a half, 38% of them new.
Opaque maroon with a very dark crimson rim, the wine opens with hints of creamy vanillin oak integration. Superbly structured, aromas weave through chocolate, mocha, spices, graphite, aniseed, tobacco leaves, coffee beans and blackberries. A really classy Margaret River Cabernet, hints of cloves, black fruits and axle grease emerge on the palate. There is serious length here, through to firm, powdery tannins on the finish and notes of cassis linger for some time. A wine of exceptional length, it will drink beautifully over the next fifteen years and one can reasonably expect the score to move higher over that period. 94.