Increasingly I find myself drinking more and more Australian wine (another review heading your way later during the week fromYarra Valley!). I don’t know what the connection is between Spanish distribution and Australia, but between the various shops and online retailers, I seem to be able to find a wealth of really good wine, from all across this diverse country. An old favourite, and a wine I’ve briefly reviewed before for our tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon Around the World, is this lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from Xanadu in Margaret River.

Margaret River is one of the two top quality zones in Australia for Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Coonawarra in Southern Australia. Mitigated by the warm, Indian Ocean and with plenty of free draining, gravelly soils, these are ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon to thrive in, retaining far more varietal character and finesse than their bulkier cousins from McLaren Vale and Barossa. Xanadu is a producer celebrating it’s 40th year in Margaret River and since being acquired by the Rathbone Group in 2005, has further improved its quality with some adjustments to yields, oak regimes and tannin management.

Tasting Note

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot from various sub-regions within Margaret River (30% estate-grown fruit; you’ve got to love the Australians for being so specific!). 14 months maturation in 40% new French oak as varietals, then blended and aged for a further 2 months in older barrels. 14% ABV.

Still deep and only just starting to brick towards the rim, despite sailing past it’s 7th birthday, this is pretty classic stuff. Obviously aromatic, with ripe blackcurrants and plums dominating, supported by some sweet oak characters, leather, tobacco, earth, eucalyptus and baked green bell pepper. Still fresh on the palate yet almost creamy now the big, soft tannins are so well integrated. Like the last time I tasted this wine, this is really well balanced and very long on the finish, with the fruit mingling nicely with the oak and tertiary characters. This was my last bottle but I’d be interested to see how far this goes! 92Pts

Purchased from Vinissimus for €22.95