Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaXanadu is one of the OG Margaret River wineries, founded by Dr James Langan in 1977, and now in the hands of the Rathbone family. This full-bodied Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon is tipped with 6% malbec, 5% petit verdot. A portion of the wine was left for an extended maceration on skins, adding additional depth and structure to this big wine. This was fermented in a mix of stainless and barrel before 14 months' rest in French barriques (25% new). Plush and plump, teeming with dark chocolate, cool mint, cassis, and red currant cut with a green herbal swath. Tannins are ample, green-edged, and easily able to manage the weight of the fruit through a lingering, powdery finish. Somewhat disjointed between ripe and unripe character. Requires a rich piece of beef or hearty veg potpie to mitigate.Tasted: 19 May 2021Tasted by: Prices:
Margaret River, Western Australia, AustraliaIf you like cabernet sauvignon with a savoury, herbal edge, you'll enjoy what you find here. The nose is quite intense, led by fresh mint and thyme, though it's not shy on fruit either. Red currant and dark berry is nicely framed by mocha and sweet oak spices. Overall, it's quite complex and there's surprisingly good depth, too. Even though it's a not-so-modest 14.5% abv, the herbal lift, red fruits, and balanced acidity gives this a real sense of freshness. The firm, medium-grained tannins are calling for a beef roast if you open this in the short term, but it should age gracefully for at least 5-7 years. Fine value at this price.Tasted: 02 May 2021Tasted by: Prices:
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