Taltarni Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

96 POINTS

Jeni Port - Halliday Wine Companion

Crushed to 3 tonne open-top fermenter, 20% whole bunches, mlf and 18 months' maturation in French oak (30% new). Harks back to some of the glorious cabernets of the 80s, with strong regional and varietal clarity, complexity and structure. Shows just how exciting the grape can be in a region dominated by shiraz. Densely coloured, with a roaming bouquet of dark plums, cassis, black cherries and subtle, spicy oak. Intense and concentrated, fine and long in tannic energy. Wow!

93 POINTS

Bob Campbell MW - The Real Review

Dense, yet elegant cabernet sauvignon, with an expressive aroma and blackcurrant, cassis, cedar, liquorice, subtle mint and a distinctly floral note. A youthful wine with power. Can be appreciated now but should certainly be a long-distance runner.

93 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Winepilot

Taltarni has a long history of generous and ageworthy wines and this vintage of Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon will also reward some time in the cellar, although is already delicious to enjoy now. It is bright deep ruby and has powerful and pure juicy leafy cassis fruits with a leafy edge. It is then more concentrated and savoury on the palate with significant oak influence and a firm structure that drives a long finish. This is a chewy Pyrenees structural wine style that will give plenty of pleasure for a long time to come.

92 POINTS

Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Real Review

Plenty of personality here. Aromas of violet, blackcurrant, mulberry and briar, with a whisper of regional eucapypt and a dab of cedary oak. It's a concentrated wine of good body, yet it has finesse too. Balanced, slightly mouth-puckering tannins frame a long finish.

92 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion

Also includes 4% each of shiraz and merlot. Estate-grown, open-fermented, 10 days on skins with various extraction techniques, 14 months in French barriques. Good expression of region.

92 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Deep red/purple colour, with a lovely ripe blackberry, cassis, violet bouquet - clean and bright, well-made and energetic. The tannins are fine, firm and balanced, the finish appropriately long. A solid, big-framed cabernet.