2020 Mystery Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Deal No. 35

94 POINTS

Wine Pilot

Some wines just make you go “ah” as soon as you stick your nose in for a sniff. 2020 was a fantastic vintage for Cabernet in Margaret River, so add to the mix some great winemaking and vineyards in Wilyabrup and Yallingup, and you’ve got a done deal. This is matured for 18 months in a combo of new and seasoned barrels, and the oak treatment lets the fruit sing loud and clear. Deeply saturated plum skin, dried hibiscus, cassis, crushed aniseed, mulberry, cocoa dust, and crushed eucalyptus leaf. There’s also bramble and tarry crushed graphite tempting you in for a sip. The palate delivers aplomb, and continues on the story that the nose began. Abundant gravelly tannins rumble over the tongue, with a salt-kissed liquorish finish adding to the abundance and clarity of purple fruit and aniseed pastille crunch. Lifted acid tickles and draws you back in for more before you even notice the glass is at your mouth again. Drinking beautifully right now, but will hold until 2030 if you can manage it.