2021 'CBSV' Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 CBSV was hand selected at the Organic Brash Higgins estate Omensetter Vineyard. The vines were planted in 1997 into a unique, shallow sandstone shift in the predominately clay over limestone vineyard. 2021 was a superb year, lovely warm days and cool nights yielded grapes of excellent balance and freshness. A touch longer elevage than usual, 20 months, allowed the tannins to soften and the wine is ultra juicy as a result. 

“A fulsome wine to chew on. Contemplative as much for its thrilling complexity, as for its capacity to eclipse preconceptions of warmer climate cabernet with energy and guile, shot across the floral attack, evergreen mid-palate and toothsome wet tannin finish. This transcends obvious varietal traits with a long drag on sea spray and dried kelp, a stone’s throw away on the Vale shore. A prodigious licorice strap finale. Excellent wine, moreish and nourishing. From organically grown grapes.”

95 pts, Ned Goodwin, MW, JamesSuckling.com

“This is lovely stuff. Blue fruited, herb laced, minerally, gently toasty with woody spices, married all just-so and with a drawl of earthy, ripe and shapely tannins. It’s got lift and get up and go while dragging out fruit and spice characters beautifully. It does medium to fuller weight but with good energy. Quite a lush number, but that tension in its tannin fringe stays refreshing in the more bold, muscular feel. It’s so honest and good and, importantly, feels unforced and yet regional. I went back for more." 

94 pts, Mike Bennie, Wine Front, Aug 2024