Yalumba, The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz, South Australia 2016

This has a very impressive sense of composure, offering a very attractive, cedary and floral nose with deep violets and a wealth of forest wood, bracken and blueberries, as well as plums. The palate has intensely ripe, assertive fruit flavors with a succulent, dense and rich delivery of black-cherry, cassis and blackberry flavors. Density with focus and a strong drive at the finish. Long and juicy with real freshness. A blend of 71% Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon and 29% Barossa shiraz. Drink or hold.

An elegant, markedly fresh fifth release, with restrained twig, tobacco, bay leaf and mint nuances. Gliding along a fine-grained rail of tannins, well-focused blackcurrant leads the charge. Silky black cherry and sweet, succulent plum add dimension and juicy impetus through the mid palate. Black olive, chocolate, clove, anise, ironstone and liquorice lend savoury nuances. Harmonious, tapering and persistent, the grippy finish reminds you it will age beautifully too.

Drink 2021 - 2041

Yalumba's 2016 The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz is a blend of 71% Cabernet from Coonawarra) and 29% Shiraz from Barossa—Lightpass and Eden Valley) aged 21 months in French oak barriques and hogsheads 25% new). Marked by hints of menthol and sage, it also offers up deep cassis and blackberry fruit, plus notes of cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied and amply concentrated but tightly wound, with plush tannins wrapped around a ripe core of fruit—this needs time to relax and unfurl. Hints of licorice appear on the finish, speaking of ripe Syrah and joining persistent notes of dark fruit. Clearly this has a lot going for it, so give it several years in the cellar before trying a bottle.

Drink 2024 - 2040