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St. Andrews

Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Complex and elegant, offering rich fruit characters of cassis and blackcurrant with earthy nuances. French oak giving hints of cedar and tobacco to finish.

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Member Price
$63.75
$382.50 / case
Standard Price
$75.00
$450.00 / case
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More Information
Previous Vintages 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015
Region Clare Valley
Colour At release, the wine is an intense red colour with a vibrant purple hue to the edge.
Nose The wine has an enticing, lifted aroma of ripe blackcurrants, choc mint, subtle spice and a hint of dried tomato leaf. The overall nose character is one of richness and elegance.
Vintage Conditions In the Clare Valley, rainfall was below average for the season leading up to vintage 2016 but it was not the amount that had the biggest impact; it was the timing. Mother Nature saw fit to dole out just the right amount of water at just the right time for maximum positive impact. In fact, this was just one of the factors at play when it comes to the vintage being lauded as one of the greats. Firstly, the vines were stress free heading into the winter period, creating the potential for a superior crop. Secondly, conditions were ideal during flowering and then lastly, the threat of frost did not eventuate. All these conditions combined to create what can be described as the perfect vintage.
Oak Maturation Post primary fermentation, the wine was allowed a period of extended skin contact before being pressed and transferred to French oak barrels to complete the secondary malolactic fermentation. Once MLF was completed, the wine was racked off lees, fined and then then transferred back to fine-grained French oak barrels (40% new, 60% 2 - 3 year old) for maturation. After a period of 18 months oak maturation and minimal filtration, the wine was bottled.
Cellaring Notes Crafted for immediate enjoyment but will cellar over a long term under ideal conditions.
Alc%: 14.1
Acid: 6.92
Residual Sugar: 1.1
Wine Type: Red
Wine Body: Full
Blend or Single Variety: Single Variety
Pack Size: Single: 750ml bottle Case: 6 x 750ml bottle

  • Nick Butler, The Real Review

    Feb 2021
    96 Points
    Lovely, deep and vibrant purple. Classic cabernet aromas of blackcurrants, choc-mint and tobacco - oak is latent and not a huge influence. It's long and precise, perfectly ripe cabernet fruit allowed to sing - mocha, tapenade and rich blackcurrant fruit. Again, oak is soft and a cog in the wheel of its structure. Tannins are ripe. A beautiful, modern expression.
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  • Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

    Mar 2020
    96 Points
    Truly elegant cabernet sauvignon with deliciously ripe cassis, blackcurrant, liquorice, black olive, new leather, spice and perfectly-pitched smoky oak. A wonderful expression of the variety that will age beautifully.
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  • Robert Whitley, Creators Syndicate

    Jun 2019
    95 Points
    This is the Taylor family's big-boy cabernet, a hedonistic red that is weighty and rich on the palate, showing notes of blackberry and cassis and a subtle use of oak that complements rather than overpowers the gorgeous fruit. Well balanced with impressive length, this wine finishes with an attractive note of spice.
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  • Robert Whitley, Wine Reviews Online

    May 2019
    95 Points
    ...a hedonistic red that is weighty and rich on the palate, shows notes of blackberry and cassis and a subtle use of oak that complements rather than overpowers the gorgeous fruit. Well balanced with impressive length, this wine finishes with an attractive note of spice.
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  • Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast

    Apr 2019
    91 Points
    The Taylor family’s premium Cab offers a heady combo of rather flashy oak, dried herbs, licorice, red currant and blackberry fruit. It’s full-bodied but not overblown, silky-textured and laced with savory, grainy tannins and a streak of graphite. The oak, however, rears its head again quite prominently. Drink now–2027.
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  • Sean Ludford, BevX.com

    Apr 2019
    91 Points
    Brilliant, deep ruby/purple color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of black currant and cocoa with supporting notes of dried herbs, cassis, and subtle oak notes. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of plum, wild mint, and baking spices. The finish is long and lingering with supple tannins and accents of cigar boxes on the finish. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with an opulent texture.
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  • Jeannie Cho Lee MW, jeanniecholee.com

    Dec 2020
    90 Points
    A delicious, full bodied Cabernet with a combination of ripe blackberry fruit, sweet spices, balanced by nice freshness and savory herbs. It combines both warm and cool climate traits with a moderately long finish.
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  • Bill Ward, Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirit Competition

    Jun 2019
    90 points
    Jammy but not too, here is a crowd-pleasing red.
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  • David Bicknell, James Halliday Wine Companion

    Aug 2019
    90 points
    Deep garnet, not as bright or fresh as the Jaraman. Ripe black fruit almost drifting into raisin fruit or liquer cherry. 18 months in 40% new French oak marks the wine with baking spices and cedar, but this sits within the fruit, giving an even flush of tannin from start to finish. As with many '16s, for earlier textural drinking rather than the long haul.
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  • MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator

    May 2019
    84 Points
    Berry and cherry flavors have a candied edge and toasty herb and cedar notes on an easy-drinking, juicy frame. Drink now. 500 cases imported.
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  • Ronn Weigand MW, MS, Restaurant Wine

    Aug 2019
    5 stars
    The Cabernet Sauvignon is superb: very supple in texture, very finely flavored (black currant, blackberry, cassis, toasty oak, mint), and beautifully balanced; a medium rich wine that is mildly tannic and very long and harmonious on the finish. Great value. Warrants aging. Five day cold soak. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 40% new.
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  • Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times

    Jul 2020
    Powerfully dusty nose, oak scents/cedar, eucalyptus ,berryfruit, warmth of the summer sun. Deep, powerful brooding, darker fruits, crushed leaf, ripe not over-sweet, with the tannins melded in. Loganberry hints on the long finish. Like being wrapped up in a big, cuddly blanket.
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  • Adler Yarrow, Vinography

    Jul 2020
    Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry, mint and dark chocolate. In the mouth, cherry and green herbs have a fine, powdery tannic texture and excellent acidity. Very pretty green herbal notes linger in the finish with the cherry and a touch of leather. 14% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap.
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  • Yvonne Lorkin, Weekend Herald

    May 2019
    At the time of labelling, this four-wheeldrive of a wine had already scooped three international gold medals, so you can deduce that it’s more than a tad flash, especially when slurped joyously with this fanging fungus and steak dish. With chocolate-covered liquorice layers on the nose combined with smoked game meat, dark berry fruits, seasoned leather and exotic, Christmas pudding spices sashaying out of the glass, it’s seductive and alluring to enjoy. Worth every cent, it’s statuesque, silky and elegant, just like drinking an Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo.
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