Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Established in 1849, Yalumba is undoubtedly Australia’s most historic family owned wine company. It remains fiercely independent and progressive through the generational ownership by the Hill-Smith family. Today it is lead by Robert Hill-Smith, fifth generation & chairman. Yalumba has a long commitment to quality and possess incredible foresight in its selection of vineyard sites, new varieties and brands. Interestingly they operate the southern hemisphere’s only fully operational Cooperage, crafting bespoke oak barrels that elevate the wines aged within them. Their nursery is a global leader in wine innovation, growing, evaluating and supplying quality grape vines to the Australian wine industry. Yalumba shares the best of what Barossa and South Australia has to offer. While the Barossa is home base, they draw on the varied climates and soil types across South Australia to make wines grown in some of the country’s finest wine regions. Barossa is arguably the single most famous wine region in Australia, comprised of Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, making it one of the only areas in Australia to have neighbouring warm and cool climate growing conditions. Yalumba is privileged to have access to some of the oldest vineyards in the world in Barossa Valley, including 1889 bush vine Grenache and 1908 Shiraz. The Coonawarra estate is on prized terra rossa soil known as The Menzies Vineyard growing predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The Caley is the pinnacle of a long winemaking journey of excellence, that rightfully honours Yalumba’s most adventurous son, Fred Caley Smith. A blend of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Barossa Shiraz, The Caley is a classic marriage of two noble varieties and two great Australian wine regions. The Caley has been sourced from three outstanding vineyards in the Coonawarra and Barossa regions. The D block of the Yalumba Coonawarra vineyard provides 82% of the Cabernet Sauvignon of the blend. This 2.7ha plot was planted in 1992 with clones of Cabernet Sauvignon selected for structure and depth of flavour. This block differs from the ubiquitous Coonawarra terroir, with a higher content of clay than the other blocks on The Menzies Estate. The Caley’s 18% Shiraz component was sourced from two Barossa blocks. The first from the Crown Village old Shiraz vineyard planted in 1974, located on Krondorf road in the foothills of the eastern Barossa ranges. The second block is the Horseshoe Vineyard, found on the southern side of the Yalumba winery in Eden Valley. This block, planted by Helen Hill-Smith in 1971, follows the contours around the Fred Caley Smith Hut. In 2018 Coonawarra delivered fruit with fine tannins, natural acidity and strong varietal flavours, and the balmy long summer of early March in the Barossa helped complete the ripening of these perfectly balanced and flavoured grapes. This wine is built to spend many years in the cellar, The Caley takes time to reveal its true character. Drinking beautifully on release the wine will live on for decades in the cellar. If opened as a younger wine we recommend double decanting prior to serving. As for the taste. Very deep, dense red. Showcasing expressive, fragrant aromatics of blackcurrant and dark cherry with cool iodine notes merging into savoury, leafy hints, all typical Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. A defined, composed and very inviting wine with succulent Shiraz throughout. Medium to full depth with a densely layered structure delivering a prominent yet silky tannin profile. Nose – Peppermint, Expressive Blackcurrant, New Leather Fresh yet bold. Undergrowth, think truffle and dried herbs. Followed by dark plums, chestnut and licorice. Palate – Dense, Plush Dark Fruits, Undergrowth Powerful. Full bodied, cassis, dark plum, link textures and sweet wood spices. Finish – Cocoa, Considerable Length, Silky Tannin Tremendous duration of flavour. Lacy flowing tannins, building and sapid. Good depth and hue of colour it’s still purple-tinted at this age. The bouquet is fresh and bold, replete with forest-floor/mint and dried-herb nuances, while the palate is very powerful, concentrated, full-bodied and firmly constructed. Deep-set cassis fruit as well, still partially in hiding. This is a dense, power-packed cabernet-driven red with abundant tannins. Tremendously long finish. A magnificent wine, which has what it takes to age and reward cellaring for the long term. – Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 99 Points. Medium deep crimson. Very attractive cassis, dark plum, with marzipan, roasted chestnut notes, hints of aniseed. Generous pure blackcurrant, dark plum flavours, fine slinky textures, beautiful mid palate