GCV McAskill Cabernet Malbec
2019

84/16% cabernet sauvignon/malbec from a single estate vineyard in White Hut. Matured 17 months in seasoned French oak barrels. The Clare’s signature blend, uniting crunchy red-berried energy and medium weight with chalk mineral tannins of considerable strength and longevity. Redcurrrant and cassis aromas are brightened by rose petals, set to a savoury backdrop that speaks malbec. Engineered for the long haul, it loses momentum on the finish, but will hopefully build persistence in time. Tyson Stelzer Published 13 August 2021

Beautifully styled and elegantly complex, the wine shows blackcurrant, dried herb, game and toasted nut aromas on the nose, followed by a fruit-forward palate offering bright fruit flavours with spicy nuances. Firmly structured by loads of fine-grained tannins, finishing attractively dry and persistent. At its best: now to 2033. $55.00. www.gaeliccemeteryvineyard.com. April 2022.

4 stars

Youthful and vibrant red colour in the glass. Dark-fruited aromas of mulberry, plum, graphite, cedar, dried flowers and a lift of eucalyptus. Full, rich and plummy, brooding black fruits and a touch of mint and menthol. Plenty of grippy, grainy and sinewy tannins add firmness and savouriness Plenty of structure and depth here, a sleeper.

“Give this time and you’ll reap the reward. Quite tense early, it was still calming itself down on Day 3 of tasting. With a long life ahead, it’s a wine that grows on you with more time in the glass.

Leafy and minty to start, there is some terrific depth within. Black fruit driven, the savoury appeal of this wine is impressive. Mouthfilling and puckering, it saps all moisture from the mouth. Its true form comes with a breath of air under its wings. Think black cherries, dark chocolate, tar and licorice, fennel and clove, charred peppers, black olives, some pan juices and a lick of meatiness late. There is interest for days. One of those sip slow and consider types, it’s in no rush to open its arms and release its soul. Be patient with this one and you can be assured the future look is exciting.

Drink for ten years+”