Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Magnum 1500ml

One of the great 'founding fathers' of Margaret River and a long-time producer of one of Australia's greatest cabernet-based wines. Originally planted in 1969 by Picardy's Bill Pannell however the Mugford family has owned / controlled the property since 1979. 

"Widely regarded as one of the best wineries in the region, producing glorious chardonnay, power-laden semillon and elegant cabernet sauvignon that lives for decades. Moss Wood also owns RibbonVale Estate, the wines treated as vineyard-designated within the Moss Wood umbrella." 5 Star Winery - James Halliday

"96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this is elegance personified. A low yielding and slightly cooler vintage, the grapes went into small open tanks for fermentation, with thrice-daily hand-plunging. 15 days on skins and then pressed to tank before it was racked to French oak, 15% new. Over two years maturation. As mentioned, elegance personified. A silky combination of coiled power and finesse, this is a glorious Cabernet. Blackberries, spices, tobacco leaves, kid leather, violets, cigar box notes, aniseed and delicately integrated oak. There is a gossamer-like web of complexity weaving through the wine. Seamless, great length and cashmere tannins. This is a brilliant wine. Ten years, twenty years? How long have you got? If you are serious about great Australian Cabernet, this is a must for your cellar."  99 pts - Ken Gargett., Wine Pilot.

"Gracefully powerful and exquisitely expressed, the wine shows blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedary oak, green olive and warm spice aromas on the nose. The concentrated palate delivers outstanding fruit purity and intensity, combined with finely textured mouthfeel and beautifully pitched grainy tannins, finishing with a great line and length. Impeccably detailed, precise and undeniably classy."   Rating: 98 Points.  Sam Kim. WineOrbit.com

This needs a swirl or two, it's a little shy from the outset. Then suddenly a whirl of roses, black plums and subtle sweet baking spices emerge. The fruit is poised and wonderfully fresh and there's a graceful air to the palate. It flows across the palate with some pleasing amaro tannins guiding the way. This is an elegant cabernet with a fine yet youthful structure. Its full-bodied warming core has years ahead of it.  96 points.   Bob Campbell.  The Real Review. 

"Generally, contrary to many, I tend to favour 2019 Margaret Cabernet over 2018. I bit more brooding, dense, tight, ‘minerally’, and all that.  Powerful, compact, brooding sort of style, but tight too, all black fruit, dark chocolate, a seasoning of bay leaf and baking spice, some floral notes peeping over the top. Tannin is earthy and dense, but smooth and layered, boysenberry and dark raspberry, firm acidity set neatly inside, and a tobacco and black olive savoury finish of length and intensity. A very strong release, indeed maybe the best in the last decade. High drinkability, even early."  Rated : 96 Points.  Drink : 2027 - 2043+.  Gary Walsh. The Wine Front.