1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River
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Tasting notes
Remember the 2001 of this wine was the group favourite in the previous evening. This was even more glorious – at the peak of its silky, complex powers. (Well they may have ripped off the Pichon Lalande label, I couldn’t help feeling…) Beautifully balanced, at the peak of its powers, this was a concentrated ripe Cabernet with real complexity and a little more freshness than the 1995 below. (JR)
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
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Deep glossy dark crimson. Spicy nose – quite jagged and hard work. Very aggressive. Lots of (added?) acidity. Hard work! (JR)
The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon is layered and complex, with tapenade, bay leaf, dried herbs, cocoa, aniseed and salt bush. This is decidedly leafier than the 1999 tasted alongside; however, the vintage conditions in this season (warm and dry, likened by proprietor Keith Mugford to the recent 2024 vintage) would lead us to expect a much bigger, riper, more muscular wine. The restraint here is one of the highlights of the wine. The second pour here shows remarkably similarly to the first—although slightly fresher perhaps, notwithstanding the fact that the first was in the glass 20 minutes prior to tasting. Here, the wine is capacious and leafy, with all the bay leaf and dried herbs, with a pretty, chalky, poudre-leaning nose and palate. I'd lean toward this second bottle and would be inclined to give it an extra point.