2016 David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine Estate

All from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine Estate is another elegant, finesse-driven beauty that has a fabulous perfume of blackcurrants, lead pencils shavings, and cedar. Sweetly fruited, medium to full-bodied, and seamless, it’s already hard to resist, with the purity of the vintage front and center, yet it will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 20 years or more.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine is another super-impressive wine in this range from David Arthur. Rich, pliant and resonant in the glass, the 2016 has a lot to offer. Succulent red cherry, plum, mocha, spice and new leather all flesh out. This is an especially ripe, succulent wine in the range, but all the elements are very nicely balanced.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Old Vine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it begins with earthy/minerally restraint, opening out to a core of baked blackberries, cherry preserves and cassis plus a waft of potpourri. The palate is full-bodied and packed with wonderfully defined, beautifully pure black fruit layers, framed by plush tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. While lovely now, allow it another 4-6 years in bottle to give the aromas ample opportunity to open out and truly sing.