2016 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz

Tasting: This marks the fifth release of Yalumba’s esteemed flagship wine, ‘The Caley,’ representing perhaps their finest achievement to date. A quintessential blend of two noble grape varieties sourced from Australia’s premier wine regions, Coonawarra and Barossa, it comprises 71% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Barossa Shiraz. Maturation takes place over 21 months, with 25% in new French oak barriques and the remainder in two-year-old and older French oak barriques.

Displaying an intense, impenetrable pitch-black core with a profound dark-red-black hue, this wine exudes both power and finesse. The nose offers a tapestry of intricate aromatics, including blackcurrant, blackberry, and subtle hints of liquorice, seamlessly intertwined with nuances of vanillin cedar, tobacco, dusty earth, and spicy bay leaf. The palate, rich and opulent yet remarkably refined, unveils a cascade of blackcurrant, liquorice, and blackberry flavors that unfurl across the palate with elegance akin to a peacock’s tail. Supporting notes of vanillin cedar, tobacco, earth, dried herbs, and spice contribute to its complexity. Firmly structured with robust yet polished tannins, it demonstrates remarkable drive and depth, culminating in an enduring, generous, and sophisticated finish.

Vintage: 2016

Awards: 

99 points: Tyson Stelzer – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

98 points: James Suckling