2012 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River

RP 95 Deep garnet in color with a slight purple in the rim, Moss Wood’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with notes of crème de cassis, blackberry tart and anise with nuances of cloves, cedar, pencil lead, menthol and dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with oodles of opulence and spice on offer in the mouth, it has a gorgeous velvety texture, just enough freshness and great length.

JS 96 A beautifully concentrated bold and ripe nose that has a lot of classy cedary oak and a core of cassis, dark cherry, blueberry and sweet spices, really nicely integrated; some gently earthy notes too. Great definition on the palate, really structured for the long haul. Deep and rich with plum and dark cherry flavors, cassis and mulberry too. Needs time, best from 2020. Screw cap

JR 94 (aged for 30 months in French oak barriques, 20% new): Brilliant ruby. Powerful, assertively perfumed aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, cured tobacco, cedary oak and potpourri. Sappy, densely packed and energetic on the palate, offering vibrant, spice-tinged cassis and mulberry flavors and an emerging mineral nuance. Finishes alluringly sweet and extremely long, with fine-grained tannins coming up slowly and adding grip.

JH 98 The high quality vintage shines through this wine, illuminating its intricate multifaceted complexity; almost, but not quite, juicy cassis fruit is swathed in perfectly balanced French oak and gently ripe tannins. The only problem will be keeping your hands off it.