Evans & Tate Redbrook Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Margaret River, WA)
14%, Screwcap, $35
Source: Sample
www.mcwilliams.com.au

It’s good to see that, under the stewardship of McWilliams, E & T is finally producing the sort of wines that it should be – like this thoroughly rich and modern Margaret River Cabernet, a wine that comes adorned with multiple show medals and is bound to garner several more, such is the rich, plush and varietal show-friendly style.

Dusty, Margaret-River-or-bust nose with some very clever, polished red berry fruit and cappuccino froth oak. There is even a hint of vine leaf in there for good measure. Very correct noughties wine indeed. The oak sweetened, purple fruit drenched palate has blocky, earthy tannins and just a hint of craisins around the edges, that suggestion of dried blackberry fruity a dead giveaway for the vintage, the wine finishing with slightly parched tannins.

Strictly speaking its a bit (fruit) sweet and showy for me, but I won’t begrudge just how easily attractive, genuinely rich, full flavoured and utterly polished this red is.

Drink: 2012-2020
Score: 17.7/20 92/100
Would I buy it? No, but I can almost guarantee that most people I give it to will enjoy the style immensely.