Review: Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

July 27, 2020

Second in line behind The Menzies in Yalumba’s Coonawarra Cabernet hierarchy and it’s a long term style. Set and forget form, with drying tannins as the centre feature. Oh and some regional mint.

More about structure than fruit, it’s a shy, medium bodied, slightly gruff red where you’re left waiting for the mid palate to fill out. It will get there, but I want a little more generosity for drinking now. Has some pretty classic Coonawarra character though. Hold.

Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. Best drinking: wait five years and drink over the next twenty. 17.5/20, 91/100. 14.5%, $43. Would I buy it? Just a glass for now.

2015, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

Andrew Graham was once voted the 23rd most trusted wine critic on the planet. A WCA Journalism Young Gun now old hack with 25yrs as a buyer, judge, journalist, marketer and too much more.

Donate to help keep this website free

4 responses to “Review: Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2015”

colin

July 27, 2020 at 9:54 pm

Hello Andrew,
With all these Yalumba reviews, surely you’ve got a ’14/’15 Signature for review amongst them?

Thanks
Colin

Reply
1. Andrew Graham
  
  July 28, 2020 at 10:59 am
  
  Sadly I don’t normally get sent the Signature. I see it in trade and wine show tastings, but they’re not happening at the moment either!
  
  Reply
Mahmoud Ali

July 29, 2020 at 11:04 am

I don’t think I’ve ever had a Yalumba Cabernet but I am a fan of the classic Australian blend of Shiraz-Cabernet. For some reason the Signature doesn’t get much marketing and press. Like the Bin 389 it should be a good candidate for the cellar.

Colin, take the plunge and cellar a bottle or two, I did with it with the 1996 and hadn’t even tasted it at the time: good producer with a pedigree, top vintage, and a classic blend, always makes for a good bet.

Cheers.

Reply
Colin

July 29, 2020 at 11:10 am

Hello Mahmoud,
I suppose my earlier question was slightly tongue in cheek. I’m a huge fan of Yalumba Signature (as you also seem to be) and they are well represented in my wine fridge and cellar. As Andrew has noted in his earlier posts, they take quite a few years to unwind.

Cheers to you to.

Reply