Review: Yalumba Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

It may surprise many to hear, but Coonawarra Cabernet is a more challenging sell these days. Sure, the top wines still move, but there isn’t the lust as even ten years ago. It’s not just Coonawarra Cabernet either – Cab as a category is a slower mover, at least in retail land.

Anyway, there’s plenty of classic charm in this Yalumba Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, even if it’s seriously unready. Even at five years old, it is a long way off any sort of peak, which is part of the challenge with ageworthy Cabernets too.

Dark colours, dark berry fruit, a wedge of mint and then firm tannins. That’s the vibe. I’ve always seen Menzies as more of a minty and stoic style too, and this vintage is no change. It’s somewhat angular, the acidity fighting the tannins, but that dark berry power feels so assured. The 2018 feels like a big vintage, too – that chunky power through the middle has a warm-year thickness to it. At every point, this is a substantial, classically regional style for the long haul.

THE VERDICT

• Best drinking: Later. 2028 would be a good time.
• Score (out of 20): 18
• Score (out of 100): 93
• Alcohol %: 14
• RRP (in $AUD): 60
• Winery website: https://www.yalumba.com/
• Would I buy it?: Let's share a bottle in five years time.