The name of this red is ridiculously long: Oakridge 864 Oakridge Vineyard Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2023. Good luck shoehorning that into your minimalist wine list. Lucky, this is an epitome wine, where you say ‘that’s how Yarra Valley Cabernet should taste’. For it to lob up in a vintage where there are lots of middling Yarra wines is even more of an achievement. Dave Bicknell, I dip my lid. The real litmus test for this wine came when I took the rest of the bottle out to dinner with my non-wine friends. And despite it sitting on a table groaning with fancy wines, this red shone like a diamond.
Mediumness is what wins you over here, in the old school Yarra claret mode. Cedar, a little mint, dried herbs, and currants. Such a proper, elegant Cabernet. It’s instantly fresh, cool, yet doesn’t lack ripeness. Arguably, it doesn’t have x-factor – a bit too perfect for that. But also, it’s perfect.
- Best drinking: now and for two decades.
- Score (out of 20): 18.7
- Score (out of 100): 95
- Alcohol %: 13.00
- RRP (in $AUD): 96
- Winery website: https://oakridgewines.com.au/
- Would I buy it?: sure would. It's a lovely wine
THE VERDICT
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