2021 The Peake Cabernet Shiraz *

Dense, concentrated colour and a bouquet that suggests briars and tar/bitumen, with multiple herbs, blackberry and black cherry beneath, the palate loaded with mouth-coating tannins that complement the rich flavours. Traces of underbrush and a smidgin of tomato-bush. A big, solid, concentrated wine of long-term potential.

It’s the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and shiraz (40%). Amazing wine. Deep and elegant at once. Seamless, just so seamless. Blackcurrant and bay leaf notes, woodsmoke and cedar, roasted nuts, some coffee, some salted black olive characters. Tannin is immensely fine-grained; the finish all-round feels confident and long. Spread; that’s what this wine has. Lots of spread. It’s championship material. It’s a long-termer.

This is a big wine, it’s deep almost purple hued tone is almost impenetrable. 60% Cab Sav 40% Shiraz, all from mature 1971 vines. Intense brambly black fruits, cassis, bay leaf, black olive, peppercorn, aniseed pastille and a slight potpourri note and a subtle campfire peatiness. Heavyweight, compact fruit is at the core of this wine, wrapped with experienced winemaking and new oak. Lifting its head through the tight weave is a nimble acid line, ducking and threading at a steady pace through the mouth. Tannins are firm and unrelenting, which will provide decades in the cellar. These muscles are so tightly knit, it will take a few deep tissue massages, a decant and time in the bottle to relax and open up. This is a power brokers wine, weighty and sure of itself, with well shined shoes. Would love to see this in ten plus years’ time.

TOP RATED CABERNET SHIRAZ BLENDS A joint effort from Chris Carpenter and Pete Fraser. Majority cabernet (60%) riding riffs of cassis, mint, rolled sage, tapenade and bay leaf over shiraz's warmer chord below. A rich wine of immaculate tannic cladding, attesting to optimal fruit quality and a deft hand. Like alloyed ballbearings running through the mouth. The mocha-cedar of the oak is salubrious of feel rather than obtuse or excessive. Maritime freshness, a classy undercarriage infusing energy while towing impressive length. This is an immensely classy wine that sets the bar very high for the quintessential home blend.