MUSEUM RELEASE - 2014 Oates Ends Cabernet Sauvignon

Our 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon shows great Margaret River typicity of cassis flavours sympathetically supported by extended ageing over 18 months in french oak barriques and puncheons.  With the structure to reward extended ageing in your cellar it also has the freshness and complexity to provide immediate enjoyment.  Hand harvested from the best Cabernet Sauvignon block at the Wilagri vineyard the fruit is gently destemmed and sorted before being hand plunged for several weeks, followed by a further extended maceration time to polish the tannin structure before oak ageing.  Following barrel selection and blending the wine is bottled without filtration to preserve freshness and fruit.

Western Stars - Gourmet Traveller Wine, Apr/May 2018. 96 Points. 5 Stars. "Has an intensely perfumed nose of dark and red berries with an elegantly styled palate.'Very lovely, gentle cassis, plus a touch of blueberry,' Patterson said. 'Bright blackberries on the palate. Lovely fruit. The tannin and acidity are fine and balanced. Beautifully composed.' It has good length. It's ready now and will age for several years."

Ken Gargett – The World of Fine Wine 96 Points. “Glorious aromas of dark berries, blackcurrants, spices, tobacco box, a  hint of animal skins, and quality chocolate; good underlying acidity, silky yet slightly furry tannins, good balance and length (96). A terrific future here, and one can expect to hear much more of Oates Ends.” Issue 65, 2019.

James Halliday - winecompanion.com.au. 95 Points."The colour isn't deep, but the hue is excellent; there's a lot to please in the wine, notably its freshness and varietal expression; the tannins are fine and persistent, as they should be. A stylish medium bodied cabernet that takes you by grace, not storm. Date tasted: 19/10/2017 Drink by: 2029"

Andrew Graham – Australian Wine Review. 18.5/20 "Fascinating to taste this in context of both the Voyager and the Juniper Estate. Quality-wise they’re difficult to separate, just different (and delicious). 3 great Margaret River reds from a strong vintage. This wine screams classic Margs flavour too. Bay leaf, cedar, dusty cassis and a whisper of eucalypt. The palate is sculpted by the tannins, the mode lightly herbal (in a good way), finely honed, but ripe too. It’s almost southern Margs with its hint of leafiness. But that ripeness is perfect. Classy mid-weight Cabernet that is the definition of shapely". 15/8/2019

Mike Bennie – Wine Front, Nov 2017. 94 Points  "Even keeled, finely formed cabernet of distinguished feel. Attractive bouquet suggests all things Margaret River in blue berries, light plumminess, bay leaf, a smidge of black olive with scents of toasty oak amongst it all. There’s fine ribbons of tannin clenching dark fruit, spice and more dried bayleaf in the palate – a long, even flow of medium weight elegance. The finish comes with a lacy flourish of tannin and freshness. It’s serious stuff, structured and detailed, well hewn, ‘classic’-feeling. An impressive release. Where were you for Oates Ends first releases..?" Drink : 2017 - 2030

Angus Hughson – Wine Pilot. 94 points. “It is a couple of years since I first saw this wine and it has not changed much, with just a touch of development. It’s deeply coloured, perfumed and understated with cedary, bay leaf, red currant and cassis fruits. It has filled out a bit too on a bone dry palate which is fleshy and dense, but with a line of sinewy tannins to keep it in shape. Fine and detailed it has a long seamless finish with plenty of tannins too making for a very pure expression of Margaret River Cabernet that is delicious.” 17/5/2020

Ray Jordan - The West Australian Wine Guide 2018. "Impressive Cabernet from this great vintage in Margaret River. The fruit comes from Wilyabrup. So much to like from this excellent cabernet. Touch of blackcurrant, a little black olive and even a trace of graphite. It is all together engaging with an integrated palate of grainy tannins and fine-grained French oak. Effortless through to the long finish. 93/100. 

Angus Hughson - WISH, Apr 2017. "Deep ruby in colour, this exceptional Margaret River style is elegant and reserved with layers of powerful blackberry, blackcurrant, gravel and cedar fruits.  Full bodied and firm, it shows well integrated and generous fine-grained tannins that promise plenty in the future."

Andrew Graham - Australian Wine Review, 23rd Feb 2017. "A classic mid-weight Cabernet, the overriding story here is balance, with aromatics that include some regional leaf in amongst the blackcurrants. There’s a delicacy here that is just delicious, the unforced style what you want (or I want) Margs Cabs to taste like, and with those fine tannins that regularly come from extended time on skins. In context – and given the wine the fruit otherwise goes into – this is well-priced too. Best drinking: 2017-2030+. 18.5/20, 94/100."