Balgownie Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Bendigo)

The 2018 Balgownie Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Bendigo has aromas of dark chocolate, snickers, dark berries, and mint. Very Balgownie. Maybe a little forward this year, but also very classical. On the palate you get brick dust, choc peanuts, almost a little leather, compact tannins. Never feels overcooked, just ripe and driven by powdery, ripe, natural tannins.

"A mix of fruit from 49- and 48-year-old vines (70/30), involving 30% whole berry under crushed fruit, fermented wild in open vats, with around 18 days of skin contact and aged for 18 months in 25% new oak. Balgownie is well known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, which is renowned for its cellarability. The 2018 shows great varietal character, with blackberry, plum and tomato leaf, as well as some spicy liquorice and vanilla from the oak, and the beginnings of tertiary complexity with earth, prune and chocolate. The palate has a lovely mouthfeel, with very bright fruit giving it a fresh accent. The tannins are still pretty big and teeth-coating, but when consumed with food, they melt away, leaving a smooth, rich and fruit-centred core. I believe this should confidently age for at least another 10-15 years."
95 Points - Brendan Black, Wine Pilot