"97 POINTS. 2009 was the pinnacle of a run of five great vintages in the West, and with an almost equal share of Great Southern in the blend, this wine shows that the blessings flowed beyond Margaret River. It's everything that you'd expect of the finest vintages of Abercrombie, yet, simultaneously, more vibrant lift, deeper black fruits, lower alcohol (13.5%), more precise poise, more textural tannins, greater energy and more epic persistence. It will unravel for decades.” - Tyson Stelzer.
"96 POINTS. Deep purple-crimson; made from old vine cabernet from Great Southern (predominantly)/Margaret River; spends 20 months in 60% new French oak barriques and is fermented wild. This is classically powerful cabernet sauvignon, its fruit and tannins grappling with each other: over time the tannins will lose the battle and at the point of surrender, a truly great wine will emerge.” - James Halliday.
“96 POINTS. This important red has high expectations attached to it every year it is released. One of the country's best red wines, it delivers consistency and quality and a certain style of Cabernet year in year out. Priced accordingly, it is at the top end of the wine drinking experience for aficionados. Rest easy folks as 2009 will be no exception in the high expectations being again delivered stakes. I think it is an absolute cracker of a wine, albeit a young one. It has all the potential and restrained power there with its classic blackcurrant nose, just sitting there waiting to be slowly unleashed upon the drinker. Big but not OTT. Fine, grainy tannins, oak, enough to go the distance. Classic coffee, mocha oak at that. This has all the hallmarks of a very fine wine to follow. Oh and it drinks very well right now for those who can't or don't want to wait. Try it with a big juicy aged steak, medium rare.” - Paul Ippolito.
"95 POINTS. Blackberry, blackcurrant and cherry pie with a large serve of dusty cedar/mocha oak along with aniseed and subtle eucalyptus highlights. Medium weight but unashamedly firmly structured and tannic – pure and regal Cabernet Sauvignon with mighty length of flavour. Tasted over three days, each impression being more impressive than the last. Long term." - Gary Walsh.
The deep and dark ruby colour implies the intensity and richness that is abundantly delivered on bouquet and palate. Full of dense and very ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruits with hints of sweet mint, freshly rubbed savoury herbs, earth and truffle. The fruit power and opulence of the palate is deftly cradled by well integrated ripe fruit, firm acidity and fine oak tannins. A wine of great presence that will age with grace.
The 2009 season has produced a great vintage across Western Australia: all red grape varieties ripened fully, colours are intense and deep, tannins ripe and supple.The 2009 season has produced a great vintage across Western Australia: all red grape varieties ripened fully, colours are intense and deep, tannins ripe and supple.
The grapes for Abercrombie are hand-picked sorted and fermented in a mix of small static fermenters and open stainless steel vats. The wines are hand-plunged and pumped over as required to balance the extraction of colour, tannin and flavour development. The structure of both the Margaret River and Great Southern components allowed for extended maceration of the wines on skins for four weeks once alcoholic fermentation was complete. After maceration, each fermenter is basket-pressed to French oak barriques for 18 months of maturation which allows for integration of the oak and grape tannins. After minimal fining and filtration, the wine is bottled in October 2009 and released 8 to 10 months after bottling.
Don't Pay: $100
WBW Rating: 97/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Great Southern WA
Winemaker: Tony David, Genevive Stols
Drink now until: 2035
Alc/Vol: 13.5 %
