2011 d'Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon Museum Release, McLaren Vale

How this was achieved in ?11 is anyone's guess, other than vigilant viticulture and nerves of steel in delaying the picking. It has an extra edge to its varietal expression thanks to the cool temperatures (rain to one side), blackcurrant/cassis the driver, savoury olive and bay leaf in the rear seat. A very good wine.

95 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au August 2016

From one of McLaren Vale’s most characterful estates, d’Arenberg has been in the Osborn family since 1912, with Chester Osborn continuing the tradition of hands on, small batch winemaking. The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon is named after the historic strip of vineyards that run alongside the estate, and it has long been one of the Vale’s benchmark Cabernets. A Museum Release like 2011 offers a rare chance to see this wine with proper bottle age, where structure and fruit have had time to knit together.

The 2011 vintage was cooler and more challenging, producing wines that lean toward restraint and classicism rather than power. In the right hands, and with time in the cellar, these wines develop beautifully, showing finesse, savoury detail and a more medium bodied frame.

Now sitting in a mature phase, the colour has softened into garnet with a brick hue. The aromatics are layered and complex, blackcurrant and plum evolving into cedar, tobacco leaf and dried herbs. There is a lifted note of bay leaf and mint, alongside earthy tones, graphite and a gentle savoury spice.

The palate is elegant and resolved, with fine, softened tannins carrying flavours of cassis, mulberry and savoury spice. The cooler vintage shows in the wine’s line and freshness, with acidity keeping everything focused and lively. Tertiary notes of leather, dried herbs and a touch of earth build through the finish, giving length and complexity.

This is a wine that belongs at the table. Roast lamb, slow cooked beef, or dishes with earthy depth all work beautifully, as do aged cheeses that echo its savoury profile.

Drinking beautifully now, fully in its window, though it will continue to hold for several more years as those tertiary characters deepen.

There is a quiet charm here, a reminder that cooler vintages, given time, can deliver wines of real elegance and character, offering a more nuanced side of McLaren Vale Cabernet.