2011 Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is the home and where the majority of fruit is sourced for crafting Wirra Wirra’s famous red wines, but they also source premium white grapes from a select group of vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, a cooler climate grape growing region, to make an award winning sauvignon blanc, riesling and chardonnay.

Of Wirra Wirra’s owned vineyards, Scrubby Rise (ironically flat and bereft of scrub), Nocowie (named by Trott’s father who disliked cows), Chook Block (next to Trotty’s old Chicken Sheds), ‘73 Block (one guess only), Woodhenge and House Block contribute some of their best fruit year after year.

These blocks on their estate are managed biodynamically – a sustainable practice that they have followed now for nearly a decade. Their efforts were recognised in 2013 when they received biodynamic certification from the NASAA group – the Australian and International Organic Certifier.

On their certified organic and biodynamic vineyards around the winery, no systemic chemicals or pesticides are used in their cultivation – only permitted organic and biodynamic inputs and preparations.

Strong crimson-purple; it is surprising how many top benchmark wines were made in '11; this is a brooding, savoury, blackcurrant wine which is in some ways a throwback to top cabernet of 20 years ago; the tannins are savoury and persistent.

94 points James Halliday Wine Companion