2015 Domaine Naturaliste Morus Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

A single vineyard planted in '78. 55% new oak for 14 months. Redcurrant, blackberry, violets and bay leaf bouquet; characters of cedar and chocolate on the palate are oak-derived, but sit seamlessly within the wine as well. The fruit and the tannin filling the mouth expansively.

96 points Steven Creber winecompanion.com.au 18 June 2021

Domaine Naturaliste Morus Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully composed Margaret River Cabernet that captures the quiet power and refinement of one of Australia’s greatest red wine regions. The vineyards sit in the cooler southern part of Margaret River, where gravelly loam soils over clay and the steady influence of the Indian Ocean create ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen slowly and evenly, building flavour while holding onto freshness and fine tannin structure.

Domaine Naturaliste is the project of Bruce Dukes, a highly respected winemaker whose background in Burgundy and Margaret River shows clearly in his focus on balance, vineyard expression and detail. The Morus cuvée takes its name from the mulberry tree and is drawn from carefully selected sites that give both intensity and elegance rather than sheer weight.

In the glass, the wine shows blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum, layered with violets, bay leaf, cedar and a gentle graphite note that is so typical of Margaret River Cabernet. The palate is medium to full bodied but beautifully shaped, with fine, silky tannins, bright acidity and a long, savoury finish. It has depth and power, but everything is carried with restraint and poise.

This is a wonderful wine for the table. Roast beef, lamb, grilled meats, mushroom based dishes or aged hard cheeses all bring out its savoury complexity and structure.

Domaine Naturaliste Morus Cabernet Sauvignon is drinking well now with a little air, but it will continue to evolve over ten to fifteen years, gaining more complexity and harmony with time. It is a confident, terroir driven expression of Margaret River Cabernet that shows just how elegant this variety can be in the right hands.