2018 Cherubino Shiraz, Frankland River

Deep red/purple colour and dusty-peppery, slightly marine seabreezy characters on the nose. Intense, powerful, concentrated and long, but it’s all delivered with great elegance. Superb tannin structure. A delicious wine and it has enormous potential for cellaring as well. 14 NOV 2021 Drink 2021–2036

 96 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

It has regional appeal aplenty - black-blue fruits, squid ink and black pepper and on first pour, somewhat hammered by lots of varnishy-sweet-charry oak. Yet all that fades with air, to reveal a vibrancy and plushness. Ripe, dense tannins and appealing in the end.

95 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au  August 2020

This has sultry, wet-stone aromas with fresh red flowers and spiced red plums on offer. Super fresh. The palate has a plush, succulent and juicy feel with a vibrant, spicy delivery of red-plum flavors and smoothly layered tannins. Fresh and alluring. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

94 points Nick Stock jamessuckling.com Apr 2020 

Shaped by one of Western Australia’s coolest and most remote wine regions, this Shiraz captures the precision and savoury edge that Frankland River does so well. Cherubino sources fruit from elevated, windswept vineyards where ironstone and gravelly soils, combined with long ripening seasons, produce Shiraz with perfume, structure and natural restraint. The focus here is on freshness, line and site expression, creating a style that leans more toward northern Rhône elegance than Barossa richness.

The colour is deep crimson with purple hues. Aromas are lifted and complex, showing dark cherry, blackberry and plum, layered with cracked black pepper, violets, dried herbs and subtle smoked meat notes. The palate is medium to full bodied, with juicy dark fruit framed by fine, savoury tannins and a bright acid line that gives drive and length. There is a mineral, ironstone like edge through the finish that adds seriousness and excellent food appeal.

Superb with lamb, grilled meats, pepper crusted steak, mushroom dishes and slow cooked beef. Drinking well now with air, it will cellar confidently for eight to twelve years, gaining extra savoury, earthy and spice driven complexity.