2019 Taylors The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley

A deep and dense cabernet sauvignon that leans heavily into its oak-laden credentials and potently ripe fruit flavours. Inky, thick, hearty in cinnamon and clove spice, coconut elements, espresso and then we get the forest berries, blackforest cake, truffle, prune and fig characters. It feels a bit breathy and hot on the palate and finishes with a little lemony bite. Beyond that, the mellow, rich flow of the wine should make for successful landfall for those seeking wines of freight-train power. Perhaps the balance a quibble, and more time needed yet to mellow out.

93+ points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

From the Clare Valley, Taylors The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeply considered tribute to Bill Taylor Senior, the founding force behind the estate and a true pioneer of modern Clare Valley winemaking. The Taylor family established their vineyards in 1969, recognising the potential of the region’s terra rossa soils over limestone to produce Cabernet of structure, purity and longevity. Today, the third generation continues that legacy with meticulous vineyard management, careful fruit selection and extended maturation to craft a wine that speaks of both heritage and precision.

Sourced from the estate’s best Cabernet parcels, the fruit benefits from Clare Valley’s warm days and cool nights, allowing full flavour development while retaining natural acidity and aromatic lift. Traditional winemaking techniques are combined with extended maturation in French oak, building depth, integration and a refined tannin structure that defines the style.

A deep garnet purple fills the glass with commanding intensity. Aromas are layered and complex, revealing blackcurrant, dark plum and blackberry intertwined with cedar, cigar box, graphite and dried herbs. With air, more subtle notes emerge, dark chocolate, bay leaf, tobacco and a gentle earthy mineral thread that reflects the underlying limestone soils.

The palate is full bodied and beautifully structured, delivering concentrated cassis and black cherry fruit framed by firm, finely grained tannins and vibrant natural acidity. There is a seamless integration of oak, adding notes of cocoa, spice and a touch of vanilla without overwhelming the fruit. The wine carries impressive weight through the mid palate, yet remains poised and controlled, finishing long, savoury and persistent. This is a serious Clare Valley Cabernet built for the long term, with a drinking window easily stretching fifteen to twenty five years, where it will evolve into layers of leather, truffle, cedar and earthy complexity.

Slow braised beef cheeks melting into a rich jus, charred dry aged ribeye sliced thick, or spiced lamb shoulder with cumin and coriander shared across the table. Beethoven’s Symphony No 7 rising in the background or something equally bold like Nina Simone at full voice, the wine holding its ground with quiet authority, the kind of bottle that commands attention without ever asking for it.