2021 Cherubino Cabernet Sauvignon, Frankland River

Here's a wine that expresses so much about the Riversdale Vineyard and Frankland River. Loads of blackcurrant fruit, ironstone, liqueur cherry and dark chocolate provide a compelling aromatic beginning, then the palate reveals power, concentration and balance. The astute, restrained use of oak allows the fruit quality to shine. That touch of savoury ironstone, almost rusty nail, on the palate offsets the darker fruit characters perfectly. Exceptional wine. Drink to 2036.

97 points Ray Jordan WA Wine Review 2026

The 2021 Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon is all about the tannins in the mouth. The fruit is red, purple and fine, but the tannins it flows through are chewy, twiggy and brambly; the tannins persist after the wine has gone, but they are not drying or obstructive. I have long been a fan of Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon. It is distinctly different from Margaret River in its dusty, fine and earthy splay of tannins (sometimes they are more rustic than their more westerly neighbors), and yet there is an effortlessness about them that is endlessly impressive—as this is. If there was a quibble here, it might be the acidity, which sits right at the top and back of the palate for me, but otherwise, it is superb. Drink to 2041.

95 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, January 2026

The fine-boned, elegant and expressive 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Frankland River delivers precise leafy aromas topped by crushed fresh blackcurrants and gravel. It is compact and composed with a seamless balance between vibrant flavors and sinewy tannins before unwinding into a long, fine, silky finish. Drink to 2038.

94 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, May 2024

Deep colour still retaining a tinge of purple; cedar, pencil shavings and ferrous touches on the nose, entering its tertiary phase now but yet to build great complexity. Medium-full body with fine grained, soft textured tannins, long and drying on the finish and savoury aftertaste. Drink to 2036.

93 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, October 2025

Larry Cherubino is an experienced winemaker of Italian heritage with roots firmly in place across Western Australia’s Great Southern, Pemberton and Margaret River wine regions. His extensive portfolio of wines spans a dozen or so labels, each offering a number of varieties or styles, and all delivering impressively consistent quality and value.

The 2021 vintage in Frankland River was defined by a cool, steady growing season that delivered excellent fruit quality and classical regional expression. The resulting wines are noted for their purity, structure, fine tannins, freshness and longevity, making 2021 one of the standout recent vintages for Frankland River reds.