2021 Harewood Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Great Southern

Compelling evidence that Margaret River is not the only region in Western Australia which can make stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. From the Great Southern district, this is a cracker. Maturation is for an extended period in a mix of both new and older French oak. It is all rather a bit majestic. Deep maroon, this is beautifully structured. A complete wine. The nose reveals notes of black cherries, aniseed, tobacco leaves, cedar, plums, cocoa powder, mulberries, coffee grinds and cold tea. There is excellent length through to fine tannins and impressive balance throughout. Enjoy it over the next dozen years. This is really good buying. Drink 2025 to 2037.

94 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, November 2025

A youthful and bright red in the glass. Pretty and lifted aromas of blackberry, bramble, dried herbs, cedar, spice and a whiff of mint. Dark fruited, firm and structured, with cabernet's signature grippy, firm tannins and perky acidity at the core. The length and mouth-feel are impressive: a wine to cellar for some years. Drink 2025 to 2035.

92 points Aaron Brasher for The Real Review, October 2025

Winemaker James Kellie’s years as a contract winemaker for growers across the Great Southern region gave him unique insights into its diversity and potential. His love for the region led him to purchase a former client, Harewood Estate, in 2003 with his wife Careena. This commitment came with building a winery from scratch and a clear ambition: to make wines that reflect the full breadth of the Great Southern rather than a single corner of it.

The Reserve Cabernet is built on fruit from Frankland River and Mount Barker. Cold-soaked prior to fermentation with a select Bordeaux yeast. Malolactic was followed by refinement in new and one-year-old French oak before a barrel selection for this wine. The selected barrels rested for another year before blending and bottling.

Dark fruited and beautifully composed, with black cherries, plum and mulberry alongside cedar, tobacco leaf and a thread of aniseed and mint. The tannins are fine-grained and the balance impressive throughout.

This is a wine that shows best around five years from vintage and will drink well to the early 2030s. Good company for a slow-roasted lamb rack, a Moroccan-spiced beef tagine, or a well-aged hard cheese at the end of a long meal.