2021 West Cape Howe Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Barker

An excellent wine from the 2021 vintage, which in Mount Barker delivered beautiful cool climate fruit with richness, concentration and supreme balance. Classic varietal characters of blackcurrant and dark plum with a touch of black cherry open on the nose, followed by a supple palate with a structural core contributing to its long finish. It's the most stylish expression of Mount Barker cabernet. Drink to 2031.

94 points Ray Jordan, Wine Review 2026

A deep pool of blackberry, plum and blackcurrant, with a clear signal of rich oak – vanilla, mocha, pencil shavings, cigar clippings – and vibrant acidity. Plenty of savoury influence, olive tapenade and tender vine leaf. Structured but resolved. Of a style for a dedicated following. Drink 2026 to 2032.

92 points Katrina Butler for Halliday Wine Companion, February 2026

West Cape Howe is a family run winery in Mount Barker based at the Langton vineyard established in 1978. The home vineyard fruit is complemented by fruit sourced primarily from Frankland River and the Porongurup, as well as the Perth Hills.

The best blocks of the winery’s Mount Barker Cabernet Sauvignon are reserved for Book Ends. Most are from the Karri Oak vineyard adjacent to the winery, with a minor portion from the Langton home vineyard. The region's gravelly loams and long ripening season are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, producing wines of structure, elegance, and age-worthiness.

The 2021 vintage demanded vigilance and hard work from viticultural teams across the Great Southern but yielded good quality fruit. This wine is fermented in small batches with regular pump overs. A portion is left on skins for additional extraction, and all matured in a combination of mostly seasoned French oak barriques for 18 months.

Dense dark red in colour, with a generous and aromatic nose of dark fruit, warm herbs and cedar. Intense, richly fruited and structured medium to full body that also serves generous helpings of olive tapenade, vine leaf and mocha notes. Savoury and long, with well-integrated tannins.

Ready to drink on release. Enjoy with pepper-crusted kangaroo loin and native currant jus or a wild mushroom ragù over chestnut polenta.