2022 Barwang Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Hilltops

Pitch perfect, mellow…with bright fruits meshed to pleasingly minty herbal characters underpinned by some earthiness and smoky, woody spices.  Soft texture, fine tannins good length…and a general sense of high drinkability. Charming.

92 points Mike Bennie, WBM Wine Business Magazine

Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon has a knack for combining ripeness with structure, and this single vineyard release from Barwang shows that balance in a really appealing way. Grown at elevation in southern New South Wales, the site benefits from warm days to build flavour and cool nights that hold onto acidity, giving Cabernet that mix of generosity and line.

The 2022 vintage opens with classic varietal character, blackcurrant and dark cherry layered with plum and a lift of cassis. There is a savoury edge building underneath, bay leaf, cedar and a touch of tobacco, with a hint of spice and graphite adding depth.

On the palate it is medium to full bodied with fine, structured tannins that give the wine shape without drying it out. The fruit is ripe but controlled, carried by a line of freshness that keeps everything balanced. Flavours move into more savoury territory, cedar, spice and a subtle earthy note, finishing long and composed.

Winemaking is handled with a focus on clarity and structure, allowing the vineyard to speak while oak adds polish and a gentle frame.

This is a great wine to get creative with at the table. Charcoal grilled lamb cutlets with rosemary and anchovy hit the classic note, but it also shines with something like a slow cooked beef and black bean chilli, or a thick cut steak with café de Paris butter. For something different, try it with duck and cherry glaze, or even a smoky barbecue pulled beef burger with sharp cheddar. Vegetarian options hold up just as well, think grilled portobello mushrooms with garlic and thyme, eggplant parmigiana, or a rich lentil and walnut ragu with pasta.

Drinking well now, it will continue to soften and build more savoury complexity over the next five to eight years.