2022 Taylors St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley

A come-hither cabernet that delivers on a promise of full flavour, rippling tannin, bold perfume and lavish spice on ripe fruit characters. It all sits very well in the glass. Blackberry jam meets dark chocolate, chai tea characters, woody, cedary spices, faint minty notes and a sprinkle of black pepper. The finish is a little fanned out and thinning, but it's a quibble in the general gist of a wine that shines bright with varietal character and regional oomph. Drink to 2033.

94+ points Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion, September 2026

Good colour, deep and still with a fairly youthful tinge. There are blackberry and briary, gunmleafy, Aussie bush aromas here with depth and power. Very full bodied and deep, but starting to develop softness and fleshy texture. Good drinking now if you have hearty protein at hand, otherwise cellar further. Drink to 2040.

94 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, August 2026

Cedar, cassis and violet greet on the nose, with blackcurrant and a hint of dark chocolate emerging with air. The palate is full-bodied and fresh with good fruit depth, fine tannins and a long, seamless finish.

A rich style Cabernet for a steak dinner or something slow roasted and falling off the bone. Approachable now with a good decant and will continue to develop for several years.

Taylors is a third-generation family-owned winery with substantial estate vineyards in South Australia’s Clare Valley. The St Andrews wines sit at the top of their diverse portfolio, released only from select estate parcels and only in vintages the winemaking team considers worthy. The 2022 is one of those, after a near perfect season, with good yields and great quality. The fruit for this wine was given extended skin contact before 18 months in French oak, with one third new barrels. The oak influence is present but measured.