2022 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

Menzies spends 18 months maturing in French oak hogsheads and barriques. Black cherries and plums with late-season mulberries. Some carob and tonka bean with a deeply rooted volcanic-soil savouriness. Powdery tannins coat from front to back, and acidity slides between. A sturdy wine with reliability. Another decade or more in your cellar will unravel the red fruit and compact spice.

95 points Shanteh Wale for Halliday Wine Companion

The Menzies is one of Australia's great Cabernet Sauvignons and a wine that has become synonymous with Coonawarra excellence. First released in 1987 and named after Sir Robert Menzies, the wine honours the former Prime Minister's deep affection for Coonawarra and Yalumba's long standing connection with the region. Today the Hill Smith family continue to craft a Cabernet that combines power, elegance and remarkable longevity.

The fruit is sourced from Yalumba's historic Menzies Vineyard, planted on the famed terra rossa soils over limestone that have made Coonawarra one of the world's great homes for Cabernet Sauvignon. The cool maritime climate and long ripening season allow the grapes to develop intense flavour while retaining freshness and structure.

The colour is a deep crimson with youthful purple hues. Aromas of cassis, blackberry and blackcurrant leap from the glass alongside cedar, bay leaf and dark chocolate. The palate is beautifully structured, layering dark berry fruit over fine tannins and perfectly judged oak. Notes of graphite, tobacco leaf and spice build with air, while the finish remains long, polished and unmistakably Coonawarra in character.

Magnificent with roast lamb, dry aged rib eye, venison pie or wild mushroom pappardelle with parmesan. While already impressive with a decant, this is a wine built for the cellar and should continue to evolve gracefully for two decades or more.