2023 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Armagh Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley

Sourced from the sub-regions of Polish Hill River and Armagh. Aromas scream Cabernet: blackberry, blackcurrant, a little leaf, and syrupy dark chocolate. The palate is deeply concentrated, supported by chalky tannins and plenty of oak, yet perfectly balanced. Drives through to an extended finish. Tremendous cellaring potential yet delicious already.

97 points Ray Jordan winepilot.com

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Armagh Cabernet Sauvignon is a serious and finely detailed Clare Valley Cabernet that showcases the elegance and structure possible in this cool, elevated pocket of the region. The fruit comes from the Polish Hill River subregion near Armagh, one of Clare Valley’s highest and coolest areas, where vineyards sit on thin red loams over limestone and shale. These soils, combined with altitude and wide diurnal shifts, allow Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen slowly, building aromatic complexity, fine tannins and natural acidity rather than overt power. The result is a Cabernet that leans toward restraint, precision and longevity rather than sheer weight.

O’Leary Walker was founded by David O’Leary and Nick Walker, two winemakers deeply connected to Clare Valley and its subregional diversity. Both trained locally and built their reputation on understanding site first, particularly the cooler pockets suited to Riesling and refined reds. Cabernet Sauvignon from Polish Hill River and Armagh is handled with the same respect, with careful vineyard management, low yields and harvest timing focused on flavour and tannin maturity. In the winery, the approach is confident but controlled, with thoughtful extraction and well judged oak that supports structure without overwhelming the fruit.

In the glass the wine shows a deep ruby to crimson colour. Aromas are lifted and complex, offering blackcurrant, red plum and dark cherry layered with bay leaf, cedar, dried herbs and subtle graphite. The palate is medium to full bodied, tightly structured and composed, delivering cassis and dark berry fruit framed by fine, chalky tannins and a long, savoury finish driven by freshness and mineral tension. It pairs beautifully with roast beef, lamb, venison and mushroom dishes, and it has the balance to cellar confidently for fifteen to twenty years, developing notes of tobacco, leather and forest floor with time.

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Armagh Cabernet Sauvignon is a refined and distinctly Clare Valley expression of Cabernet, offering structure, elegance and site driven character from one of the region’s most respected producers.