2023 Paxton CAB Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale

From both the Thomas and Jones Blocks, the former the coolest and latest pick, the latter picked across two tranches for flavour depth and verve; 10 months in mostly seasoned oak, with a little new. Fragrant with violets, peppery spices, kelp and leafy herbal notes, there is also considerable depth of darker fruit – blackberry, plum and black cherry. That continues on the palate, the impact fruit-sweet, herbal and structured, boisterous but all in good balance. It’s more than handy value. Drink 2024 to 2028.

91 points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion, Special Value, April 2025

David Paxton is one of McLaren Vale's most respected viticulturalists with a career built not on winemaking but on growing exceptional fruit. His vineyards have been certified organic and biodynamic since 2011.

Winemaker Ashleigh Seymour came to Paxton after a decade of immersion in biodynamic thinking in Italy. This influenced not just her view on farming but the way she approaches life and the rhythm of the seasons. Her approach is to guide the wine rather than direct: getting it right in the vineyard first, then keeping the wine under wraps as it finds its own way. It's a natural fit for a producer whose reputation was built on viticulture, long before it was built on winemaking.

Fruit for the CAB is drawn from two of the estate's best-suited blocks: Thomas Block, the coolest site on the property, and Jones Block, harvested across two separate picks to capture both lifted varietal character and darker fruit depth. The batches are fermented separately before blending, with a small proportion of new oak helping to soften the tannins and the balance spending time in seasoned French puncheons and barriques.

Fragrant and expressive on the nose — violets, peppery spice, blackberry and plum with a herbal freshness. The palate is medium to full-bodied, fruit-sweet and structured with good balance, and enough depth to reward a few years in the cellar without demanding it.

Pour this with a nice midweek meal: pasta with a deeply flavoured ragu, or maybe a eggplant and lentil bake with smoked paprika and feta. The wine's dark fruit and herbal freshness are equally at home with both.