Yalumba The Cigar Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon, Menzies Estate Vineyard, Coonawarra, Australia, 2019   

Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 16 months in oak.

Producer Tasting Note: 

The deep magenta colour shows vibrancy and hints of the rich, expressive wine to come. The aromatics are opulent, with a perfume of violets, dark soy, hints of spice and the warm, comforting mélange of black fruits. The palate is eloquent with blackcurrants, red plums and clove spice melding with dark chocolate. The wine has a beautiful structure with fine tannins, balanced acidity and a lingering finish.

The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon is named after the unique cigar-shaped strip of rich terra rossa soil that defines the famous Coonawarra wine region. 

Critic's Tasting Note:

"Full, deep ruby-red, even colour throughout. The nose is full and vibrant, with aromas of red currant, cassis and raspberry, alongside cedar, tobacco, minerals, fresh spices and vine leaf. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with cassis, blackberry and plum, enriched by cedar, tobacco, clove and nutmeg spices, unfolding dark minerals and a hint of herbaceousness. The wine is mouth-filling and rich with spice and fine-grained tannins, providing a well-structured framework. Balanced acidity drives a lengthy, complex finish. This classic Cabernet Sauvignon shows a bold structure with a strong fruit core and a complex range of flavours. Match with ribeye steak and wagyu short ribs over the next 12+ years. Fruit from Menzies Vineyard, fermented to 14% alc, Aged for 16 months in new French oak barriques (32%), one-year-old French oak barriques and hogsheads (8%), the balance in older French oak. Vegan friendly."

18.5/20 points, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, March 2023

Also, in Australia itself, the 2019 vintage was awarded Gold (Class 39 "Best Cabernet Sauvignon") at the Melbourne Royal Show, 2021; Gold James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge, 2021; Gold (Class 27) at the National Wine Show of Australia – Canberra, 2021; Gold (Class 37) at the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show, 2022.