Thorn-Clarke William Randell Cabernet Sauvingon 2016 (6x750mL), Eden Valley

Expert Reviews

95 Points – Bob Campbell MW

Elegant, powerful cabernet sauvignon with classic cassis, blackcurrant, cedar and black olive varietal characters. A taut, high-energy wine that can be appreciated now but has obvious cellaring potential.

90 - 93 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate September 2018 I tasted the 2016 William Randell Cabernet Sauvignon as a final blend, one month before bottling. Mint and cassis mark the nose, followed by a full-bodied, ripe wine that seemed creamy-textured and soft. For a Cabernet Sauvignon, it's awfully plush and easy to drink.

91 Points - Huon Hooke Deep, brightly glowing purple/blue colour, very youthful. The bouquet is subdued but has notes of smoky charry oak and some background celery and herbal notes. The wine is raw and edgy on the tongue, astringent and bold, with some hardness due largely to acidity. The berry fruit aromas are raw and shrill, too.

19/20 – Raymond Chan Very dark, deep, near impenetrable black-hued ruby-red colour with some purple on the rim. The nose is initially a little restrained but shows plenty of presence and depth with well-packed and concentrated aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of plums entwined with cassis liqueur, with nuances of dark herbs and mint. The aromatics are harmoniously integrated and grow in depth with aeration. Full-bodied, the palate has a rich and softly sweet, rounded core of fully-ripened blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with notes of plums, cassis liqueur and dark herbs. The oaking is sensitive and is integral. The flavours are integrated and balanced, and the fruit is supported by very fine-grained tannin extraction lending a refined structure. The acidity is soft, but there is power and energy driving the wine, which flows seamlessly to a smooth, sustained finish. This is a sweetly rich and harmoniously balanced Cabernet Sauvignon with ripe black fruits, cassis and herbs on a fine-grained, smooth flowing palate.