Cabernet Shiraz The Caley, Yalumba 2012

There are three near perfect Great Australian Red wines from the 2012 vintage from Yalumba, and two of these score 19+/20 and I have upgraded the other one to a perfect score. All three are superstars but 2012 The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz did something which will never happen again, as long as I live. It won the title The Great Australian Red for a second year on the trot. If you consider that 26 judges over two years with over two hundred wines to consider collectively decided on the same wine twice (by only one vote, by one person) this is less likely than winning the lottery, so I have been buying Lotto and EuroMillions tickets ever since.

This is the first vintage of Yalumba’s new Cabernet/Shiraz-based flagship wine. Deep garnet in color, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz The Caley offers expressive baked blackberries, cherry cordial and blackcurrant jelly notes with suggestions of Chinese five spice, cedar and anise. The palate is built like a brick house, delivering a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to support and complement the voluptuous, full-bodied flesh. It offers a very long, layered finish with lingering exotic spice and black berry preserves notes. Give it 3-5 more years in bottle and drink it over the next twenty-five.