Welcome to edition six of Liquor Barons’ On the Vine.

“As wintery mornings and evenings start to frost our lawns, our thoughts begin to wander to soul-warming reds. This edition of Liquor Barons On the Vine, we have focused on the staples; Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, with a little Merlot and Malbec thrown in for good measure. You will be taken through the most divine, and some of our favourite, recent vintage WA wines, that have awed us with their striking quality.

These are classy wines that make for excellent drinking today but also have great potential to age like… fine wine.”

Good drinking.

On The Vine Edition Six Tasting Notes

• Nikola Estate | Shiraz 2022 | 93/100 
  Generous, yet soft and refined. That’s what this splendid Swan Valley Shiraz speaks. Spicy, savoury notes merge with ripe plum and a little stewed rhubarb. It has a cream vanillin oak influence with the fine tannins and subtle oak perfectly harmonising. A bright, high-energy wine, perfect for drinking in the next few years.
• Torzi Matthews | Schist Rock Shiraz 2022 | 93/100
  This is such a beautifully lifted aromatic Shiraz that comes from the cooler climes of the Eden Valley. You’ll experience bright cherry and light plummy flavours, with a spicy peppery lift. A super value and simply superb wine.
• Forester Estate | Lifestyle Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 | 93/100
  A consistently strong performer, especially with their reds. This is a terrific wine from the exceptional ‘23 vintage. It shows the rich opulence of the vintage, with a firm thread of dark fruits and minerally tannins of the region. You will find cleverly managed oak and fine, gripping tannins that hold the core together to a long finish.
• Singlefile | Great Southern Malbec 2023 | 93/100
  Delicious, juicy and delightful. This Great Southern Malbec clearly demonstrates this region’s suitability to the variety. You hear a lot about Mendoza Malbec, but you don’t have to go far to find something equally world-class. You’ll experience plummy blackberry and stewed rhubarb aromas, accompanied by a soft spice and dark chocolate to complete the smoothly integrated palate.
• Juniper | Original Red Cabernet Merlot | 92/100
  The warm ‘22 vintage has delivered plenty of solid, rich fruit to this classic blend. This is a Cabernet dominant blend, with the firm varietal core driving the structure of a pleasing and flavoursome red. The Merlot adds plenty of mid-palate flesh, with a mix of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and a slightly black olive nuance that completes this tidy value wine.
• Lenton Brae | Cabernet Sauvignon | 93/100 
  A truly elegant and refined medium to full-bodied Cabernet. You will be graced with distinctive Cabernet notes with deep blackcurrant, bay leaf and black olive nuances. The palate is linear with chalky, angular tannins and a mix of new and used French oak in support. With a touch of oyster shell minerality to finish.