Xanadu, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

Blackcurrant, sour cherry, some dried fruit and faint earthiness. Very good acidity as at Jan 2025, full flavoured, medium tannins, very enjoyable at the moment.

2014 vintage

Context is very important. I am making this note on a Friday night, eating steaky, feelin' goooooooood and listening to a mix of lighter jazz, blues and southern rock. The wine I am reviewing is the base level Xanadu Cab, under screw cap (no cork foibles to worry about here, folks), open about 4 hours but un-decanted and poured down my loathsome gullet from a Riedel Cab stem. Ladies and gentlemen, the wine fits the occasion really damned nicely. I …

2011 vintage

11 years old, ruby garnet slight haze but bright. Browning around edge. Medium on all fronts (intensity, acids, tannins etc. lost its aroma a bit from half hour n decanter. Quality good but not a home run. Moderate Tertiary leather and tobacco supported by black fruit and sour cherry. I note $100 per bottle at outlets, I would class as a $45 to $50 value.

2011 vintage

Licorice, smoke, and juicy dark fruit on the nose. Hearty and vibrant on the palate with cocoa, cassis, blackberries, and a hint of mint. Smooth on the finish with charcoal, plums, dark berries, and earth.

2014 vintage

this is a decent wine . BlackBerry, quite sweet fruited, maybe too much. Juicy black cherry, elegance, light eucalyptus, burnt barrels. A long dusty red brick road across pencil shavings. Interest.

2014 vintage

I’m giving high marks for a 6 year old Cabernet for there sheer deliciousness of the fruit. Vibrant, juicy. There’s oak here but it plays a minor supporting role. 14%, screwcap.

2014 vintage

On opening we have a Black core in colour with a ruby rim at April 2020. Nice as excepted . On the nose we have ripe blackcurrant fruit leaping out of the glass with nice complexity of newish oak and used ones. Again as excepted . nice On the palate we have sweet fruit upfront , nice medium bodied mid palate richness which is maturing and nice softening tannins , alc is in check for the fruit , well balanced …

2014 vintage

Blueberry with just a touch of fig on a faint mineral foundation. Light on the acid but the tannins cling to your tongue for a nice long finish.

2014 vintage

Young. Good, if unspectacular. Probably has best years ahead of it; nice now though. 90-91pts

2014 vintage

Deep ruby in the glass. Nicely layered already on the nose - notes of black fruit, strawberry, sweet spices and whiffs of oak. Soft texture, complex, well-balanced. Could use a bit more strength and grip.

2014 vintage

Solid wine. Great QPR. Re-iterate my 93 score, but not bottles left now :-(

2011 vintage

pnp. blackberry, currant, peppercorn, a little earthy funkiness, soft medium tannins.

2014 vintage

deep dark burgundy red, medium clarity, silver hue Nose: plum, cassis, cigar, tobacco, wet earth, dirt, allspice, stem, oak Pal: plum, cassis, minerals, tobacco, wet earth, dirt, green pepper, allspice, clove, spice, stem, oak Feel: medium, savory, acidic Finish: medium T7 (could be an 8)

2014 vintage

2 hour decant, medium-full bodied, acidity/tannins/fruit really in good balance, short-medium finish, well made, typical Margaret River, no old world funk, no new world/California heaviness, a refined Cab for a good price, on the one hand not distinctive, on the other hand no big flaws, just a really solid wine.

2014 vintage

$37 vintage cellars $33 Aus cellar door Cassis Mulberries black plum cinnamon nori potpourri 19 trophies 36 Golds Best cab Winenshow WA 2018

2014 vintage

Deep purple with deep violet at the edges. Nose of black cherries and white pepper and, (promisingly), muted alcohol. This is a really interesting wine with notes of white and black pepper, cranberries, and distant vanilla on the finish that joins with the cranberry.

2014 vintage

Not as good as previous. Bought from different source. Last one was direct from vineyard

2011 vintage

Drinking very well right now. Can’t imagine it getting much better from here and superb for a c33$ wine

2011 vintage

Deep ruby colour. Developing with pronounced intensity of black currants, black pepper, tomato leaf, tobacco, earthy. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, soft medium (+) tannins. High alcohol. Medium (+) body, full flavour with black currant, black berries, earthy. Finish is long. Wine is good, well balance and good intensity.

2014 vintage

Perfectly structured , drinking superbly, loaded with black currant and chocolate flavours. Must be close to its peak

2011 vintage

Textbook Aus cab. Nicely done but not amazing. Tannins in check. Sophisticated sourness. Refreshingly delightful. Much more enjoyable than an 'old world' 90.

2014 vintage

No 22, XANADU: a little wet on the nose, a hint of oxidated leaves. A hint of cedar and pepper. Medium sandy coating tannin, medium+ alcohol, medium body, medium+ acidity. Dry. Ripe dark cherry. Some Vanilla in the finish.

2011 vintage

Another good bottle. All the rich black fruit of the bottle I had in April but the added notes of black olive and oregano in the mid palate. Just an excellent bottle with a very long finish.

2011 vintage

Bought from vineyard

2011 vintage

Had the other bottle back in February and it was almost undrinkable. Long way from Australia and lots of bad things can happen to a bottle of wine. This version has an amazingly long finish that is full of juicy black raspberry and maybe a touch of chocolate.

2011 vintage

Not your typical Australian fruit driven wine. Somewhat austere at first but breathing helped. Varietally correct. Good value.

2011 vintage

When I opened this last night I almost poured it down the drain. Assumed it was cork taint until I remembered it was a screw cap. Very musty open with the redeeming quality of a rich silky black cherry finish. Tonight the musty open was gone but so was most of the finish. Maybe if I had decanted last night it would have been a decent bottle.

2011 vintage

Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $40+ (Bin 75) : Garnet core showing some clarity; sweet fruit, fat and rich, berry fruit, blue and red, vanilla, chocolate; soft sappy texture, a bit one dimensional, herbs, chocolate, smoky, green pepper, sweet brulee, cherry, weaker mid palate; called Cullen Cab (Margaret River), simpler but tasty.

2011 vintage

Classic Margaret River style, juicy cabernet fruit with dusty dry finish. Great with a leg of lamb.

2011 vintage

Did the job for a Cab in the low $20's. Had a hint of class about it, so was satisfied.

2011 vintage

Good fruit, smooth, easy drinking....

2011 vintage

The color is ruby, medium (+) intensity. The nose is clean, with ripe black fruit (currant and plum), vanilla, cigar box and a little leather on the finish. The nose is of medium (+) intensity and is developing. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and medium alcohol (14%). The palate has a generally darker and more brooding flavor profile, perhaps due to being aged 14 months in 40% new French oak. This is an elegant, balanced, …

2011 vintage

Deep dense colour Nose of red and black fruit ,chocolate and cedar Excellent balance of fruit and oak Long finish Great Margaret river cabernet

2011 vintage

Classic Margaret River Aussie Cab characteristics. Medium weight, mixed red and black fruits. Lots of spice / acidity on the finish. Very mild tannins in the background. Good daily drinker, but not complex or exceptional.

2011 vintage

14.5% alc.; 14 months in French oak barriques Excellent, classy, restrained wine Colour: black berry Bouquet: sweet fruit, plum, and blackberry, with pencil shavings, some mint, coffee capsicum. Palate: as bouquet, tight and structured, balanced, long clean finish, fine grained soft tannins.

1999 vintage

good current fruit and fine tannins on the ending. A nice bottle for $13.

1999 vintage

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Xanadu, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

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