Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon Wilyabrup Margaret River Western Australia Australia 2018 (14.5% ABV) – 93
SF | A dense, uncompromising color six years down the track; the aroma is equally dense, and one has to dig deep into the olfactory encyclopedia to conclude that there is indeed a vestigial black-fruit character; maybe nascent rather than vestigial, but shrouded, in any event. The palate is very conspicuously layered, the continental shelves distant one from the other. A serious wine, far from overwhelmed by its own ambition, and still gearing up for what may or may not unfurl over the next five to ten years. Despite the slightly disjointed profile today, I am pretty sure that it will be worth the wait. 90
AR | This is still remarkably youthful in color, showing promise in a brooding aromatic depth that combines perfumed dark berries and subtle oak spiciness; there's substance and depth here, in a wine of ripe cassis fruit concentration, whose almost imperceptible structure of finely judged acidity and softening tannins bring a suave and silky textural quality to a wine of obvious class and potential longevity; although deceptively powerful, it is starting to drink nicely now, but while I would be happy to drink a bottle now, I would squirrel away a few more for a rainy day. 95
DW | Full and saturated dark fruit, but fragrant and lively, too, this has striking concentration but it doesn't feel at all forced or clumsy, the mouthcoating creaminess given focus and lift by a red-fruited tone that rings right through the finish, which is long and involving. Extremely accomplished. 94