Xanadu Circa 77 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Xanadu Circa 77 Cabernet Sauvignon brings Margaret River Cabernet character into a generous, immediately appealing frame. Blackcurrant, blueberry and dark plum meet chocolate, subtle toast and savoury herbal notes, while supple tannins keep the medium to full-bodied palate polished rather than heavy. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the blend, with Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc adding colour, perfume and shape. It is a smart choice for roast lamb, grilled steak or a rich mushroom dish, and has enough structure to reward a few years in the cellar.

What the winery says:

The 2022 blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, sourced entirely from Margaret River. Sixty percent of the fruit came from Xanadu's estate-grown Boodjidup vineyards, with the balance drawn from mature vineyards across the region. Fermentation took place in rotary and static fermenters, with a portion receiving extended skin contact for added plushness and savoury texture. After malolactic fermentation, the wine matured for 14 months in French oak barriques, 20% new. The winery describes ripe blackcurrant, blueberry, dark plum, cassis, redcurrant, chocolate and toasty oak, supported by ripe, supple tannins.

What the experts say:

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 94/100 and 5 Stars (2022)
“This is gorgeously composed and expressed on the nose, showing blackcurrant, dried herb, rich floral, clove and toasted nut aromas. It's equally satisfying in the mouth, delivering refined texture together with fine, chalky tannins, offering excellent structure that's both sturdy and silky. At its best: now to 2034”