Description
We absolutely love Cabernet here at DD, so we were more than happy to help our mates Julian Langworthy and Rob Mann espouse the qualities of the grape via their new Cabernet Cartel alliance.
Here are six wines (including the Corymbia and Nocturne Cabernets) that we think demonstrate the prowess and sublime drinking on offer in modern Australian Cabernet.
- 2024 Corymbia Calgardup Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2024 Nocturne Sheoak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2024 Domaine Naturaliste Rebus Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2024 Dappled Tradition Cabernets
- 2025 Joshua Cooper Regional Release Cabernet
- 2025 Timo Mayer Cabernet Sauvignon
2024 Corymbia Calgardup Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Rob and Genevieve Mann are no strangers to the Margaret River "old guard," but Corymbia is where they’ve torn up the traditional playbook. Sourced from their organically farmed Calgardup Vineyard—an ancient granite and gravel site just 2km from Redgate Beach—this is coastal Cabernet at its most stripped-back and honest.
The 2024 (the sixth release of this wine) is a direct nod to Rob’s grandfather, the legendary Jack Mann, but the style is decidedly unorthodox. There is no new oak here and no glossy winemaking tricks. The fruit is hand-sorted and aged in large, neutral barrels to ensure the "graphite" tannin framework of the vineyard isn't smothered by wood.
The resulting 2024 bottling is a svelt, high-definition Cabernet that values detail over raw power. It’s beautifully medium-bodied, showing leafy aromatics, dark fruit, and fine-boned tannins. It has a distinct salt-spray, coastal energy that sets it apart from the heavier styles typical of the region. It’s a pure, unadorned, and a unique expression of Cabernet that we absolutely love.
96 points
"A pure, fine-boned and extremely elegant expression of cabernet... An exceptional release that speaks fluently of vineyard and place, while providing immense satisfaction in the high-quality stakes division."
- Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)
96 points
"This is a distinctive wine that I love each vintage, and given the quality (attention to detail) of the viticulture, the wine looks good/distinct/sophisticated in every season."
- Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)
96 points
"Lithe and athletic. Long limbs and wiry musculature. Blackcurrant and black cherry, rubbed rosemary and flowering sage. Dutch licorice and konbu. Composed and complete, deftly poised and proudly mid-weight. A deep, shaley minerality and taut, highly-pixelated tannins."
- Nick Ryan (The Weekend Australian)
2024 Nocturne Sheoak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
When a winemaker with Julian Langworthy's trophy cabinet quietly suggests that this might be the best Single Vineyard Cabernet he has ever made, we sit up and pay attention.
The 2024 vintage was famously hot and challenging across much of Western Australia. Yet, Julian notes that his coastal Sheoak vineyard in Yallingup sat in a bizarrely perfect "Goldilocks" zone. While others were rushing, he was able to pause, wait for absolute tannin ripeness, and pick pristine fruit from the best part of the slope on April 7th.
The fruit spent 14 days on skins before being pressed to tank, then transferred to a mix of new (25%) and seasoned French oak for 16 months. Only the absolute top-performing barrels were selected for the final SV blend.
The result is a darkly coloured but wonderfully ethereal Cabernet. It is a masterclass in medium-bodied elegance, built on a ridiculously silky, effortless tannin structure. Expect a driving core of dark fruit, soaring high notes of cassis, and a beautiful frame of warm spice.
It is dangerously accessible right out of the gate, but if you can manage to hide a few bottles away for 5 to 8 years, you are going to be handsomely rewarded.
96 points
“In the mouth, the wine is structurally firm, populated by succulent Cabernet fruit, and pliable in texture. There are notes of dried bay and tobacco, graphite, lead pencil and blackcurrant pastille. It is really good.”
- Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)
2024 Domaine Naturaliste Rebus Cabernet Sauvignon
Bruce Dukes' winemaking starts literally from the ground up.
The man has been obsessed with growing things for over two decades and it shows in every wine he makes. His roots have been put down in Margaret River, and as such he has immense insight into what the balance of soil, aspect and clone can do to a wine in this part of the world. One of his great loves is Margaret River Cabernet - and with this wine, we can definitely see why.
He explained to us, "Rebus is a picture puzzle that when you look at it, the solution is not immediately apparent, there may be several solutions. That's why I love Margaret River Cabernet - it's constantly changing and it keeps me constantly challenged."
If you love Margaret River Cabernet, you are going to fall in love with this wine.
2024 Dappled Tradition Cabernets
Shaun Crinion has been on a mission to make Yarra Valley Cabernet cool again, and this wine says to us that's 100% on the right on track. The Tradition Cabernets comes from a single vineyard at Steels Creek, planted in 1981 and farmed by grower Simon Peirce. The site sits in one of the warmer corners of the Yarra, giving Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc the chance to ripen fully while keeping their natural perfume and brightness.
The 2024 blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Cabernet Franc, with 20% whole bunches in the ferment for lift and complexity. It was fermented with wild yeasts and aged for 18 months in old French oak, keeping the focus firmly on the fruit.
The result is wonderfully aromatic, showing classic blackcurrant, violets and a touch of spice, with a palate that’s all pure fruit and freshness. It has the structure you’d expect from Cabernet, but it moves lightly, shaped more by acidity than oak.
It's a delicious, elegant and typically seamless Dappled wine, and as always from Shaun Crinion, tremendous value. Very limited production, so get in quick.
95+ points
"Gorgeous cool-climate cabernet aromas of red cherry, damson plum and violets. Medium bodied, this well-priced, energetic, structured and elegant wine should age gracefully over the next six to eight years at least."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)
2025 Joshua Cooper Regional Release Cabernet
Joshua Cooper has a serious knack for Central Victorian Cabernet, and his 2025 Regional Release - often referred to as his Claret - is the one you want to drink now. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, it leans into a softer, more fruit-forward profile than his single-vineyard wines, resulting in a modern, highly drinkable take on a traditional Bordeaux blend.
The 2025 vintage is a particularly strong one for this release, though a dry season means quantities are painfully limited this year. It is crafted in a supple, juicy style, striking that rare balance where it feels light enough for a long lunch, yet packs more than enough stuffing to stand up to a serious meal or a stint in the cellar.
It pours a bright garnet red. The nose leads with blood plum, cassis, and creamy black cherry, backed by complex layers of tobacco, violet, and iodine. The palate is plush and generous, loaded with purple berry fruit and framed by fine tannins and perfectly judged acidity that deliver shape without unnecessary weight. It is incredibly approachable right now, but will easily evolve over the next few years.
91 points
"Relatively elementary, but lots of pleasure and ease of drinking here."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
2025 Timo Mayer Cabernet Sauvignon
Timo Mayer's Cabernet is never going to be your standard, heavy-handed claret.
Sourced from Saint Huberts Road in the Yarra Valley, he completely flips the script on the variety. Instead of relying on heavy oak, Timo uses 100% whole-bunch fermentation to build the wine's framework. The structure here comes entirely from the skins, stems, and seeds, making for a much fresher, more energetic drink.
The 2025 release carries a bit of extra flesh and a plush, velvety texture. It leads with classic Mayer Cab aromatics - cassis, a hit of blue fruit, and a distinctly leafy freshness, backed by crushed herbs and subtle tobacco.
On the palate, it is highly concentrated but kept perfectly precise by superfine tannins and a driving, graphite-like mineral line. It has the bones to age, but it's dangerously drinkable right now.
95 points
"The opposite of the lighter, more herbal '24, this has aromas of ripe cassis and blueberry together with a little cedar. "
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)
| Price Bracket | $41 to $50 |
| Type | Red |
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | Australia |
| Feature |
High Score |
| Size | 9 |
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