95 points - "From the certified-organic home Omensetter Vineyard; 20% new, 40% 1–3 years old, 40% older, all French, for 20 months. The new oak and time in it have been thoroughly absorbed by the intensity of fruit, which presents as plush but not weighty, an enchanting fragrance of lavender and violet lilting above blackcurrant, mulberry, crème de myrtille, hedgerow, clove and cardamom. This feels made with mid-palate texture in mind, gifting an engaging suppleness, along with a salted licorice note, that precedes cabernet’s structuring tannic draw." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "A fulsome wine to chew on. Contemplative as much for its thrilling complexity, as for its capacity to eclipse preconceptions of warmer climate cabernet with energy and guile, shot across the floral attack, evergreen mid-palate and toothsome wet tannin finish. This transcends obvious varietal traits with a long drag on sea spray and dried kelp, a stone's throw away on the Vale shore. A prodigious licorice strap finale. Excellent wine, moreish and nourishing. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - Ned Goodwin MW (James Suckling)

The 2021 CBSV was hand selected at the Organic Brash Higgins estate Omensetter Vineyard. The vines were planted in 1997 into a unique, shallow sandstone shift in the predominately clay over limestone vineyard. 2021 was a superb year, lovely warm days and cool nights yielded grapes of excellent balance and freshness. A touch longer elevage than usual, 20 mos, allowed the tannins to soften and the wine is ultra juicy as a a result.

‘Perfumed nose; caraway seeds, floral, sweet mint, blueberries and cassis, with spicy notes of Earl Grey tea, and Dutch liquorice. On the palate the wine is smooth and fresh with the earthy sweetness of roast capsicum, violets, licorice, Earl Grey and the acidity of rhubarb. The dark lusciousness of black currants make the offering layered and complex; the 2021 finishes with lovely sweet notes as well as that typical cabernet tannin keeping the wine taut.’ – Brad Hickey, Vinitor, January 2023.

Additional information
Harvest date: March 15, 2021 Hand selected
Grower: Brash Higgins-Estate grown on Omensetter
Geology: Pirramimma Sandstone over limestone
Planted: 1997 double cordon
Viticulture: Organic Certified
Fermenter type: Open
Cap management: Hand plunged two times daily
Days on skins: 13
Time in oak: 20 months
Oak origin: French
Oak age: 20% new, 40% 1-3 year, 40% older
Bottling date: Oct 28, 2022
Filtration: Coarse
Closure: Stelvin +
100% Cabernet from Omensetter Vineyard
pH 3.7, TA 6.7 g/l, Alc 14.8%

210 cases