Trophy Best Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards

Devil’s Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced entirely from Longview’s vineyard at Macclesfield, Adelaide Hills. All fruit was hand-picked then de-stemmed, crush and open fermented on skins for 14 days. Malolactic fermentation occurs in 2nd and 3rd use puncheons where it remains for 12 months.

This 2021 Longview Devils Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon is a result of “a near-perfect Hills vintage”, which delivered another top class Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich purple and violet in colour, with aromas of blackcurrant, clove, mint and spiced dark cherry. It has toasty oak characters, perfectly balanced tannin and a long clean finish. While drinking great now, this will undoubtedly cellar very well for the next decade.

“Estate fruit from 28-year-old vines, all from the Old Reynella clone, is fermented in open vats/tanks for two weeks, before the wine spends fifteen months maturing in older French puncheons, just 10% new. An opaque purple hue, the aromas work through tobacco leaves, chocolate, leather, plums, black fruits, hints of campfire notes and cassis. There is the merest whiff of the dry vegetation character which Cabernet often offers, along with the variety’s traditional austerity. This is youthful and fresh now, but is built for the long haul. Good concentration and balance, there are fine but firm tannins. Notes of black cherries emerge on the finish. A cracking local cooler climate Cabernet, which will provide a decade’s pleasure. 93 Points. Drink: 2023 – 2033”- Ken Gargett, winepilot.com