95+ Points | "Outstanding"- Mike Bennie
Ansted & Osicka is an impressive venture by acclaimed winemakers; Tobias Ansted and Simon Osicka. Ansted spent a time as winemaker at Balgownie Estate and now makes wine at Tellurian in Heathcote. Simon Osicka also has a long association with the area; taking over at the Heathcote winery his father Paul Osicka started in 1955.
As with these previous vintages, the 2025 Ansted & Osicka Balgownie 1970 Block Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes grown on Balgownie's famed 1970 Block of Cabernet Sauvignon in Bendigo: an exceptional vineyard considered the birthplace of modern winemaking in the region. This historically significant site has recently been sold and is pending development, meaning this will sadly be the last release of this wine.
This is another refined Cabernet with sublime structure, depth of flavour and complexity. A flagship Bendigo Cabernet that's garnered a loyal following, this final bottling is already attracting plenty of attention including a glowing 95+ point review from Mike Bennie.
"95+ Points. Tobias Ansted and Simon Osicka make this wine from this significant plot of grapes. It’s skinny, or so, and yet plush in the same sentiment. Fragrant with violets, dark cherry, woody spices, flavoured with similar, cassis, dashes of aniseed, clove, vanilla bark, alpine herbs - how nice. The wine reveals itself over and over as time sets in; a shape shifting red of slinkiness, tension and decided length and persistence. All the hallmarks of very fine wine. All the pleasure too. Sublime balance of things and a wine that feels cared for yet pure and reflective of something serious in the glass. Quality is writ large. Outstanding. Tasted: APR26. 13.7% alc. $60. Screwcap Drink: 2026 - 2038+"- Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.
