96 Points - Erin Larkin
Castelli Estate has been a long-time favourite winery of ours that's now firmly established itself as a bona fide star of Western Australian wine.
The 2018 Castelli Cabernet Sauvignon is another impressive example of Cabernet from the Frankland River region of WA; an area increasingly recognised as home to some exceptional red wines.
A medium-bodied Cabernet, this offers layer upon layer of dark chocolate, sweet blackberries, cassis and liquorice flavours, the fine layered tannins form a solid core that's in perfect harmony with the fruit flavours and carefully measured quality oak. A tiny addition of Malbec offers muscularity and flesh to the mid-palate and rounded support to the tannin backbone.
"96 Points. Hooley dooley. Castelli seem to be in the habit of producing great wines. No complaints from us, the drinkers. This is a harmonious, powerful and exciting rendition, not only of cabernet sauvignon, but of the Frankland River regional characteristics of the grape. Gravel, ferrous, salted cassis. Licorice. It's a cracker. Supple and dense at once. This will age, too. Buy it and drink it now or when your newborn turns 15. $38. 14.7% alc. Drink by 2035. Screwcap." - Erin Larkin, winecompanion.com.au.
