2015 Wildberry Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 750 ml

Bordeaux Brilliance In Margaret River

Margaret River Valley, in the southwest corner of Oz, is a hotbed for triple-digit priced Cabernet Sauvignon — and more and more the critics are swooning. So when their cooing aligns on an extreme value such as today’s 2015 Wildberry Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, we zero in. This 95-point stunner is one of the region’s best value reds, packed with all the power and soul of this renowned spot for Bordeaux varieties — as good as it gets under $30. But don’t just take our word for it: Australia wine authority James Halliday has awarded a 95-point score or higher to the last four vintages of this cuvée, making it a cult favorite among enthusiasts and collectors. Vinous writes that the estate “has positioned itself as a top Margaret River property in recent years.” So, if juicy Cabernet concentration and velvety tannins for just $26 per bottle sounds like a good deal to you, hit “buy” now.

In the mid-1950s, horticulturist Dr. John Gladstones traveled frequently throughout Australia’s Margaret River for his studies on the lupins plant. He would end up making a revolutionary discovery there, but one that had nothing to do with the flower that was his specialty. On his travels he noticed the cool, stable maritime climate and the mineral-rich, gravelly loam soil. He witnessed the abundant winter rains that replenished the soils prior to the spring and summer, which were consistently warm and dry. The area was frost-free, he realized, and also home to the shady marri tree, a giveaway for conditions that support excellent winegrowing. In 1965, Gladstones published a groundbreaking report stating that Margaret River was literally perfect for the cultivation of wines, very similar to the Right Bank in the best vintages.

A few decades later, Gladstones’ conclusion has been amply borne out. “The top rank of Margaret River Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon is, simply put, in the top rank in the world,” wrote Wine Spectator’s Matt Kramer recently, adding: “And by that, I’m including the likes of Burgundy (for the Chardonnay) and Bordeaux and Napa Valley (for Cabernet Sauvignon).”

Year after year, sitting among that top rank is the Wildberry Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, snapping up dozens of awards. The wine is produced by Flying Fish Cove, a distinctively Australian winery whose employees often surf and fish in the early A.M. before coming to work. Located in the storied Wilyabrup sub-region, fruit is grown on the Wildberry Farm Vineyard planted in 1997, kissed by Indian Ocean breezes from the coast, just a few miles away. Thanks to the cleansing winds, gravel soils, and elongated growing season, by harvest time berries show phenomenal ripeness and maturity and immaculate health.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has called an earlier vintage of this wine “a superb value for a Cabernet of this character!” The under-$30 2015, from an exceptional, low-yield growing season, goes even further, winning 95 points from James Halliday who calls it “super-elegant.”

Such values are rare in the increasingly pricey Margaret River. They will be even rarer when our allocation sells out later today!

- Wine Access Wine Team