Joshua Cooper Wines - Balgownie Vineyard 1970 Block Cabernet Sauvignon - 2024

Maiden Gully, Bendigo is cited on the fantastic, classical label of this wine. The history lessons from Josh Cooper are appreciated. This wine puts me in mind of the great cabernets of Australia. It has a distinct minty, eucalyptus character but it fits with the cassis, dark cherry, white pepper, old cigar box, a curious volcanic ash note and red capsicum characters that meld around that. Distinctly minerally too, a cool, almost mineral water meets river pebble feel to this wine. Tightly wound, fine, sleek tannins lending a freshness and succulence that delivers comments like ‘outstanding tannin profile’ and similar. A medium weight and cool feeling wine, compact and energetic. This is ridiculously good red wine, complex, layered, nuanced, understated and just gorgeous and delicious to drink now; with an immense future. Lay on the superlatives. One of the best young cabernets I’ve seen from Australia, to stutter. 96+ Points Mike Bennie, The Wine Front