A sneaky pre release from Allegiance Wines as their upper tier Cabernet Sauvignon from 2020 is still available on their website at time of writing.

Allegiance Wines, The Artisan, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, 2021

Deep garnet. Plush chocolate, mocha and blackberry. High tones of kirsch, choc mint, turned earth, chomped cigar end, sundried tomato, oily fish, pencil shavings and warm raspberry. Minty and sweet oak with a slightly animal, tart and yet earthy base. There’s plenty of ripe blackberry and vanilla with tight and fine tannins. Betwixt and between “new” and “old” school Cabernet but lots for those that love minty flesh.

RRP: $60 (expected)
Alc: 14.5%
Rating: 92/100

Wine sample courtesy of Allegiance Wines