The Willows Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

The Willows Estate is a family-owned winery founded in 1972 in Western Australia’s renowned Margaret River region. From the outset, the estate has combined old-school craftsmanship with a forward-thinking approach to viticulture, focusing on low yields, hand-tended vines and minimal intervention in the cellar to showcase the purity of its sites.

The 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon was drawn from The Willows’ original vineyard, planted on deep gravelly loam over clay in 1972. Fruit was hand-picked in early April, sorted berry by berry, then fermented in small open vats with daily gentle plunging to extract fine tannin and colour. After pressing, the wine matured for 20 months in predominately seasoned French oak barriques, with just 20 percent new oak, allowing the cabernet’s varietal character to take centre stage.

In the glass, the 2000 The Willows Cabernet Sauvignon presents a mid-garnet hue with a narrow brick rim. The nose offers poised aromas of cassis, dark cherry and graphite, interlaced with hints of cedar and menthol. On the palate, it is medium-full bodied and finely structured, revealing flavours of blackcurrant, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf, framed by supple, well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity. A savoury, lifted finish carries notes of dried herbs and fine spice. This Cabernet is at a graceful stage of maturity and pairs beautifully with roast beef, venison or aged cheddar.