Xanadu Margaret River Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A limited release from a special vineyard in the cooler Wallcliffe subregion, with only eight barrels produced. It’s gentle and restrained on first look, with delicate red plum, blueberry, mint and tobacco leaf lifting gently from the glass. Air brings out some subtle ferrous and foresty notes along with camphor and delicate cedar oak. Overall, it needs coaxing out of the glass and is quite shy at this stage of its life. There’s delicacy and elegance to the palate, too, with everything sitting high in the mouth. Tart plum and blueberry sit at the fore with glimmers of cedar and tobaccao lingering beneath. The tannins are fine, chalky and laced with a subtle graphite nuance while red fruited acidity maintains freshness through a gentle minty finish. It’s elegant, hightoned and fresh Cabernet with a sense of purity and drinkability. However, despite the style, it comes across as a little shy and lacking intensity overall.