INSIDER'S PICK: 2021 ASHBROOK ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON MARGARET RIVER $26.99

As Americans on the East Coast, we probably have the least amount of familiarity with the Margaret River and Western Australian wine regions than any other. Getting from Perth to here is just about literally the longest trip a wine could make to get here, so for effort and cost of transport we see very few examples beyond 1-2 of the blue chip producers that are already expensive anyway. From that lens alone this becomes a TREMENDOUS value, and what's in the bottle is worth every minute of the trip to get here. The region is very coastal, heavily influenced by the Indian Ocean, with conditions more akin to some of the cooler Californian regions. Cabernet Sauvignon here is much less oozy and heavy, instead showing more restrained and structured characteristics, even Bordeaux-ish in some ways. Dark currants and leathery red fruits on the nose that get deeper and more peppery as it opens up, this is definitely a style of Cabernet that isn't in a rush to show everything off at once. The palate has surprisingly nice acidity that adds of tart red fruits into the mix, and the tannins are equally fine and persistent to give this a refreshingly long finish. At only 13.5%abv some may think it's going to be restrained or lean, but this is a very complete wine and packed with character and complexity, something that should be on every Cab fan's reference list.

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