Find your favourite vintage among the finest Cabernet Sauvignon vintages in Margaret River.
Our first Cabernet Sauvignon vintage in 2008 did wonders for UMAMU Estate after it became a Jimmy Watson runner-up and won Gold at the Melbourne Wine Show. Since then we have continued producing exceptional Cabernets.
Our Cabernet Sauvignon parcels were originally planted in 1978 and 1982 and is considered as the pioneer plantings in Margaret River.
Vineyard guru Colin and I have curated three vintages for you to taste through. I love vertical tastings as they show vintage expressions.
All three vintage are rated from 95+ by James Halliday. But of course your palate is your best judge.
Ever wanted a deeper understanding of the effects of ageing on Cabernet Sauvignon?
This vertical pack lets you enjoy three of the finest vintages in Margaret River side-by-side.
Vertical Tasting
They're an opportunity to explore the same fruit from the same parcel from different vintages at different stages of ageing in the bottle.
Not only does a vertical tasting condense years of wine tasting knowledge into one evening, it's an opportunity to see how engage with wines of different maturity.
You will discover new-found love for wines you might not otherwise pick.
The vertical tasting below is special as it features our consistently top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon made from pioneer Margaret River plannings and with bags of true Margaret River character.
2019 was a cooler vintage so the wine is lighter in style, rich and inky. On the palate, it's fresh with plenty of body just lighter. It makes for a great companion and comparison to the 2018 as two examples of Margaret River in a warmer 'thicker' 2018 and cooler 'lighter' 2019 season. So these two vintages are so interesting to taste side by side. And we added a bonus 2013 which was even warmer than 2018.
2019 Ann's Cabernet Sauvignon
Named after our founder Ann produced from our 1978 and 1982 old vines. Structured well put together, lighter Cabernet with red fruits like cherry rather than the darker fruit like plum. Duck friendly wine, I love this with peking duck and I love the luv a duck available at Coles, easy peasy for a tasty treat when you fancy not cooking from scratch at home.
Reviews
95 points – Halliday 2024 Edition - Jane Faulkner for James Halliday
"Clearly, the woman has good taste. It’s beautifully proportioned with quality fruit rising to the top all mulberries and blackberries doused in cedar, spice and all things nice. The palate reaffirms the joy of a medium-bodied wine with such slinky, velvety tannins. Cheers, Ann."
93 points – Shanteh Wale for The Wine Pilot
"Pomegranate molasses, morello cherry and blackberries. Maple leaf, tree bark and sweet chewing tobacco. Red berried fruit meets blackcurrants, wrapped in mocha and coffee spice. Acidity is perky and uplifting. Carrying the rosella and tulip florals high. There is a red clay component with dusty tannins and a crunch to the sweet red fruit. Drinking well now and will cellar for another 5-10 years. Cumin, dried coriander powder on the finish. Serve with pulled pork and smokey bbq sauce burgers."
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2018 vintage had warm daytime temperatures leading up the harvest and went on to create one of the best Cabernet Sauvignon vintages of the decade. We call it a perfect ripening season where berries were not rushed by weather and had a good period of ripening to gather flavours and complexity.
Colin shares, "It was the year I liked growing Cabernet and Margaret River. Everything came together. So with Cabernet, there's that sort of anticipation that greenness is the big fear. There's nothing in there that's green in this wine. But it's still lively and fresh."
So what we call a 'simple' year. It was a simple year in the vineyard because, yeah, nature did its thing. It hung out for long enough in lovely temperatures.
Margaret River was also treated to a 'mega blossom' of Marri trees (the most in living memory) and this kept bird pressure low.
A wonderful expression of all that Margaret River has to offer. It has so much character and complexity with lots going on. Feels like the wine is having a complex chat with you.
Reviews
96 points – Halliday 2021 Edition (James Halliday) Drink till 2038
"It is elegant, balanced, very long, and a perfect vinous picture of cabernet sauvignon picked at the right moment. Supple and round, it fills the mouth, cassis/blackcurrant providing the structure and texture needed."
96 points – Shanteh Wale for The Wine Pilot
"An elixir of blackberry, bramble and cassis. Intoxicating from start to finish. Crushed whole peppercorns, mulberry jam, clove studs and poppy seed. Dark chocolate shavings, fig heart and elderberry. Fruit is compact, juicy and concentrated. Tannins are like flour dust, they are so fine. Oak is interwoven into the wine, showing nutmeg and cinnamon quill. This is superb and shows the craftsmanship and rewards of aging. Sultry, svelte and a superstar wine. Bravo. Drink now and still has potential to age for another 5-8 years. Berkshire pork cheek with Davidson plum sauce would be a treat."
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
Good growing conditions created a standout vintage for Margaret River in 2013 – especially so for Cabernet Sauvignon. Longer vintage than usual and tannins ripened really well.
An Indian summer that extended into autumn and allowed full development of blackcurrant and dark fruit flavours.
The result? A wine that is shining to the heavens. 13 year old wine drinking in its sweet spot right now. Yet the beautiful tannins can afford the wine further longevity and enjoyment. Plenty of richness and depth.
With 18 months in oak barrels and years of age in the bottle this is a great example of a cellared Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon still drinking in its prime.
If you couldn't see the label, you would never guess the vintage.
Reviews
96 points – Halliday 2017 Edition (James Halliday) Drink till 2043
"Deep, dark red colour with a trace of purple still remaining in the meniscus, the bouquet very briary at first, with dried herb nuances that include a touch of regional seaweed or nori character. There are violet, cassis and blueberry notes too. The wine is stately and elegant, its firmness lingering together with sweet blueberry and cassis fruit flavours. Lovely balance. A very attractive cabernet with the benefit of bottle age."
95 points – The Real Review (Huon Hooke)
"Filled to overflowing with all the goodies cabernet can offer; lashings of dark fruits centred on blackcurrant, layered tannins and high quality oak; the finish conjures up a savoury edge that adds another dimension."
Cheers Charmaine & Colin
