St Hugo have given us so many wonderful wines over the years, the concept of a prestige release certainly has spiked interest. What constitutes prestige for these guys? Only 1%, the very best, of their Coonawarra Cabernet qualifies for inclusion with only the top vintages considered. The selection from 2015 brought forth various trophies and medals. The name is Latin for ancient and pure. Inky black in colour, not even the best part of a decade has softened this, as yet, and there is still some oak evident. The wine is tight, extremely well structured, seamless, though perhaps even a little muted. Decanting for an hour or so would be to its benefit. We have notes of leather, soy, blackberries, cloves, coffee grinds, black cherries and dark chocolate. Fine acidity, silky tannins and a supple, dense texture with impressive length. This will drink well for at least another decade

ORLANDO Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

A wine that is quintessentially Coonawarra and for that reason, a wine to look forward to each year. It’s fruit laden with black cherry, blackcurrant and bilberries, a trademark of its northern Coonawarra origins. It then gives way to a sage leaf, purple peonies and blackberry shrub. Black peppercorn, clove and scraped vanilla beans with a poppy seed, savoury finish. Tannins are assertive but compact and the wine has a youthful glow. An excellent example of why cellaring is a wonderful tool. Shanteh Wale. 

St Hugo Vetus Purum Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawara

Matured for 18 months in French oak (100% new). This is a dense, muscular wine of swathe and swagger. It doesn't hold back on anything at all: fruit volume, oak and intensity are all dialled up to 10. But in this land of saturation and high volume, there is a zen, there is balance, and there is peace. So, if aged cabernet is something you love but don't get to drink often enough (for one reason or another), you might like to try this. Age has hardly made a stamp upon it.

Erin Larkin