Yalumba’s The Caley is named in recognition of Fred Caley Smith (1864-1913) who looked after the vineyards and orchards at his family’s property at the turn of the 20th Century. During these times Yalumba was enjoying boom times with the huge export demand for richly flavoured dry red wine and interstate trade in ‘port’. Fast forward to the present day Yalumba possesses key vineyards in Coonawarra (Menzies Vineyard) and the Barossa region.
Since time immemorial, Australian winemakers have been fascinated by the complimentary and obverse characters of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. It must have begun in the 1890s with the development of the red wine export market and a need to produce richly flavoured wine with vim and vigour. By the early 1890s demand for cabernet and shiraz (as well as grenache and malbec) led to significant new plantings in the Barossa; while in Coonawarra, the ‘blockers’ (growers) were instructed by John Riddoch to plant 2/3rds shiraz and 1/3 cabernet sauvignon. The show success of the legendary 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Kalimna Shiraz led to a multi-generational obsession. The retro-modern 2021 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz promises to develop into a classic claret style with all the hallmarks for a long cellaring life.
The Caley Cabernet Shiraz promises to develop into a classic claret style with all the hallmarks for a long cellaring life.
2021 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz – Coonawarra/ Barossa – South Australia
Medium deep red. Lifted black berry pastille, red currant, malt, roasted chestnut hint black olive, graphite aromas with a waft of aniseed/ hint sage/mint notes. Richly flavoured and pure with intense cassis, blackberry fruits, fine lacy chalky tannins, underlying roasted chestnut, a lovely core of sweet fruit and long fresh slaty acidity with a kick of aniseed/ liquorice at the finish. Lovely fruit definition, complexity, suppleness and energy. 74% Coonawarra Cabernet 18% Eden Valley Shiraz, 8% Barossa Valley. 18 months in new (21%) and seasoned (including first year) French oak barriques and hogsheads. Bottled November 2022. Sealed under cork. Drink 2028 – 2045 14.5% alc 96+ points
