The 2013 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Museum Release is a mature release of Yalumba's flagship Cabernet Shiraz, bringing together two of South Australia's great varieties and regions. The 2013 is only the second vintage of The Caley and comprises 55% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Barossa Shiraz. The Cabernet comes from the 2.7-hectare D Block of Yalumba's Coonawarra vineyard, planted in 1992, while the Shiraz includes fruit from the 1955 Simon Cowham old-vine block near Light Pass and a 1974 old-vine Barossa parcel. The varieties were fermented separately before maturation for 20 months in French oak - 41% new - with the barrels made and seasoned at Yalumba's own cooperage. Importantly, this Museum Release has been held under controlled conditions in Yalumba's own cellars before being released with significant bottle age, offering provenance that is increasingly valuable for a wine of this maturity.
The 2013 is a powerful but remarkably composed expression of the classic Australian Cabernet Shiraz tradition. Cabernet provides cassis, blackberry, cedar, tobacco, graphite and structural definition, while the substantial Shiraz component fills the mid-palate with plum, blue fruit, liquorice, spice and fleshy richness. With more than a decade of development, leather, savoury spice and secondary complexity are beginning to emerge, yet the wine retains impressive fruit and firm, fine tannins.
