2021 MacDonald Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

“Opaque purple-black in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon gives up notes of creme de cassis, candied violets, preserved plums, and blueberry pie followed by hints of menthol, fertile loam, tar, and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is so, so tightly wound, with loads of earthy sparks and a fantastic frame of firm grainy tannins, plus amazing tension, finishing with an epic firework display of minerals and savory nuances. Vibrating with latent power and with so much texture interest, this is pure energy! 525 cases were made. (LPB)” (05/2024)

“This seamless, driven, coiled red manages to marry lush notes of black currant, blackberry and fig reduction with burlier accents of walnut, tobacco and warm gravel. Shows an undeniable inner tension but needs considerable time to unfurl. Just when you think you've got this figured out, a bolt of cast iron emerges, adding a vibrato echo of terroir that stamps the superlong finish. This is a special wine. *Collectible* (JM)” (11/2024)

“One of the greatest wines made in the vintage, as well as probably one of the most age-worthy, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a dense purple hue to go with quintessential Oakville notes of ripe black fruits, iron, black olive, walnuts, and darker chocolate, with an almost bloody, salty character that develops with time in the glass. It's a massive, dense, yet majestic Cabernet Sauvignon that has flawless balance, building yet perfectly ripe tannins, and the concentration and overall class to warrant 5-7 years of bottle age and evolve for 40+ years in cold cellars. Hats off to the MacDonald brothers for another incredible, magical wine. (JD) 98+” (12/2023)

“MacDonald's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon offers up what its devotees have come to expect from previous vintages. Compelling scents of black cherries, loamy earth and dried spices (cinnamon, clove, allspice) are on the nose. The palate is medium to full-bodied, coiled, tight and poised, with a texture somewhere between silk and velvet. It's concentrated, long and has a savory finish, with hints of anise and dark chocolate. This definitely needs time, with the potential to reach perfection in the future. (JC) 98+” (02/2025)

“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is dense and potent but also quite structured. Dark fruit, plum, graphite, incense, licorice and lavender are some of the many notes that grace the 2021. Silky, plush red cherry, mocha, rose petal and spice unfurl with time in the glass. This a decidedly mid-weight wine with firm, chalky tannins. Graeme MacDonald backed off extractions a bit in 2021, which suggests a drive towards greater freshness. This is also the first vintage made at the Mending Wall facility, which is quite a bit less cramped than at Kongsgaard, where all the previous wines were made. The 2021 saw 38 days on skins and 22 months in barrel. It is an absolutely gorgeous wine, but it is also more reticent than most vintages at this stage. (AG) 96+” (12/2023)

“Deep purplish crimson. Enticing nose with savoury dusty earth and rich purple fruit. Fresh and lively on the palate with very sandy tannin, a slight bitterness, and a finish that goes forever – developing flavours of bay and a gravelly dryness. Impeccable balance. 18.5+/20 points (SCJ)” (04/2025)