Xanadu Circa 77 Cab Sauv 2022

Sourced mostly (86%) from Xanadu's own Boodjidup and Stevens Road vineyards in the Wallcliffe sub-region of Margaret River, filled out with fruit from Wilyabrup and Treeton. Crushed and destemmed, fermented in rotary and static fermenters, with part of the blend given extended skin maceration before a gentle press, then matured 14 months in French oak barriques (20% new). The palate is generous with dark forest fruit, cassis and chocolate, medium- to full-bodied, carried by supple, ripe tannins to a persistent finish marked by regional notes of bay leaf, black olive and licorice.

The two estate blocks behind this wine are different ground. Boodjidup, around the winery, was planted in 1999 and carries 14 hectares of cabernet within its 47. Stevens Road, three kilometres away, dates from 1987 and sits on sandy loam over granite. The Boodjidup Brook cuts through it and gives the rows a range of aspects. The original Lagan Estate block from 1977 is deep gravelly loam over clay. The cabernet across the property is the Houghton clone.

The name is simple: 77 is the year Xanadu started making wine here, and the range is the estate's everyday nod to that. The cellar door still stands on Boodjidup Road where Dr Lagan planted his first vines.

Open it with lamb, a mushroom pie or anything off the barbecue.