From one of Australia’s oldest and most storied wineries, Normans Wines (established 1853), the Normans Old Vine McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a museum stock release that showcases the region’s rich viticultural legacy and the varietal purity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourced from two southern McLaren Vale vineyards with vines up to 64 years old, this wine is crafted to express depth, complexity, and age-worthy elegance.

Fermented in small stainless steel fermenters to retain vibrant fruit concentration, the wine was then matured in mostly old oak barrels with a small portion of new oak for 12 months. This gentle maturation process allowed the highly concentrated fruit to integrate seamlessly with oak influence, resulting in a wine with fine tannin structure and impressive balance.

Pouring a vibrant crimson red with purple hues, it opens with aromas of mulberry and cherry, enriched by a delicate touch of vanillin oak. The palate is varietally pure, showcasing dark red berries, plum, and underlying tones of elegant oak and soft spice. It’s smooth, full of character, and impressively drinkable with excellent depth and structure—an ideal showcase of old vine McLaren Vale Cabernet.

Awarded 94 Points and a Gold Medal by Wine Showcase Magazine, and 90 Points by Sam Kim (Wine Orbit), this museum release demonstrates the aging potential and premium pedigree of one of McLaren Vale’s great Cabernet expressions.

Pair with herb-crusted lamb rack, slow-braised beef brisket, hard aged cheeses, or grilled portobello mushrooms, allowing its rich fruit and refined tannins to shine.