One of Australia's premier blends, and after spending time with the Yalumba Caley 2021, it's hard not to be captivated by the composure, grace and effortless authority it carries.
Fred Caley Smith, a young horticulturist from Angaston, left Australia in 1893 on a two year journey to study pruning and packaging techniques from around the world. More than a century later, a forgotten box of letters discovered at Yalumba revealed the remarkable story of a man who became the company's first international ambassador.
Naming Yalumba's flagship in his honour feels entirely fitting.
The blend itself is a masterclass. Supreme Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon from the famed Menzies block forms 74% of the wine, partnered by 26% Shiraz from exceptional Barossa and Eden Valley vineyards. It continues a tradition that began in 1932 when Yalumba first produced a multi-regional red, with Kevin Glastonbury's remarkable tenure ensuring that philosophy has continued to evolve with precision and consistency.
Experience matters at this level, and this wine once again reinforces just how gifted a blender Glastonbury is.
In the glass, the wine possesses an elite, unforced presence. It has charisma without ego. Blackberries, plums and dark cherries glide across the palate alongside dark chocolate, a subtle flicker of mint, sage, cigar box and olive tapenade. Every aroma and flavour seems to arrive at exactly the right moment before quietly stepping aside for the next. Nothing competes. Nothing dominates. Cabernet and Shiraz walk perfectly in step, while the savoury elements whisper gently in support rather than demanding attention.
The tannin profile is mesmerising, dancing gracefully across the palate with remarkable finesse. Delicate spices weave effortlessly through the fruit, while the shape and flow of the wine are nothing short of exceptional. There is a sense of calm throughout, almost a severe elegance, yet it never feels austere. Instead, it is deeply compelling, carrying its concentration with remarkable poise.
Perhaps what impressed me most is what the wine doesn't do. It isn't glossy. It isn't flashy. It isn't trying to prove anything. It is completely comfortable in its own skin, displaying the quiet confidence that only truly great wines possess. There is humility here, despite the pedigree, and that restraint only amplifies its class.
Another exceptional Caley. Bravo!
98/100
Region: Coonawarra & Barossa
