Winery: Moss Wood
Region: Margaret River
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2008
Your Wine Guy says:
Moss Wood excels again with a very classy Cabernet Sauvignon showing an incredible depth of flavour and structure for a long time in the cellar. The 2008 shows intense fruit notes on the nose of cherry, dark berries, plum with some mocha notes from the oak. Tantalising characters of dark chocolate, earth and leather like complexity, as well as spicy, toasty oak also tempt the nose. The palate displays generously concentrated characters of cassis, chocolate, mulberries, coffee and earthiness balanced beautifully against some smoky and cedary oak with firm but fine tannins. A stunning Cabernet from yet another great vintage in the Margaret River region. This wine should be decanted to help release all the aromas and flavours held within.
97 Points YWG Drink to 2025+
The winemaker says:
The youthful generosity of this wine is very appealing and there will be a temptation to consume it young. However, with a similar style to the 1980, we strongly recommend the 2008 be cellared for at least 10 years, by which time it could be enjoyed with some bottle development. We believe it will be at it most complete by around 15 years of age but it should live on for many years beyond this. In order to satisfy our curiosity, we recently tried the older sibling, the Moss Wood 1980 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve and are delighted to report, for that particular bottle, it has reached 31 years old and is still in great shape, even retaining some primary notes. – Moss Wood
Colour: Deep brick red, in bright condition.
Nose: This shows a classic snapshot of what the 2008 vintage was all about. Of course, the aroma contains the typical Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon characters of mulberry and red currant but these are given significant lift by pretty notes that can be traced back to the early Autumn. Cabernet’s rose-like and pomegranate scents are not often retained but in this wine they help the nose fill the glass. In the background the wine still retains the typical dark chocolate, earth and leather-like complexities, as well as spicy, toasty oak.
Palate: Perhaps the observation could be made this displays the warmer, early phase of the season. A classic Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon, with fully ripened fruit flavours of mulberry and raspberry that are long and generous. These sit over good acidity and well balanced, fine-grained tannin, giving a seamless feel. The finish is a combination of oak flavours and tannin that extend the length.
Winery/Label Information:
Moss Wood is a premium wine producer located in the Margaret River Wine region of Western Australia. The area is regarded as one of Australia's premium grape growing regions.
Listed in the Exceptional category of Langton’s Classification V of Fine Australian wines. One of only 4 Cabernet wines in the top Exceptional category.
Dr. Bill Pannell, one of Margaret River's early pioneers, established Moss Wood in 1969. By the early 1980s the Cabernet Sauvignons were regarded as something very special. Keith Mugford, who began as an assistant winemaker and his wife Clare purchased the property in 1985. They have taken Moss Wood to the pinnacle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines produced at Moss Wood are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon and from Moss Wood's Ribbon Vale Vineyard, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Merlot and Merlot. There is also a Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, produced from grapes sourced from Yallingup and Cowaramup and since 2008, a Moss Wood Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir, produced from grapes sourced from that famous Victorian region.
Proprietors Clare and Keith Mugford enjoy the challenge of consistently producing high quality wines at Moss Wood. All decisions made in the vineyard and winery are based on the effect they will have on the quality of the wine. – Moss Wood
James Halliday writes of Moss Wood “Widely regarded as one of the best wineries in the region, capable of producing glorious Semillon in both oaked and unoaked forms, unctuous Chardonnay and elegant, gently herbaceous, superfine Cabernet Sauvignon, which lives for many years.” 5 Red Stars |