TASTING NOTES FOR Hancock & Hancock Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale South Australia 2024

🍷 Appearance
Deep crimson with vibrant ruby and purple hues. Rich and youthful in the glass, showing excellent colour and concentration.

👃 Aromas
Lifted and expressive, with ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum complemented by hints of violet, crushed leaf and subtle dark chocolate. Gentle savoury notes and fine spice add further complexity.

👅 Palate
Medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, delivering generous blackberry, cassis and ripe plum flavours. The dark fruit is supported by subtle chocolate and savoury characters, creating excellent depth while retaining freshness and varietal definition.

🍈 Texture & Finish
Smooth and supple with sophisticated, finely structured tannins. The palate has excellent balance between rich dark fruit and savoury complexity, leading to a persistent finish of blackcurrant, plum and gentle spice.

🍇 Overall Style
A polished and highly approachable McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon combining generous dark fruit with classic varietal character and supple tannins. Hancock & Hancock was established by brothers Chris and John Hancock, with their La Colline vineyard situated on Chalk Hill Road in McLaren Vale.

🍽️ Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled rib-eye steak, roast beef, lamb cutlets, slow-cooked beef cheeks or a rich mushroom ragù. Its combination of ripe fruit and supple tannins also makes it an excellent partner for mature cheddar and other hard cheeses.

⭐ BBD Verdict
A terrific McLaren Vale Cabernet offering generous blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum fruit with subtle chocolate and savoury complexity. Supple tannins and excellent balance make this very approachable now, while retaining the depth and structure expected from quality Cabernet. A flavoursome and impressive red that delivers plenty of drinking pleasure.

Cheers
Peter Turnbull
Better Buy The Dozen 🍷