CORIOLE Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - McLaren Vale, South Australia 2021 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterful Australian wine, celebrated for its intense blackcurrant, ripe plum, and subtle spice notes. This vintage showcases a rich, velvety palate balanced with well-integrated tannins and a lengthy, elegant finish, reflecting remarkable craftsmanship and depth. Rated 96 points by James Suckling, it features intriguing iodine brininess and savoury elements alongside aromas of sage, bay leaves, and black olives. Vinous awards it 95 points for its superb purity, bright fruit, and generous tannins. James Halliday's Wine Companion matches this score, noting its sumptuous fruit and complex layers, while The Real Review gives it 92 points, highlighting its character and potential for cellaring. This impressive Cabernet is perfect for special occasions or pairing with hearty meals.

*****

This is a masterful Australian wine bursting with intense blackcurrant, ripe plum, and subtle spice notes. It combines a rich, velvety palate with firm, well-integrated tannins and a lengthy, elegant finish. This vintage showcases craftsmanship and depth, making it ideal for special occasions or pairing with hearty meals. Bold yet refined, it’s a remarkable Cabernet that delivers complexity, balance, and a memorable drinking experience.

ABOUT THE WINE
The Mary Kathleen is generally sourced from the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in 1986 that sit just to the side of the cellar door.

JAMES SUCKLING 96 points
After grenache, it is McLaren Vale cabernet that I enjoy the most of the Vale's reds. The iodine brininess that adds an additional element to the savoriness and gritty feel of the tannins is a winning regional stamp. The sage, bay leaves, black olives and lilt of garden herbs confer lift. There is ample power, yet good cabernet here is faithful to the variety with just a little more roundness. The case for drinking even more of it is a strong one. An excellent example. Drinkable now, but best from 2028. - Ned Goodwin MW

VINOUS 95 points
Drinking Window 2032 - 2045
From: McLaren Vale: Pushing the Envelope of Refinement (Apr 2025)
Superb purity and refinement are immediately on display in this 2021 Mary Kathleen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Waves of bright blackcurrant and bay leaf aromas are vibrant and energetic, with a fine line of cedary oak in support. This is medium-bodied and a little reserved, although it has delicious delicacy and fruit detail wrapped in generous al-dente tannins and a seriously long, gravelly, slate-flavored finish. It's a sleeper and far from ready. - By Angus Hughson on April 2025

JAMES HALLIDAY'S WINE COMPANION 95 points
From 35-year-old vines, 18 months in French oak (20% new). This is a relatively sumptuous rendition of cabernet, a wine with cascading mulberry, blackcurrant and plum fruit notes, but also one with bell-clear leafy and fragrant varietal definition. Cigar box notes, cassia, cedar, cracked pepper and black tea complex further. Eminently approachable, this also has the drive, verve and stuffing for a long life " - Marcus Ellis

THE REAL REVIEW 92 points
Deep ruby colour. Ripe plum, tomato leaf and mocha aromas. A full bodied style, richly weighted purple and black fruits fill the core while tangential lines of dark spice and mocha add character. Great length, tannins finely poised to dry the finish well. Cellar time will be rewarded too. - Stuart Knox

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ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Nestling between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf of St Vincent McLaren Vale is one of South Australia’s oldest, most picturesque wine regions. It is also one of the greenest, with its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability.

It was here that the Lloyd family established their winery in 1969, on the predominantly terra rossa soils – soils favouring deep-coloured, well-structured red wines with great capacity for ageing. They released their first Shiraz in 1970, and now regularly win awards – indeed the Lloyd Reserve Shiraz is one of McLaren Vale’s greatest. Coriole have just started the certification process to organic – whilst they’ve farmed organically for many years they have now taken the decision to certify, a process they tell us feels harder and more time-consuming than the organic viticulture itself!

We were met by brothers Peter & Duncan Lloyd who are the second generation of the Lloyd family to look after the winery. After a tour of the vineyards it is clear to see they are doing some amazing work ensuring the vines and grapes are grown and picked in the very best conditions possible.

This quality fruit is then expertly crafted into beautiful, elegant, fruit-forward, balanced wines that will be a joy to drink as soon as they arrive but will last for 10-20 years in your cellar.