2024 Ansted Osicka Balgownie 1970 Block Cabernet Sauvignon

A gorgeously finessed and beautifully structured Cabernet that finishes long and eloquent.

A joint venture between Heathcote winemakers and friends, Tobias Ansted and Simon Osicka.
Totally opaque black dark red core with a dark red hue. Wonderfully refined nose with red to black currant and mulberry scents show ample intensity out of the glass followed by some cedary tobacco, dark chocolate, subtle earthy black olive and bay leaf notes. Rich yet gorgeously finessed, the mid weighted palate is graced with red to black currant and mulberry fruits. Spicy cedar, tobacco, dusty earth, traces of dark chocolate and bay leaf elements lend further complexity. Seamlessly integrated tannin structure with no shortage of power and freshness to the long eloquent finish.
Drink over the next 10-12 years.
Alc. 13.7%

Other Reviews…..
Sadly now destined for development, the original Balgownie vineyard planted by Stuart Anderson in '70 made another stunning wine in '24 in the hands of Heathcote winemakers Tobias Ansted, former Balgownie winemaker, and Simon Osicka. Gives Bendigo cabernet some TLC which sets it soaring. Revels in the kind of complexity that old vines bring with deep, concentrated black fruits with a full spectrum of cabernet characters: cassis, blackberry, loganberry, dark olive, tilled earth, leaf, clove and herbs balanced perfectly in fine tannins laid out against a gentle cedary oak background. Gets the pulse racing, it's that good. A wine for posterity. Drink by 2040.
97 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

Does what the label says. What an awesome opportunity to see this significant site through another lens. And such a worthy one. This is a complete schooling in cabernet.
It’s quite the feat to do depth of flavour, concentration, and then silky drawl, freshness, finesse and persistence. A coolness to this wine and then the onslaught of dark cherry, ripe plum, fig and date, brambles and dried leaves, choc mint and dried herbs, all with the volume up, and then vacuum pack it all into a svelte, muscular and fine frame. Silky texture, a firmness and pliancy here – this feel is superb above so much on show here. This is a wine for hearty drinking, huge enjoyment, and yet there’s so much contemplation to lean into here. My word. Drink 2025-2040.
96 Points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front