NZ-Wide 
NZ-Wide
Free Shipping
Buy OnlineTrophy & 97/100 for Best Wine of Show – Limestone Coast Wine Show 2023 & 2024
Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show – Limestone Coast Wine Show 2023 & 2024
Trophy for Best Cabernet of Show – Limestone Coast Wine Show 2023 & 2024
Trophy & 96/100 for Best Coonawarra Cabernet – James Halliday’s Cabernet Challenge 2023
Trophy for Best Cabernet – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2024
Top Gold Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2024
Top Gold Medal – Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2024
Gold Medal – WineWise Championships 2024
Gold Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2023
Yalumba’s Menzies Vineyard lies in the heart of Coonawarra, the holy grail of all Cabernet purists and for over 35 years has produced some of the region's best. The Sanctum label is a relatively new addition to the range with the 2021 marking its mark with 8 Trophies and 9 Golds at recent Australian Wine Shows.
Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Yalumba’s Menzies Estate Vineyard lies in the heart of Coonawarra on the famous terra rossa soil over limestone. This valuable patch of land is the holy grail of all Cabernet purists; just 2 kilometres wide and 20 kilometres long, with soil vivid red in colour. For more than 30 years Yalumba has made wines of excellence with grapes from this vineyard, earning its place in the inner Sanctum of Coonawarra.
The growing season was one of the wettest on record. The high soil moisture levels combined with a cooler than average spring and early summer gave the vines a slow, steady growing season. The long cool ripening period delayed picking by two to four weeks, rewarding patience with wines showing lovely flavours and tannins. The grapes were crushed into small static fermenters and fermented at cooler temperatures to ensure good extraction of colour and tannin whilst treating the wine gently. Select parcels stayed on skins for ten days to allow gentle extraction of flavour and colour.
Deep crimson in colour. Full, intense aromas of blueberries, violets, Satsuma plum, briar and nuances of French oak. The palate is rich and vibrant, bursting with fresh and intense red and blue fruits. Structured and full, the mid palate is textured with tannins that are fine and long. This Cabernet is made to drink now, but it will continue to open and improve, showing its heritage with short to mid-term cellaring. Enjoy with medium rare venison back strap and potatoes, or roasted butternut risotto."
Limestone Coast Wine Show 2023 – Judge's Comments (2021 Vintage)
"Yalumba’s 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon outshone 443 wines from 62 participants to clinch the prestigious Bill Redman Trophy for Best Wine of Show. The event, held at Padthaway Estate, saw this exceptional wine also bag the HR (Ron) Haselgrove Trophy and the David Wynn Trophy. Chief of Judges Philip Rich said the winning red, which retails for under $30 a bottle, impressed from the outset. “It was a hotly contested class which highlights what a fantastic year 2021 was for the region, but we just loved this wine’s combination of concentration and depth of fruit while also having some finesse and elegance about it at the same time – ultimately, it’s a beautifully balanced wine,” he said."
5 Stars & 94/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"It's fabulously expressed on the nose, showing cassis, subtle tobacco, anise and toasty oak aromas. The palate displays lovely concentration combined with refined texture and fine flow, leading to a sturdy yet supple finish. Wonderfully styled and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2033."
Rated Excellent & 93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2023 (2021 Vintage)
Fantastic colour and concentration with inky staining of the tears leading to a bouquet of ripe roasted blackberries and Doris plums, tobacco and barrel spices of clove and roasted vanilla pod, there’s a toasty wood seam and layers of cigar and warm rocky soil ideas. Dry with plenty of weight and concentration as the wine touches the palate. Flavours mirror the bouquet led by black berry fruits then plums and violets, baking spices and wood smoke. Tannins are firm and abundant with medium concentration, acidity youthful and fresh still. Well made, a leading style with best drinking from 2026 through 2034+."
