Ansted & Osicka 1970 Block Balgownie Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

best australian wines
Written By Campbell Mattinson
Mattinson review of Ansted & Osicka 1970 Block Balgownie Cabernet Sauvignon 2024.

One of the best wine moments of 2024 was when the 2022 release of Ansted & Osicka Balgownie 1970 Block Cabernet Sauvignon hit the desk. The 2024 release is now here. It seems as if, in all likelihood, we are on borrowed time with this vineyard, which makes each of these releases precious. Maybe this is the last. Maybe it’s not. If it is, it’s a mighty way to go out.

Mighty in a minor key. It doesn’t overplay anything, and yet every note is clear, deep and resonant. It tastes of currants, earths, smokes, roots and leaves; it’s sweet-fruited and savoury; it has mint top notes and licorice down below. It’s a beautiful wine, full stop, structured and generous; intent of tannin; meaningful. For now or for the long haul. It does its land, its history and itself proud. 96 points.

Campbell Mattinson

This article was written by Campbell Mattinson, founder of The Winefront and mattinson, and former chief editor of Halliday.

When you pick up a wine book and see thousands of top-scoring wines, it’s hard to know which wine to choose. Mattinson guides you through this maze, giving you an honest view of the best Australian wines, the best wine stories, the best wine producers, the best value wines and simply, the best tasting wines. Importantly, Mattinson will tell you about the top-rated wines and also about the underrated wines. In short, Mattinson knows Australian wines inside and out.

Mattinson has been a photo-journalist since 1987. For the past 25 years he’s been a voice that you can trust when you’re looking for the best wines. He’s the only Australian to have won the Australian Wine Communicator of the Year Award more than once. He’s a past winner of a Louis Roederer International Wine Media Award, and is the author of the award-winning book The Wine Hunter. He’s not afraid to put a score beside a wine. But what he’d rather do, is tell you the wine’s story.

https://www.campbellmattinson.com
Previous

A Dan Murphy’s home brand just won Best Riesling at the Royal Queensland Wine Show
Next

Paul Osicka Heathcote Grenache 2024