Empyrean Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Empyrean Cabernet Sauvignon

‘Empyrean is Latin for the highest sphere in which the purist elements of life exist’.

The vines are meticulously hand pruned as one measure, to keep the vineyards balanced and yields low. The result is small thick-skinned berries expressing pure Coonawarra character. The resulting wine is complex and lengthy, with malolactic fermentation and maturation being completed in only hand selected new French oak. Each vintage is scrutinized and only the best of them make it through, ensuring quality parameters are met. When they are not achieved, this wine will be blended back into our next offering and not released. The result is a distinguished, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that certainly leaves a lasting impression.

Empyrean quality pushed Reschke into the forefront of the evolving Australian wine industry, establishing it as a reputable Coonawarra icon.

As affirmed by leading US wine critic Robert Parker, Reschke “may well be the benchmark for Coonawarra’s famed Cabernet Sauvignon."

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2018
Region: Coonawarra

Reviewer's Words:

98 Points
Complex and beautifully developed, the bouquet reveals layers of blackcurrant, blackberry and dark cherry alongside tobacco leaf, cedar, graphite and fine oak spice. Bottle age has added remarkable depth while preserving freshness and intensity.

The palate is full-bodied and impeccably balanced, with concentrated cassis and black fruit supported by silky tannins and refined acidity. Nuances of dark chocolate, cigar box and savoury herbs unfold seamlessly through the palate before an exceptionally long and sophisticated finish.

★★★★★ An outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing exceptional complexity, refinement and longevity.

- Russ Gallagher, Vino Masters 

96 Points
It's powerfully expressed on the nose, showing mixed berry compote, cassis, tapenade, warm spice and toasty oak characters, leading to a lavish palate that's filled with rich fruit intensity backed by velvety texture and chalky tannins. Bold and brooding. At its best: now to 2035. 

- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

95 Points
Made from the very top selected rows from the Henry Albert Blocks, grown on Terra Rossa soils. 100% new French oak. A potent mix of staining mulberries, black cherry and bramble. There is an intensity of cassis along with the purity of quality French cooperage. Allspice and clove dance in time with a subtle hint of sage and bay leaf. The pedigree is undeniable, with fruit appearing and tasting youthful and buoyant. It's slinky in its savvy acidity and tannins are blooms of dust clouds. There's pin-point precision in this wine and it's drinking very well now; another 8–10 years and this will evolve once again.

- Shanteh Wale, Halliday

 

93 Points
From a single vineyard in Coonawarra, this fine Cabernet has the benefit of both being from a wonderful vintage and already having quite a few years maturing in the cellar. A deep red/maroon hue, there is some warm, toasty oak still evident, which adds to the overall impressive impression, rather than detracting in any way. There are notes of coffee beans, plums, chocolate, black fruits, soy and aniseed. This is a wine of poise and focus with some serious grip and a lingering finish. Still has a decade plus ahead of it.

- Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot