As close to perfect as a wine could be. No Images? Click here Dear wine lover, 99 Points - 2014 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon The West Australian's wine critic Ray Jordan has had almost as many wines as waters but he can still be impressed, bestowing on Moss Wood's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon his highest-ever score of 99 out of 100. Margaret River's Moss Wood Cabernet has long been listed by Langtons in its "Exceptional" ranking, and is also Wine Ark's most collected Cabernet Sauvignon. And as James Halliday commented on the fantastic 2014 vintage in Margaret River: “Once again, Western Australia might as well have been in another hemisphere, if not another world. All its many regions had a perfect growing season, the conditions ‘some of the best in living memory' ". Ray Jordan said Moss Wood’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is as close to perfect as a wine could be, even edging out the celebrated Penfolds Grange. “I’ve always maintained Grange is Australia’s greatest wine but it’s not necessarily our best,” Jordan said. “To me, Moss Wood Cabernet encapsulates everything that’s Margaret River and this one just absolutely nailed it.” Jordan thought long and hard about going into uncharted 99 territory. “I pride myself on giving scores that are relevant and over the years I’ve seen a lot of really good wines that have gone only as high as 98 points,” he said. “But this Cabernet is a cut above, even upon release — who knows how good it’ll be in a few decades. It’s a wine that will live for 40 years,” Jordan said. “And when you think about it, at $120-odd a bottle ... Grange and Hill of Grace are up over $800 a bottle. I think I’d rather six bottles of the Moss Wood.” Winemaker Keith Mugford, who has run Moss Wood with wife Clare since 1985, said the accolade was humbling. “If a wine is good enough to get that acclaim that’s just fantastic,” he said. “It’s a great thrill and we’re really proud.” Mr Mugford said he and his wife suspected the 2014 would be a corker as they prepared it for bottling in November. “It definitely had a beautifully bright, really lifted aromatic profile and we thought: ‘Hmm, we’ve got something here’,” he said. Still, Mr Mugford is reluctant to take all the credit. “I think we’re a bit lucky, really,” he said. “We had things in our favour. We’ve got a good vineyard ... and 2014 was a really terrific season. “Mother nature smiled on us and gave us near-perfect conditions for ripening.” “Ray’s comments will cause a stir because you’ll get those people who will look at the score and go ‘Wow, that must be a great wine’ and go looking for it to see if they agree,” Mr Mugford said. Jordan doubts he will be doling out another 99 soon — and certainly not a 100. “I’d never give a wine 100,” he said. “I don’t think there’s such an animal. Is anything in this world perfect? But this is as near as dammit.” The 2014 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon will be released next Monday 1st May, and will be delivered to you early the following week. We only have limited supply - so once it's gone, it is gone. Cheers Sarah Fuller |