The Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in tiny quantities in exceptional vintages only. This stunning reserve red wine is crafted from a single block of our old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon with extended maturation in the finest French oak barriques.

Current Release: 2018 Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon:

Shop our 2018 Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $95 per bottle (750ml)

Vintage Notes

Solid winter rains filled our dams and allowed for good levels of soil moisture to nourish the developing vines, which burst in September. A couple of well-timed summer showers in January and February topped up the soil moisture during the ripening period, while the warm, windy conditions allowed the grapevine canopies to dry quickly and prevent the risk of mildew. The gentle summer conditions without any heat spikes allowed the fruit to ripen gradually, resulting in a fantastic 2018 vintage in Margaret River, characterised by fragrant perfumes, amazing levels of fruit freshness and succulent levels of natural acidity.

Winemaking Notes

Fruit from a single block on the estate was harvested and berries crushed (just split) and sent to the fermentor. A regime of cool fermentation on skins for 14 days with multiple, yet gentle daily pump overs was employed in order to extract every morsel of luxury tannin and flavour from each berry. When peak concentration was achieved the wine was separated from the skins directly to a special selection of the finest French Oak barriques, 58% of which were new. The wine was matured in the French oak barrels for 18 months, then bottled for 5 year’s further maturation before release.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Dark red in colour with black flecks.
Bouquet: Blackcurrants, cassis and cedar, with hints of graphite and mulberries.
Palate: Generous and opulent, soft textures line the edges, introducing flavours of black and red cherries to a core of blue fruits and tense phenolics. Sheets of slate fall into place as the wine moves through the palate, finishing coating and plush, drenched in mulberries and hints of bay leaf.

Food Pairing Suggestions

• A simple, succulent steak cooked to perfection on the BBQ.
• Buttered pasta with shaved black truffle.
• Hard mature cheeses like aged Cheddar; or the Gouda with Cumin Seeds that we sometimes include in our Classical Wine & Cheese Tasting 

Cellaring & Serving Suggestions

The 2018 Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has been matured in bottle for several years before release, ensuring that it is deliciously refined and velvety smooth to enjoy now, yet it will continue to evolve and reward with further cellaring.

• Serving temperature: 16–18°C
• We recommend decanting for at least an hour before serving.
• Cellaring potential: 10-15 years for further development of complex tertiary notes.

Awards & Reviews

The Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has earned a consistent string of gold and silver medals with each vintage released.  This fine red wine stands as a benchmark of excellence and is our icon Margaret River varietal wine.

Here are a selection of awards and praised garnered for the 2018 Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon:

96 Points, Ray Jordan, WA Wine Review:  “This was one of the great Margaret River vintages, and it’s great to see a wine that’s now got 7+ years of age being released. It meets every expectation I had. It’s rich, dark, and powerful, and yet it is supremely elegant. In fact, I suggest the extra time in bottle has really fine-tuned it, and it is now drinking, or approaching drinking, at its very best. Lovely blackcurrant, oyster shell, and slightly savoury characters emerge on the nose, then into the palate, which delivers with a little dark chocolate and slightly edgy olive tapenade. It’s a cracking wine.”

95 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review:  “Deep colour still with some purple as well as brick tints; there are humus and seaweed, tobacco and dried herb aromas, tertiary notes starting to creep in, while the palate is full bodied and savoury with wood oil and briary, nori touches, the tannins fine, powdery and drying on the finish.”

Silver Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2025

Silver Medal, Australia & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show 2025

Silver Medal, International Wine Challenge 2024

Silver Medal, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024

94 Points, Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal: “For me, this is the pick of the collection of latest releases from this Margaret River winery. Hailing from the brilliant 2018 vintage no doubt helps. It is always exciting to see wines which have already enjoyed considerable time in the cellar before release. Maturation is for a year and a half in French oak barriques, with slightly more than half of them new. Near black/maroon in colour, this is poised, taut, intense and impressively balanced. The nose gives notes of chocolate, blackberries, cloves, graphite, mocha and cold tea. The oak integration is immaculate and there is good complexity already evident. The palate sees the emergence of black cherry notes. A midweight style with silky tannins, it offers attractive length and maintains its intensity throughout. Enjoy this really exciting Cabernet over the next ten to fifteen years. Giving the wine a few hours in a decanter will only add to its allure.”

Why Choose Passel Estate’s 2018 Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon?

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River is very highly regarded for its elegance, structure, and longevity. The region’s maritime climate, with warm days, cool nights, and a long, gentle ripening season, allows the fruit to develop intensity of flavour while maintaining good acidity and fine tannins – the hallmarks of premium Cabernet Sauvignon from our special part of Western Australia.

Compared to warmer regions of Australia, Margaret River reserve Cabernet is distinguished by its finesse and balance, showcasing flavours of vibrant cassis, red and blue fruits, subtle herb and spice notes.

These qualities make fine Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River one of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon styles globally and one of the most collectible.

Made from a single block of Houghton clone fruit with no varietal blending, Passel Estate’s Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a rare and refined expression of pure Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in very small quantities and only in exceptional vintages.

The 2018 Margaret River vintage is widely considered the best in a decade, especially for red wines. This elegant and opulent reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Passel Estate is a thrilling example.