The 2021 Pressure Drop was awarded 94 points by Halliday Wine Companion, with Marcus Ellis describing it as "a fine expression... expansive in flavour without the heft." The 2023 vintage continues that philosophy, taking it another step towards purity, freshness and balance.
At Inkwell, we believe Cabernet Sauvignon is at its most compelling when it speaks clearly of place rather than winemaking. Grown on our single estate vineyard in McLaren Vale, on sandy loam over the Pirramimma Sandstone formation, the fruit was hand-picked, wild fermented and matured for 18 months in premium French oak before bottling with only the minimum effective addition of sulphur dioxide.
The 2023 vintage captures everything we love about Cabernet: vibrant red and black fruits, hints of blue fruit, lifted cassis, bay leaf and dried herbs, all carried by fine-grained tannins and natural acidity. At just 12.3% alcohol, it is remarkably poised, with freshness, length and effortless drinkability.
As our regenerative farming practices continue to mature, we're seeing fruit that consistently reaches excellent flavour and tannin ripeness while retaining natural freshness and moderate alcohol. Whether that's the direct result of healthier soils, deeper-rooted vines or simply allowing the vineyard to find its own balance, the outcome is a Cabernet of precision rather than power.
Rather than chasing weight or concentration, Pressure Drop embraces a more classical expression of the variety—elegant, savoury and age-worthy. It recalls the beautifully proportioned Cabernet-based wines of an earlier era, where balance mattered more than sheer scale.
If the 2021 vintage established the style, the 2023 refines it.
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2023
Alcohol: 12.3%
Vineyard: Inkwell Estate, McLaren Vale (single vineyard)
Soils: Sandy loam over Pirramimma Sandstone
Winemaking: Hand-picked, wild indigenous yeast fermentation, matured 18 months in French oak
Sulphur: Minimum effective SO₂ only
Production: 2,015 bottles
Style: Medium-bodied, vibrant, savoury and finely structured
Fresh. Focused. Timeless Cabernet.
A wine of purity, finesse and quiet confidence that rewards attention without demanding it.
One additional suggestion: because the 2021 Halliday review is for a different vintage, I'd avoid placing the score at the top of the page. Instead, use it as you've done here—as evidence of the established house style ("The 2021 vintage received 94 points..."), while allowing the 2023 wine to stand on its own merits. That approach is both more transparent and more persuasive.
The 2021 Pressure Drop was awarded 94 points by Halliday Wine Companion, with Marcus Ellis describing it as "a fine expression... expansive in flavour without the heft." The 2023 vintage continues that philosophy, taking it another step towards purity, freshness and balance.
At Inkwell, we believe Cabernet Sauvignon is at its most compelling when it speaks clearly of place rather than winemaking. Grown on our single estate vineyard in McLaren Vale, on sandy loam over the Pirramimma Sandstone formation, the fruit was hand-picked, wild fermented and matured for 18 months in premium French oak before bottling with only the minimum effective addition of sulphur dioxide.
The 2023 vintage captures everything we love about Cabernet: vibrant red and black fruits, hints of blue fruit, lifted cassis, bay leaf and dried herbs, all carried by fine-grained tannins and natural acidity. At just 12.3% alcohol, it is remarkably poised, with freshness, length and effortless drinkability.
As our regenerative farming practices continue to mature, we're seeing fruit that consistently reaches excellent flavour and tannin ripeness while retaining natural freshness and moderate alcohol. Whether that's the direct result of healthier soils, deeper-rooted vines or simply allowing the vineyard to find its own balance, the outcome is a Cabernet of precision rather than power.
Rather than chasing weight or concentration, Pressure Drop embraces a more classical expression of the variety—elegant, savoury and age-worthy. It recalls the beautifully proportioned Cabernet-based wines of an earlier era, where balance mattered more than sheer scale.
If the 2021 vintage established the style, the 2023 refines it.
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2023
Alcohol: 12.3%
Vineyard: Inkwell Estate, McLaren Vale (single vineyard)
Soils: Sandy loam over Pirramimma Sandstone
Winemaking: Hand-picked, wild indigenous yeast fermentation, matured 18 months in French oak
Sulphur: Minimum effective SO₂ only
Production: 2,015 bottles
Style: Medium-bodied, vibrant, savoury and finely structured
Fresh. Focused. Timeless Cabernet.
A wine of purity, finesse and quiet confidence that rewards attention without demanding it.
One additional suggestion: because the 2021 Halliday review is for a different vintage, I'd avoid placing the score at the top of the page. Instead, use it as you've done here—as evidence of the established house style ("The 2021 vintage received 94 points..."), while allowing the 2023 wine to stand on its own merits. That approach is both more transparent and more persuasive.
