2021 Inkwell Pressure Drop Cabernet Sauvignon
94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion
“A fine expression… expansive in flavour without the heft.” – Marcus Ellis
At Inkwell, we make Cabernet the way we believe it should be: vibrant, pure, and deeply expressive of place—without the heavy-handedness so often expected from the variety.
The 2021 Pressure Drop is estate-grown on our single vineyard in McLaren Vale, rooted in sandy loam over the Pirramimma Sandstone formation. It was hand-picked, fermented with wild indigenous yeast, and matured for 18 months in top-quality French oak barrels. Bottled with only the minimum effective SO₂, this wine is a restrained and thoughtful interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon.
This vintage carries the full colour palette of Cabernet: red fruit brightness, black fruit depth, subtle blue fruit tone, and classic green leaf and herbal lift—all woven into a seamless whole. It’s medium-bodied, with fine structure, elegant tannins, and a natural line of acidity that brings freshness and clarity from start to finish.
While we prefer to let the wine speak for itself, we were honoured that Halliday Wine Companion awarded this vintage 94 points, noting its varietal precision, earthiness, and finely judged restraint.
Critical Acclaim (2021 vintage):
“Intensely, varietally cabernet, as it should be... scraggly blackberry, currant and blackcurrant, with the pungent lift of the leaves, dried mint and potpourri. Brininess too—oyster shell, dried kelp, tapenade. Expansive in flavour, the key here is the lack of heft… a fine expression.”
— Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 94 points (May 2025)
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Inkwell Estate, McLaren Vale (single vineyard)
Soils: Sandy loam over Pirramimma Sandstone
Winemaking: Hand-picked, wild fermented, 18 months in French oak
Sulphur: Minimum effective SO₂ only
Style: Medium-bodied, vibrant, savoury
Alcohol: 13.9%
270 dozes produced
Fresh. Focused. Unmistakably Cabernet.
A wine of subtle complexity and purity that rewards attention—and restraint.
94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion
“A fine expression… expansive in flavour without the heft.” – Marcus Ellis
At Inkwell, we make Cabernet the way we believe it should be: vibrant, pure, and deeply expressive of place—without the heavy-handedness so often expected from the variety.
The 2021 Pressure Drop is estate-grown on our single vineyard in McLaren Vale, rooted in sandy loam over the Pirramimma Sandstone formation. It was hand-picked, fermented with wild indigenous yeast, and matured for 18 months in top-quality French oak barrels. Bottled with only the minimum effective SO₂, this wine is a restrained and thoughtful interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon.
This vintage carries the full colour palette of Cabernet: red fruit brightness, black fruit depth, subtle blue fruit tone, and classic green leaf and herbal lift—all woven into a seamless whole. It’s medium-bodied, with fine structure, elegant tannins, and a natural line of acidity that brings freshness and clarity from start to finish.
While we prefer to let the wine speak for itself, we were honoured that Halliday Wine Companion awarded this vintage 94 points, noting its varietal precision, earthiness, and finely judged restraint.
Critical Acclaim (2021 vintage):
“Intensely, varietally cabernet, as it should be... scraggly blackberry, currant and blackcurrant, with the pungent lift of the leaves, dried mint and potpourri. Brininess too—oyster shell, dried kelp, tapenade. Expansive in flavour, the key here is the lack of heft… a fine expression.”
— Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 94 points (May 2025)
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Inkwell Estate, McLaren Vale (single vineyard)
Soils: Sandy loam over Pirramimma Sandstone
Winemaking: Hand-picked, wild fermented, 18 months in French oak
Sulphur: Minimum effective SO₂ only
Style: Medium-bodied, vibrant, savoury
Alcohol: 13.9%
270 dozes produced
Fresh. Focused. Unmistakably Cabernet.
A wine of subtle complexity and purity that rewards attention—and restraint.
94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion
“A fine expression… expansive in flavour without the heft.” – Marcus Ellis
At Inkwell, we make Cabernet the way we believe it should be: vibrant, pure, and deeply expressive of place—without the heavy-handedness so often expected from the variety.
The 2021 Pressure Drop is estate-grown on our single vineyard in McLaren Vale, rooted in sandy loam over the Pirramimma Sandstone formation. It was hand-picked, fermented with wild indigenous yeast, and matured for 18 months in top-quality French oak barrels. Bottled with only the minimum effective SO₂, this wine is a restrained and thoughtful interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon.
This vintage carries the full colour palette of Cabernet: red fruit brightness, black fruit depth, subtle blue fruit tone, and classic green leaf and herbal lift—all woven into a seamless whole. It’s medium-bodied, with fine structure, elegant tannins, and a natural line of acidity that brings freshness and clarity from start to finish.
While we prefer to let the wine speak for itself, we were honoured that Halliday Wine Companion awarded this vintage 94 points, noting its varietal precision, earthiness, and finely judged restraint.
Critical Acclaim (2021 vintage):
“Intensely, varietally cabernet, as it should be... scraggly blackberry, currant and blackcurrant, with the pungent lift of the leaves, dried mint and potpourri. Brininess too—oyster shell, dried kelp, tapenade. Expansive in flavour, the key here is the lack of heft… a fine expression.”
— Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 94 points (May 2025)
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Inkwell Estate, McLaren Vale (single vineyard)
Soils: Sandy loam over Pirramimma Sandstone
Winemaking: Hand-picked, wild fermented, 18 months in French oak
Sulphur: Minimum effective SO₂ only
Style: Medium-bodied, vibrant, savoury
Alcohol: 13.9%
270 dozes produced
Fresh. Focused. Unmistakably Cabernet.
A wine of subtle complexity and purity that rewards attention—and restraint.
