Elegant, Complex, and Classically Composed - A Graceful Yarra Valley Bordeaux Blend

Wantirna Estate Amelia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2023 is a beautifully refined blend that captures the hallmark elegance and longevity of this historic Yarra Valley estate. Named after Reg and Maryann Egan’s granddaughter, Amelia represents the family’s deep commitment to crafting wines of purity, texture, and balance. Combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, this is a wine of finesse, structure, and quiet power, a true Australian claret in spirit and execution.

Halliday Wine Companion - 97 Points 

A 45/45/10% cabernet sauvignon/merlot and cabernet franc/petit verdot blend with the majority coming off the original dry-grown 1963 plantings. A fabulous, bright crimson/purple. A touch riper and richer than the '22. There's a sumptuous core of dark fruits, violets, cedar and fresh pencil shavings on the nose. It's just as enticing on the perfectly pitched, medium bodied, elegant and very persistent palate. Everything is in place for a long and productive life! Philip Rich

Tasting Notes

• Aroma: Blackcurrant, dark plum, and red cherry with layers of cedar, violet, and tobacco leaf.

• Palate: Medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, showing ripe dark fruits, cassis, and fine, savoury tannins with subtle oak integration.

• Finish: Long, elegant, and refined with lingering notes of spice, cocoa, and graphite minerality.

Food Pairing / Serving Suggestions

Perfect with roast lamb, beef fillet, or venison. Also pairs beautifully with mushroom dishes, aged cheddar, or slow cooked ragù. Decant for an hour before serving to reveal its full aromatic depth.

About the Winery

Wantirna Estate, founded in 1963, is one of the Yarra Valley’s oldest family-run vineyards. Pioneers Reg and Maryann Egan were among the first to re-establish fine winegrowing in the region, planting classic Bordeaux and Burgundy varieties. Today, second-generation winemaker Maryann Egan continues the family’s artisanal approach, hand-harvesting, traditional fermentation, and sustainable viticulture to create wines of purity, age-worthiness, and quiet sophistication.

Cellaring Potential

Drink from 2026–2040+ for peak complexity, as layers of cassis, cedar, and fine spice evolve into a seamless, mature structure.

Collector’s Note

Wantirna Estate Amelia is one of Australia’s most collectible Cabernet blends, consistently earning 96–98 points from Halliday Wine Companion and Gold Medals at the Yarra Valley Wine Show. The 2023 vintage is another triumph, refined, age worthy, and true to the classic claret style that defines this iconic estate.

Details

• Winery: Wantirna Estate

• Vintage: 2023

• Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

• Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

• Classification: Flagship Bordeaux-Style Blend

• Certifications: Sustainable Viticulture