Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2021

“The 2021 Margaret River Chardonnay is aromatically opulent and rich, layered with toasty oak, stewed apples and a flick of custard powder. In the mouth, this is full, abundant, lush and long, with loads of custard apple, nashi pear, sandalwood and pastry. It is flamboyant, in its way. It is satisfying, verging on old school, but with clarity and flair. It is airy and warming, like a feather quilt in winter. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink: 2023-2034. 95+ points

To suggest that Larry Cherubino makes a prodigious amount of wine would be both correct and a gentle understatement. However, he and his winemaking team (not to be overlooked or underestimated) are responsible for a huge number of very high quality wines, as are evidenced in this report. The Chardonnays are routinely made in a full-bodied, plush style, which is created by winemaking rather than later picking dates. The wines are enveloping, rich, balanced and opulent, in many cases, yet always classy. The Cabernets are often supported by a profusion of very high quality French oak. They offer cellaring propositions of the highest order, emphasized by Larry’s access to very high quality fruit and very high attention to detail in his vineyards. The wines included in this report are his Margaret River wines, but he also makes a collection of wines from the Great Southern. The “plus” signs in the scores here indicate that the wines will be better with time.”

Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (07/23)