Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
| Wine Facts | |
|---|---|
| Median Harvest Date | Cabernet Sauvignon – 5th April 2023 Cabernet Franc – 30th March 2023 Merlot – 30th March 2023 Malbec – 30th March 2023 Petit Verdot - 19th April 2023 |
| Mean Harvest Ripeness | Cabernet Sauvignon – 13.0⁰ Be Cabernet Franc – 12.8⁰ Be Merlot – 13.2⁰ Be Malbec – 13.7° Be Petit Verdot 13.5⁰ Be |
| Yield | Cabernet Sauvignon – 5.6 t/ha Cabernet Franc – 12.8 t/ha Merlot – 13.2 t/ha Malbec – 5.5 t/ha Petit Verdot 2.6 t/ha |
| Ripening Time from Flowering to Harvest | Cabernet Sauvignon – 128 days Cabernet Franc – 121 days Merlot – 119 days Malbec – 121 days Petit Verdot - 136 days |
| Bottled | 4th August, 2025 |
| Blend | 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 2.5% Merlot 2.5% Cabernet Franc 2.5% Malbec 2.5% Petit Verdot |
| Released | 26th February, 2026 |
| Alcohol | 14.0% |
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal
Medium deep crimson. Attractive cassis, blackberry pastille. dark chocolate aromas with some cedar notes. Inky deep with abundant blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, underlying vanilla, roasted chestnut notes, fine grainy – touch al dente tannins and fresh long tangy acidity. Finishes velvety firm and juicy. Still elemental but lovely richness and volume….
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Fresh blackberry and mulberry, a little smoked paprika, bay leaf, spice and cedar. It’s medium-bodied, blackberry, mint, black olive and dried herbs, a cranberry freshness to acidity, a hazelnut feel to tannin, with a crisp, nutty and spicy red-fruited finish of very good length. Quite restrained and tight as at…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ray Jordan
Yet another example of how an intense and rigorous concentration on the vineyard is producing such wonderful results these days for Moss Wood. And this is such an elegant and stylish cabernet sauvignon that reflects both that vineyard and the wonderful ’23 vintage. Bright red, energetic fruits on the nose,…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
Cabernet Sauvignon this Margaret River wine from the Ribbon Vale Vineyard may be, but it is very much the traditional Bordeaux blend, with 2.5% of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot included in the mix. From the 2023 vintage, which continues grow in reputation with every wine released, this…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Marc Malouf, Wine Worth Writing About
Crimson with a ruby rim and a lifted nose of lavender, blackberries, cassis, dried currants, white pepper, bay leaf, rosemary and dried sage, cocoa, graphite, pencil shavings and woody spice. In the mouth it’s juicy and easy with ripe blackberry, plum, raspberry, blueberry and blackcurrant at its core, kissed by…
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine
A superb release and possibly the best Ribbon Vale cabernet yet. This is an elegant, medium-bodied wine with purpose and drive, showing lifted red fruits and subtle leafiness on the nose. The palate is bright and energetic, with oak and tannins seamlessly integrated into the fruit to create precision and…
WA Wine Review 2024
Ray Jordan “Moss Wood is a family-owned wine company and a pioneer of the Margaret River region. Planted in 1969, Moss Wood is an important founding estate of Margaret River. Clare and Keith Mugford, as viticulturalists, winemakers and proprietors, have been tending the vineyard and making wine at Moss Wood…
Vintage notes
The 2022/23 growing season at Ribbon Vale proceeded without major disruption and allowed the vineyard to progress in a measured and consistent manner. For the 2022 calendar year, rainfall totalled 1114mm, approximately 9% above the long-term average. For a dry-grown vineyard, this resulted in adequate soil moisture reserves at the commencement of the growing season.
Spring conditions were generally favourable, although rainfall during flowering influenced final yields. Between October and the end of November, while the vines were flowering and setting fruit, 89mm of rain was recorded. While not excessive, this rainfall coincided with flowering and is reflected in reduced fruit set and the lower-than-average yields recorded for several varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Following flowering, conditions became relatively dry. From the beginning of December through to harvest, only 18.8mm of rain fell. This limited rainfall, together with the soil moisture established earlier in the season, allowed ripening to continue without evident water stress while maintaining low disease pressure. Canopies remained healthy, and fruit development progressed steadily rather than being driven by rapid sugar accumulation.
Summer temperatures were moderate, with no prolonged heat events. Ripening was unhurried, with harvest commencing in late March and extending into April. Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 5.6 tonnes per hectare, approximately 17% below its long-term average of 6.73 t/ha, and was harvested three days later than average. Merlot produced 5.4 t/ha, around 28% below its long-term average, and was harvested nine days later than usual.
Taken together, the distribution of rainfall, moderate temperatures and restrained yields resulted in an extended ripening period across the vineyard. Fruit was harvested without pressure, allowing flavour and tannin development to keep pace with sugar accumulation. The wines reflect these conditions and the stress-free nature of the 2023 season.
Production Notes
All fruit was hand-picked and delivered to the winery where it was destemmed and sorted. Fermentation took place in small open fermenters, seeded with multiple yeast strains, with temperatures controlled to a maximum of 32°C. Ferments were hand plunged three times daily to manage extraction, with each batch remaining on skins for a total of 13 days.
After pressing, the wine completed malolactic fermentation in tank before being racked to 228-litre French oak barriques, of which 17% were new. Maturation occurred for a period of 28 months with the final blend comprising 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 2.5% each of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. These blending components are used to refine structure and balance rather than alter the fundamental character of the wine.
The wine was assessed for the use of fining agents, however, none were found to be beneficial to the tannin balance. The wine was sterile filtered and bottled on 4th August 2025.
Tasting Notes
Colour and condition:
Deep brick red with youthful purple hues; bright condition.
Nose:
Blackcurrant and mulberry are most evident, supported by bay leaf, cedar, graphite and subtle tarry notes.
Palate:
Medium to full bodied, with layered dark fruit flavours of red currant, dark cherry and blackberry, carried by fine, persistent tannins. The structure is firm but well balanced, with fresh acidity providing length and definition. Oak influence is present but restrained.
Cellaring
The Ribbon Vale 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is suitable for extended cellaring. While it can most certainly be enjoyed in its youth, it will benefit from time in bottle. We recommend a minimum of 10 years, with full maturity expected between 20 and 25 years.