2025 Joshua Cooper Dash Farms Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 Points

🏆 96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. HIGH-ALTITUDE CABERNET FROM ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST EXCITING WINEMAKERS.

96 Points — JamesSuckling.com

2025 JOSHUA COOPER DASH FARMS CABERNET SAUVIGNON — CENTRAL VICTORIA, VIC

RRP $58

Some of the most exciting Cabernet Sauvignon being made in Australia today isn't coming from Coonawarra, Margaret River or the Barossa Valley.

It's coming from the remarkable old and established vineyards scattered throughout Central Victoria.

And one of the winemakers leading that charge is Joshua Cooper.

His 2025 Dash Farms Cabernet Sauvignon is an extraordinary example of just how elegant, fragrant and beautifully structured Australian Cabernet can be.

96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING.

At just $58 a bottle, this is an exceptionally compelling proposition.

Deep blackcurrant.

Fresh red cherries.

Violets.

Lavender.

Graphite.

Wild herbs.

And beautifully fine, powdery tannins.

This is serious Cabernet Sauvignon, but without the excessive weight or heavy oak that can dominate the variety.

PURE FRUIT. BEAUTIFUL FRESHNESS. EXTRAORDINARY FINESSE.

And the vineyard story is absolutely fascinating.

Joshua Cooper — One of Australia's Most Exciting Cabernet Sauvignon Winemakers

Joshua Cooper was practically destined to become a winemaker.

His parents, Alan and Nelly Cooper, established Cobaw Ridge in Victoria's Macedon Ranges.

Growing up surrounded by vineyards, exceptional wine and a family deeply committed to thoughtful viticulture, Josh developed an appreciation for the relationship between wine and place.

But rather than simply following the family business, he established his own label in 2012.

His first vintage consisted of just a single barrel.

From those humble beginnings, Joshua Cooper has developed into one of Australia's most exciting contemporary winemakers.

2020 GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE YOUNG WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR.

2024 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION BEST NEW WINERY.

And while his Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have attracted considerable attention, I find his Cabernet Sauvignons particularly exciting.

Josh has a remarkable ability to capture the elegance and perfume of Cabernet Sauvignon without sacrificing depth, concentration or structure.

His wines are wonderfully individual.

They're not enormous, heavily extracted reds.

They're wines that make you appreciate just how beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon can be when grown in the right vineyard.

Dash Farms — A Remarkable Vineyard on Mount Alexander

Here's something most people wouldn't know.

DASH FARMS SITS MORE THAN 450 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL ON THE SOUTHERN SLOPES OF MOUNT ALEXANDER.

The mountain is also known by its Dja Dja Wurrung name, Leanganook.

The vineyard looks south towards Mount Macedon and the Macedon Ranges.

And its position is absolutely fundamental to the wine.

The Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in 1999.

They're growing on granitic soils at an elevation where ripening can be exceptionally slow.

In fact, Dash Farms sits just outside the official Macedon Ranges wine region.

But climatically, it shares many of the characteristics that make the Macedon Ranges such an extraordinary cool-climate wine region.

Cool nights.

Long growing seasons.

Excellent natural acidity.

And the ability to produce wines with beautiful perfume and fine tannins.

THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN CABERNET VINEYARD.

Here's Something Extraordinary — Cabernet Harvested in Late April

Most Australian Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are harvested considerably earlier in the season.

But Dash Farms is different.

The vineyard's high elevation and cool growing conditions make it an exceptionally late-ripening site.

THE 2025 CABERNET WASN'T HARVESTED UNTIL LATE APRIL.

That's remarkable.

The extended growing season allows the grapes to develop flavour and tannin maturity while retaining freshness.

And it's precisely this combination that makes Dash Farms so interesting.

The wine has beautiful concentration.

But it also has vibrant acidity, wonderful perfume and fine-grained tannins.

IT'S CABERNET SAUVIGNON WITH DEPTH, BUT ALSO ENERGY AND ELEGANCE.

Granite Soils — A Different Expression of Cabernet Sauvignon

The vineyard is planted on the southern granitic slopes of Mount Alexander.

And the geology plays an important role in the vineyard's character.

Granite-derived soils often provide excellent drainage and can encourage balanced vine growth.

Combined with the cool mountain environment, these conditions help produce fruit with excellent natural structure.

The resulting wine has a distinctive savoury character.

Graphite.

Crushed herbs.

Violets.

Dark berries.

And wonderfully fine tannins.

This is a very different expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from the powerful, generous styles associated with warmer Australian regions.

MORE PERFUME. MORE PRECISION. MORE FINESSE.

The Winemaking — Traditional Techniques and Remarkable Restraint

Here's another reason I rate Joshua Cooper so highly.

He understands that exceptional fruit doesn't need excessive manipulation.

The 2025 Dash Farms Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-harvested, with strict fruit sorting in the vineyard.

The bunches were completely destemmed, with a portion of the fruit foot-crushed.

The grapes were then transferred into open fermenters.

Fermentation began naturally, using the yeasts present on the fruit and in the winery.

The wine spent approximately three weeks on skins, with extraction managed through pumping over, rack-and-return and plunging.

It was then basket pressed.

And here's an important detail.

ONLY 20% NEW OAK.

The wine was matured for twelve months in a combination of new 300-litre Stockinger barrels and seasoned French Bordeaux-style barriques.

Following blending, it spent another four months in stainless steel.

The result is a wine with beautiful structure and complexity, but without excessive oak influence.

THE FRUIT AND VINEYARD REMAIN THE STARS.

96 Points — James Suckling

96 POINTS.

An outstanding endorsement of this remarkable Central Victorian Cabernet Sauvignon.

What makes the wine so compelling is the combination of beautiful fruit concentration and the freshness that comes from its high-altitude vineyard.

This is a Cabernet Sauvignon with genuine depth.

But it's also fragrant, lively and beautifully controlled.

At $58, it represents a particularly attractive opportunity to experience the exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon being produced by Joshua Cooper.

The 2025 Vintage — Josh Cooper's Favourite Dash Farms Yet

The 2025 release has remarkable intensity.

The colour is deep and inky.

The nose is wonderfully expressive.

Lavender.

Violets.

Creamy cassis.

Fresh blackcurrants.

Graphite.

And wild herbs.

But what really impresses is the palate.

There's beautiful concentration, yet the wine remains wonderfully vibrant.

Red cherries and raspberries complement the darker Cabernet fruit.

The tannins are fine and powdery.

And the finish is dry, persistent and beautifully savoury.

Joshua Cooper has described this as his favourite vintage from the site to date.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY.

Tasting Notes — Cassis, Violets, Graphite and Wild Herbs

Appearance: Deep, inky garnet with youthful brilliance.

Aromas: Blackcurrant, creamy cassis, violets, lavender, fresh raspberry, graphite and wild herbs.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, with impressive depth and vibrant flavours of cassis, red cherry and raspberry.

Texture: Supple and beautifully balanced, with fine fruit tannins providing structure.

Tannins: Powdery, persistent and wonderfully refined.

Acidity: Fresh and lively, reflecting the vineyard's cool, high-altitude location.

Complexity: Graphite, crushed ivy, delicate oak spice and savoury herbal notes.

Finish: Long, dry and beautifully structured, with lingering dark berries and fine tannins.

CONCENTRATED. FRAGRANT. REFINED. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.

A Brilliant Introduction to Joshua Cooper's Cabernet Sauvignon

For anyone unfamiliar with Joshua Cooper, this is an excellent place to begin.

His historic Balgownie Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Australia's most fascinating old-vine Cabernet wines.

But Dash Farms offers something different.

A high-altitude mountain vineyard.

Granitic soils.

A long, cool growing season.

And a wonderfully fragrant, elegant expression of Cabernet Sauvignon.

It's a wine that demonstrates why Central Victoria deserves far more attention for this great grape variety.

And at $58, it makes a compelling alternative to much more expensive Australian Cabernet.

Cellaring Potential

The wine has the fruit concentration, natural acidity and tannin structure to reward medium-term cellaring.

Joshua Cooper recommends decanting the wine if drinking it young, allowing the fruit and aromatics to become more expressive.

Alternatively, careful cellaring should allow the tannins to soften and additional savoury complexity to develop.

My recommendation would be to enjoy some bottles over the next few years and put a few away to follow their evolution.

Food Pairing

This is an exceptionally versatile Cabernet Sauvignon.

Slow-roasted lamb shoulder.

Grilled ribeye.

Roast beef.

Duck breast.

Wild mushroom risotto.

Or aged hard cheeses.

My choice?

SLOW-ROASTED LAMB SHOULDER WITH ROSEMARY, GARLIC AND RED WINE JUS.

The wine's beautiful Cabernet fruit, savoury herbal complexity and fine tannins would make a magnificent combination.

Why You'll Love It

• 96 points — JamesSuckling.com

• Crafted by acclaimed winemaker Joshua Cooper

• 2020 Gourmet Traveller Wine Young Winemaker of the Year

• 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery

• Single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Central Victoria

• Dash Farms vineyard planted in 1999

• Situated on Mount Alexander (Leanganook)

• More than 450 metres above sea level

• Distinctive granitic soils

• Exceptionally late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon site

• Harvested in late April 2025

• Hand-picked and carefully sorted fruit

• Natural fermentation in open fermenters

• Traditional basket pressing

• Twelve months in French oak

• Just 20% new Stockinger oak

• Four additional months in stainless steel

• Cassis, violet, lavender, graphite and red cherry complexity

• Fine, powdery tannins and beautiful freshness

• 14% alcohol

• RRP $58

The Liquid Vibe Verdict

I find Joshua Cooper's Cabernet Sauvignons absolutely fascinating.

And this is a wonderful example of why.

He's demonstrating that some of Australia's most exciting Cabernet Sauvignon isn't necessarily coming from the regions everyone immediately thinks of.

Instead, he's finding extraordinary vineyards throughout Central Victoria.

Places with unusual geology.

Cool growing conditions.

And the ability to produce Cabernet Sauvignon with remarkable perfume, freshness and finesse.

Dash Farms is a perfect example.

A vineyard planted in 1999.

More than 450 metres above sea level.

Granitic soils.

And Cabernet Sauvignon harvested as late as April.

The result is a wine with beautiful fruit concentration, wonderful aromatics and exceptional structure.

96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING.

2025 JOSHUA COOPER DASH FARMS CABERNET SAUVIGNON.

CENTRAL VICTORIA.

RRP $58.

ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING COOL-CLIMATE AUSTRALIAN CABERNETS AT THIS PRICE.