St. Hugo DR3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Colin McKone rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

An amazing Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, the DR3 refers to car 3 of Daniel Ricciardo, the Italian-Australian Formula 1 race driver. It is deep purple in colour with aromas of blackberry, plum, cassis, dark chocolate and vanilla. it is full bodied with medium tannins and acidity, very well balanced. On the palate you get flavours of plum, black cherry, vanilla and dried herbs. This will pair well with grilled red meats, I paired it with a nice grilled steak. A great wine when you are looking to treat yourself. Tasted on September 2, 2024.

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

This is a racy Cabernet collab between Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo and the Chief Winemaker at St Hugo Winery that is a definite winner. Held on to it for a few weeks to taste at our family cottage week with a smoked brisket made on my Green Egg! What a fabulous pairing!
Even before the first bite you knew by the aromas this was going to be a match made in heaven. The wine’s full body and luscious ripe fruit profile (blackberry, plum, ripe cherries) matched the smokey, juicy beef to perfection!
The polished tannins and a long fruit finish were an added plus!
This was a pairing to remember and was the favourite dinner of the week!
Tasted July 2024

Rachelle O'Connor rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

DR3 St. Hugo, is an exclusive fine wine series in collaboration with the legendary Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo crafted with St. Hugo chief winemaker, Peter Munro. This award winning gold medal Cabernet Sauvignon is shows beautifully in the glass, the aromatics are divine. This wine is full bodied, great layers of flavour: plump blueberries, juicy blackberries, mint sprigs, dark chocolate, spice and a hint of oak. Elegant, silky tannins….what’s the expression, “aging like a fine wine”? This vintage will only get better with time.

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

St Hugo x Daniel Ricciardo DR3 is a big, plush, lush South Australia Cabernet Sauvignon
Grapes were sourced from Coonawarra ("delightful" says St. Hugo!)
On the nose: ripe, juicy black cherry, blueberry, oak spice, whiff of herbs
On the palate: full, rounded, ripe fruity mouthfeel, silky but serious tannins, loads of berry-cherry, spice and a hint of eucalyptus and licorice
Somewhat racy ;) yet very posh indeed!

Enjoy with steak, braised ribs, aged, mellow cheeses, race wins and the like.
Decanting recommended.

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 95/100 with the following review:

St. Hugo from Australia's Barossa Valley teamed up with F1 legend Daniel Ricciardo to produce this unique release of premium Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing the strength and elegance St. Hugo is renowned for. 2021 represents the third vintage for "DR3" and what an outstanding expression it is. Deeply coloured with an opaque core, the nose has a full bouquet of dark fruit, black berry, black plum, bramble, chocolate, eucalyptus, and a gravelly minerality. The palate confirms the provenance and premium nature of the fruit. The most finely textured tannins I've tasted in recent years from Barossa, working in absolute harmony with the refreshing dark fruit to create a texture that showcases the elegance while the rich fruit highlights the intensity of the wine. St. Hugo excels in producing deeply flavoured yet exceptionally elegant and fresh reds that are redefining what Australian wines can be. Highly recommended. Enjoy 2025 - 2036+. Tasted bottle number: 6889 July 2024. 95 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Craig Haynes rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

The 2021 DR3 Cabernet Sauvignon is a show not to be missed.

This DR3 is a collab between St. Hugo, a winery in Australia’s famed Barossa Valley, and Italian-Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.

The scents alone are worth the price of admission. The multitude of aromas are complex in the best sense of that word, evoking ripe blueberries and dark cherries, pressed flowers, leather, graphite, cedar, earth, eucalyptus, and vanilla. All are dialed down, but that's just a reminder that beauty can be found in all intensity levels.

Feels full bodied, round, grippy and desert dry.

Don’t take my word for it. Open a bottle for yourself. Enjoy.

PS - Some esteemed reviewers say let this Cab age for another 10 years.

Melanie Lloyd rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

A sophisticated full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon displaying complexity and depth, which will only further develop over time. The nose offers ripe blueberry and dark plum notes with nuances of cedar, cigar box, aged leather, milk chocolate, and dried eucalyptus. 

This wine is at once bold and refined on the palate with balanced acidity and smooth, well-integrated tannins. The flavour profile presents vibrant notes of tart plum, cassis and red cherry, complemented by herbal and floral undertones and cocoa nuances. An excellent accompaniment to a hearty beef roast or grilled red meat. 

Tasted June 2024

Lynn van der Linde rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

…And It’s Lights Out, Here We Goooooo!
Racing veteran, Daniel Riccardo and winemaking master Peter Munro teamed up to create this gem of a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia’s St. Hugo Winery.
Deep purple colour with enticing aromas of fresh blackberries, wet cedar, and dark chocolate swirl in the glass, carrying through to a full-bodied mouth feel, and finishing in a persistent black cherry flavour. Cellar for at least a few more years to let the tannins settle a bit.
If you’re wondering whether the price is worth it - yes! And it makes a lovely gift, especially for those wine and F1 loving friends of yours.
Tasted June 2024.

Simon Chen rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

I have always liked St. Hugo wines even when they were just providing the fruits to Jacob's Creek in the early 2000s. This D3R is a big brother and has every St Hugo wine characteristics that I like in it. On the nose, it is very smoky, leafy, and full of ripe fruits. On the palate, powerful structure but not over ripe and with good acidity and long tannin. I let it opened up in the bottle for 3 hours before drinking, and it paired so well with somed grilled ribeye steak and watermelon salad!

Heather Wall rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Formula 1 sensation Daniel Ricciardo and St. Hugo’s chief winemaker team up once again to bring us this award winning 2021 D3R South Australia Cabernet Sauvignon.
I decanted for the suggested one to two hours for reference.
Aromas leap from the glass: ripe red and black berries, tobacco leaf, earthy, black plum, pencil shavings, baking spices and a wash of toasted oak.
On the palate: youthful tannins, medium plus acidity, ripe cherry, black plum, cigar, hint of pepper, anise, fresh herbs. A lengthy warm alcohol and black cherry finish..
This wine comes complete in a sexy gift box. Perfect for your wine loving friends, boss, host, or Father’s Day.

“The wine that Daniel makes for himself and his inner circle.”

I grew up around wine, it’s in my blood. Along with my?Italian heritage and?my?family’s?love of sharing wine, my Dad is a bit of a hobby winemaker and I have been surrounded by the passion for wine since I was young. ?I’m quite a curious kid, I always love learning things, and wine is a true craft, and I want to get in and get my hands dirty and make really spectacular wine that provides a unique perspective on what fine wine is.”

- Daniel Ricciardo

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

This is a stunning and award winning wine made as part of a long running partnership between St. Hugo Winery and racecar driver Daniel Ricciardo.
Ricciardo collaborated closely with chief winemaker Peter Munro, blending Ricciardo's passion with Munro's expertise. The result is a bold and beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon that was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2023 Global Fine Wine Challenge.
In the glass, this Cab is an intense ruby, almost purple colour. Aromas on the nose include currants and black cherries, with hints of mocha, cedar, bay leaf, graphite and just the slightest hint of vanilla.
On the palate, this wine is full bodied, rich, and intense, with a plush, rounded texture, intensified by some grippy tannins. This wine will age for 10-15 years, and if you're enjoying it soon, be sure to decant for 45 minutes before serving. Fruit flavours on the palate are rich, with lots of blackberry and cherry, and the finish is lengthy with hints of vanilla and dried herbs.
Enjoy with a striploin steak, and savour every sip!

Jane Staples rated this wine as 96/100 with the following review:

D3R was crafted in a collaboration between Formula 1 legend Daniel Ricciardo and St. Hugo’s chief winemaker, with the same passion and precision that Ricciardo channels into his racing. This is a big, bold, elegant Cab. It shows an opaque deep purple in the glass, with an aromatic nose of inviting ripe blackcurrant and vanilla notes. The luscious, velvety palate gives concentrated flavours of blackcurrant, dark cherry, mint, dark chocolate, cedar and vanilla. The tannins are still a bit chewy, but will soften with aging. There’s a long dark berry finish with a delicious final note of vanilla. Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic pairing with a rare grilled steak, but will also pair beautifully with rack of lamb. This wine can cellar until 2041. This memorable Cab was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2023 Global Fine Wine Challenge.
Tasted June 8, 2024.