The Home of Renowned Tasting

I tried this over 2 nights, and I think it certainly looked better on the second night - if you want to try a bottle now then give it some air time. Smells like a classic Cabernet to me; none of this warm climate dry red masquerading as a Cabernet. Leaf, tobacco, a bit of tomato leaf, red currants, red capsicum, cedar, coffee beans and even some blackberries too. The palate is refined, with the fruit richness snuggled comfortably next to some savouriness. A nicely balanced wine that displayed some pretty good length too. I am glad to have a 6-pack (oh, a 5-pack now) tucked away. Cellar over the medium term, maybe longer.

11 Responses »

One of the many hard questions I had to ask myself tonight was ‘Do I drink this from a Bordeaux or shiraz glass?’. The blend is 53 percent cabernet and 47 percent shiraz so I plumped for Bordeaux. Interestingly that this has no McLaren Vale or Barossa fruit in it which probably accounts for the increased (but pleasant) mintiness. This vintage represents a welcome return to form for an Australian classic.

Aromas of berry, plum, licorice, peppercorn, meat, mint and spicy cedar vanilla oak. On the palate full bodied and very intense with flavours of berry, licorice, tobacco, mint and vanilla oak. The tannins are firm and grainy; authoritative, confident and sitting very comfortably within the wine. Tannins you can trust. Finishes dry and savoury with excellent length of flavour. A vintage that hoists the flag back to full mast for the archetypal Australian blend.

20 Responses »

I have been drinking quite a lot of 1996 Penfolds 407 recently and maybe that colours my impression of this wine, but I drank it young and loved it, and now I like it even better. An outstanding wine with plenty of years to go. I don’t taste wines blind generally and I don’t care to. I sometimes even read other people’s tasting notes before reviewing but I still manage to form my own opinion. I could give you a dozen reasons for not tasting blind and I am sure advocates of blind tasting could give me a dozen reasons why I should! Be that as it may I’ll stick to my guns for now. ‘That’s me in the corner.That’s me in the spotlight…I thought that I heard you laughing.’ I already know I am out of step with many on this wine but so be it. This took a day to really open up so you do need to be patient with this wine.

Full red purple. Aromas of blackcurrant pastille, licorice, tobacco, dried herbs, mint and delicate spicy cedar vanilla oak. On the palate medium to full bodied with blackcurrant, tobacco, star anise, coffee and some gamey earthy flavours. Tight and compact with firm fine grained tannins and clean fresh acidity. Finishes dry and long with blackcurrant and tobacco flavours. A brilliant wine, one for the long haul, and one I am most certainly going to purchase for the cellar.

38 Responses »