Decanter's Great Cabernets of the world with Steven Spurrier, Brian Croser and Cecilia Torres

Bluefin Building, London
Tasted Wednesday, June 10, 2015 by Papies with 819 views

Introduction

Labelled as Great Cabernets of the world, it soon however became evident that the event was a hopeful showcase of Santa Rita's wines with Cecilia Torres present to bang the drum. A bit disappointing to have been so commercial from an otherwise great masterclass home like Decanter and especially with Steven Spurrier on the lead.

To be honest we did not like the Cabs of Santa Rita and were almost medicinal at times, too much sweetness and a Ribena feel of black currant. The whites were very good and tbh are the wines we would look to buy from them if we come across.

We were happy on how we came to try Jordan and Te Mata blind and be buffled by their elegance and restrain as well as the Cullen. Ridge reigned supreme.

Still shame Decanter made such a blatantly, almost insultingly so, commercial event and asking us to pay for it. This should have been a free event titled the wines of Santa Rita vs the world.

Flight 1 - The Welcome (2 Notes)

  • 2013 Viña Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Floresta 90 Points

    Chile, San Antonio Valley, Leyda Valley

    A very nice wine to come across and along with the Medalla Real chardonnay the wines we loved most from the Santa Rita stable.
    Well restrained on the oak, light floral, grassy, citrus. Very nicely made, good fruit, light green fruit notes but overall very enjoyable and a very nice Sauv. Blanc. Very good 90-91

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  • 2013 Viña Santa Rita Chardonnay Medalla Real Gran Reserva 90 Points

    Chile, San Antonio Valley, Leyda Valley

    Along with the 2013 Floresta (Papies 90) Saivignon Blanc this was our favourite of the Santa Rita wines.
    The oak is well in check and unlike what we expected complements rather than dominate the wine. Good light waxy, lemons, ripe apples, elegant and very expressive chardonnay and very enjoyable. A very good 90

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Flight 2 - Flight One (5 Notes)

  • 2011 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline 90 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Tasted Blind. Guessed it was old world and very surprised from the purity and restraint.
    Light nose, light dark fruits, light green, leafy but not vegetal at times. Very young for sure and with pretty good outlook for the future. Had a dry edge to it. We really thought that such a wine adds a lot of hope for us for Aussie wines which we usually find a bit overdone. 90-91 and needs time.

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  • 2011 Ridge Monte Bello 92 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though). Guessed it was the ridge as we had tried this 6 months ago and loved it then as today albeit not as much ( Papies 94).
    Had an intense cocoa nose which we did not remember from last time but aside from this the wine was a pure joy once again and was easily the wine of the night for us. Rich and round, smooth, dark and dense, in perfect balance (barring that mocca nose) very refined. 92+

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  • 2010 Te Mata Estate Coleraine 90 Points

    New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though). Much like the Cullen we thought of this as surprisingly restrained and with much of an old world feel. NZ is not
    Floral, dark fruits, light minty, a touch tin at times on the mid palate, good acidity, savory wine. Still an austere wine and a touch short on the finish. Very promising though. 90

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  • 2011 Château Pontet-Canet

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    Touch of light cocoa on the nose. dark fruits, no real richness per se, definitely old world. Mineral, a touch dry. A touch tough on the tannin side and efinitely a child of a difficult vintage. Still on the elegant, well made side. Not bad for a 2011. Still too young. Lets see.

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  • 2010 Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Reserve 85 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    Definitely new world. Medicinal on the nose, Ribena black currant nose, rich and unbalanced, hard at times. Definitely not for us. 85 at best

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Flight 3 - Flight Two (5 Notes)

  • 2010 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard 87 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    Definitely new world and having just tried (and revealed) the 2010 Carmen Gold Reserve (Papies 85) this was an easy one to pin down, Has that intense black currant nose that gives it away, sweet fruit, young, light spicy, rich, cassis, too sweet and a bit Ribena... 87 at best

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  • 2011 Jordan Winery (Jardin) Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    This was the surprise of the evening and we really thought this was like the Sassicaia. The wine had a sheer class and elegance, beautiful nose, rich, young yet very solid wine. Classic in many ways, savory wine, good tannin. A pretty nice surprise, 90+

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  • 2011 Domaine de Chevalier

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    Guessed South African... Light rich, light sweet fruit, good richness for a 2011, medium, smooth, needs time for sure to evolve, core of decent fruit, light green tannin, decent complexity. Very young wine. Hopefully we get to cross paths again it in few years.

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  • 2011 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    Definitely we expected this to be better. Light sweet fruit, light nose, light oaky feel. Very young and dare we say hard. A touch of floral side at times gave a bit of joy but at this stage a touch too austere and not giving. Needs 10yrs and hopefully this will be the wine we paid for. NR for now.

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  • 2001 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real Alto Santa Rita Old Vines Vineyard 88 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley

    Tasted blind (from a disclosed list of 10 possible wines though).
    The age gave it away so it was easy to pin down. Not really impressed albeit better than the 2010 (Papies 87) but not much better. Evolved but still with that black currant heavy side, earthy yet too sweet, caramel and definitely not a wine for us. 88?

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