If you are expecting an Amarone you will be disappointed. The grape makes it. This is a Cab with a twist. A really good mouthful of Cab which is nicely complex for a fruit bomb. It has peaked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar to the jester Shiraz. Supposed to a bit of an amarone style but I did not really get that. Definitely some bell pepper notes and that Dutch licorice undertone that is supposedly typical of Maclaren Vale. Would be OK for a restaurant pick but would not buy otherwise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I bought this strictly out of curiosity of the "Amarone process," as I am a big Amarone fan. I assume it helped the wine. I do prefer Napa Cabs, but this was a good mid-week/party Cabernet. Good nose of black fruit. Also black fruit on the palate, with a hint of pepper. Inky black in color. Medium bodied and medium finish. Ok deal at $14.
Initially 88-89. I'll have to try again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Closed nose, with hints of black fruit, peppery spice, prune, and date. Slippery, easy-drinking palate with strong flavours of black fruit and prune, balanced by rough oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black with a deep ruby rim. Boysenberry, blackberry on the nose, with lots of integrated spice notes. Full bodied on the palate with very good presence and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
25% of the grapes are air dried for 7 months, in an hommage-a-Amarone. Ripe and suave, sweet fruit kiss up front, but still finishes with nice balance. Wild blackberry appeal on the palate, a little candied green. Shows rather mouth watering acid for an Aussie Cabernet, which is pleasantly surprising. Chewy med/- tannin
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, currant, milk chocolate and spice. A black and red fruit core combines with chocolate, spice and smooth tannins on the palate. Leads to medium to long, soft, dry finish. Full bodied. An excellent QPR. I will buy a few more bottles. Paired with Mexican casserole.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent with a mildly blackened bison rib eye and baked sweet potato. Uncomplicated wine with dark berry and cocoa notes. Dried fruit content lended a sense of age to a very young wine. Was even better the next day. Interesting stuff... I'm going to buy more.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple. Amarone method used for 20% of the grapes. Interesting and different. Acid is med, Viscosity is med (+), Tannin is med (-,-) , Alcohol is med (+,+), Finish is med.
Jammy red and black fruit. Menthol & eucalyptus undertones. Very drinkable, but not a food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite pleasantly surprised. Great cab for a Tues night. Reminded me a little of a Cotes du Rhone. I think the partially dried grapes add some reasonable depth to the finish. Solid 89. Wonder if this will evolve...probably not much given it has a screw top! Follow up after 2 days...noticeably improved. Interesting, maybe it has some aging potential? Recommend trying a long decant as the ABV that was present initially was definitely integrated. Will try again in another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Why the amarone process? Because apparently they are a large potato producer and that provides them the manufacturing facilities to rasinate the Cabernet.
More mint and anise, and then very dark blackberries across the palate, richly styled but still has a sense of acidity and lively.
Works it out at $20.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/30/2019 - sbern Likes this wine: 90 Points
oooh, spicy, delicious! This is going down very smoothly. Not showing any signs of decline yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2018 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drink it if you have it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2018 - tsdv Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good for 12 bucks. Full body, but not overdone. Cabernet varietal character not there - probably because of the amarone process.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2018 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 91 Points
If you are expecting an Amarone you will be disappointed. The grape makes it. This is a Cab with a twist. A really good mouthful of Cab which is nicely complex for a fruit bomb. It has peaked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2017 - Coopsh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Loved this. Would buy a case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2017 - om42 wrote: 88 Points
Similar to the jester Shiraz. Supposed to a bit of an amarone style but I did not really get that. Definitely some bell pepper notes and that Dutch licorice undertone that is supposedly typical of Maclaren Vale. Would be OK for a restaurant pick but would not buy otherwise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2016 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A laser beam of rasberry and blackberry. Still has some evolution but very pretty now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2016 - jamesdoeser wrote: 88 Points
deliciously super-fruity, a little depth but not much, a little sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2015 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
I bought this strictly out of curiosity of the "Amarone process," as I am a big Amarone fan. I assume it helped the wine. I do prefer Napa Cabs, but this was a good mid-week/party Cabernet. Good nose of black fruit. Also black fruit on the palate, with a hint of pepper. Inky black in color. Medium bodied and medium finish. Ok deal at $14.
Initially 88-89. I'll have to try again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2015 - Drinking Trees wrote:
Closed nose, with hints of black fruit, peppery spice, prune, and date. Slippery, easy-drinking palate with strong flavours of black fruit and prune, balanced by rough oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2015 - jdcregg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good fruit. Smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2015 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. Boysenberry, blackberry on the nose, with lots of integrated spice notes. Full bodied on the palate with very good presence and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2015 - nzinkgraf wrote:
25% of the grapes are air dried for 7 months, in an hommage-a-Amarone. Ripe and suave, sweet fruit kiss up front, but still finishes with nice balance. Wild blackberry appeal on the palate, a little candied green. Shows rather mouth watering acid for an Aussie Cabernet, which is pleasantly surprising. Chewy med/- tannin
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2015 - Mr Ego wrote:
Blackberry, silky and concentrated
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2015 - hoservin wrote: 89 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, currant, milk chocolate and spice. A black and red fruit core combines with chocolate, spice and smooth tannins on the palate. Leads to medium to long, soft, dry finish. Full bodied. An excellent QPR. I will buy a few more bottles. Paired with Mexican casserole.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2015 - Euell Gophar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Continues to be a reliable choice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2014 - TannicBeast wrote:
Very young, hot, tight and disjointed. I should not have opened this yet. It would not be fair to rate it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2014 - GFWeaver Likes this wine: 89 Points
Excellent with a mildly blackened bison rib eye and baked sweet potato. Uncomplicated wine with dark berry and cocoa notes. Dried fruit content lended a sense of age to a very young wine. Was even better the next day. Interesting stuff... I'm going to buy more.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2014 - Der Weingelehrte Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark purple. Amarone method used for 20% of the grapes. Interesting and different. Acid is med, Viscosity is med (+), Tannin is med (-,-) , Alcohol is med (+,+), Finish is med.
Jammy red and black fruit. Menthol & eucalyptus undertones. Very drinkable, but not a food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - Joegish Likes this wine: 89 Points
Quite pleasantly surprised. Great cab for a Tues night. Reminded me a little of a Cotes du Rhone. I think the partially dried grapes add some reasonable depth to the finish. Solid 89. Wonder if this will evolve...probably not much given it has a screw top!
Follow up after 2 days...noticeably improved. Interesting, maybe it has some aging potential? Recommend trying a long decant as the ABV that was present initially was definitely integrated. Will try again in another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2014 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 86 Points
had at lunch with Bratwurst and cabbage. rich, fruity. simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Why the amarone process? Because apparently they are a large potato producer and that provides them the manufacturing facilities to rasinate the Cabernet.
More mint and anise, and then very dark blackberries across the palate, richly styled but still has a sense of acidity and lively.
Works it out at $20.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2014 - yofog wrote: 88 Points
Classic leafy cab with hints of damp earth and chocolate, but could use a little more verve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment