V strangely it was a lot better 48 hours after opening. Initially it was rather too full on and maybe even 'jammy' - certainly few nuances. 48 hrs later different wine and much more faceted and interesting. Lesson = if opening soon then decant for few hrs
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No longer an Ugly Duckling. This was a WS Rising Stars allocation, and I found the first 3 bottles harsh and a bit ropey. Eighteen months on, and this bottle was very good. Sour cherry gives way to lovely black fruits in a decent finish. Good acidity. Great value.
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A riper style of Cabernet, but it works so, so well - balance is beautiful, perfect tannin, fruit & integrated acidity. It's almost like a more restrained Shiraz - cassis is intense on the nose, and a lovely brambley palate. Well, well worth the money.
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Clear, bright, ruby-garnet in the glass. Not especially deeply coloured. Nose is herby, with some cedar, mint, a waft of cheese. Almond. Chalky and drying in the mouth, with high acidity. Oak. It's the midpalate i like most. High perfume. Dried flowers? Lovely. Reasonably long. Drying. Smooth tannins. Moreish.
With more air, sweetness in the attack replaces the oak. Still thinking of pot-pourri. In a good way.
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Free Style Big Wine Night (Extra Space): Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, purple colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of cedar wood, green herbs, and mint. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of blackberry, minty green herbs, and chalky minerality. Medium+ finish. Acceptable quality Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. From rich Terra Rosa soil over limestone. May have small amount of Cabernet Franc added. Drinking fine now, may develop a bit more over the next 3+ years.
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The vivid purple-crimson colour semaphores a wonderfully elegant, intensely aromatic and definitively flavoured Coonawarra cabernet; the flavours of cassis, whiffs of Coonawarra mint and earth, and cedar ex French oak, all come together in unison on the long, medium-bodied palate. James Halliday - Published on 26 Jul 2014
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3/25/2022 - empire80 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sweet blackcurrant fruit, still fresh after 10 years, good structure.
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11/4/2021 - alexc wrote: 88 Points
Pleasant enough but tasted tired and a bit thin.
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8/28/2021 - empire80 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Attractive blackcurrant fruit, some structure, enjoyable but slightly one dimensional.
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7/2/2021 - JayP Likes this wine: 88 Points
My penultimate bottle and suddenly this wine comes to life. Much better than the preceding 4 bottles
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4/5/2021 - srb_lowe Likes this wine:
Went beautifully with roasted beef..
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2/13/2021 - Crispin Likes this wine: 90 Points
This has really hit its stride. Great fruit and still packs some power. Earthy. Good structure and tannin.
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10/30/2020 - JayP Likes this wine: 88 Points
V Nice - but even at this age benefits from opening/decanting. Drank 1/2 bottle two days later and was much improved
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7/2/2020 - JayP Likes this wine: 88 Points
V strangely it was a lot better 48 hours after opening. Initially it was rather too full on and maybe even 'jammy' - certainly few nuances. 48 hrs later different wine and much more faceted and interesting. Lesson = if opening soon then decant for few hrs
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1/13/2018 - guy12 wrote: 85 Points
PnP & drunk fairly quickly, very closed & tight. A decent decant may help
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3/26/2017 - Geoffy Likes this wine: 87 Points
Didn't feel as well balanced as the previous bottle, with acidity dominating.
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1/21/2017 - Geoffy Likes this wine: 88 Points
No longer an Ugly Duckling. This was a WS Rising Stars allocation, and I found the first 3 bottles harsh and a bit ropey. Eighteen months on, and this bottle was very good. Sour cherry gives way to lovely black fruits in a decent finish. Good acidity. Great value.
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12/19/2016 - asajoseph Likes this wine: 92 Points
A riper style of Cabernet, but it works so, so well - balance is beautiful, perfect tannin, fruit & integrated acidity. It's almost like a more restrained Shiraz - cassis is intense on the nose, and a lovely brambley palate. Well, well worth the money.
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10/28/2016 - OneForTheStairs wrote:
Clear, bright, ruby-garnet in the glass. Not especially deeply coloured. Nose is herby, with some cedar, mint, a waft of cheese. Almond. Chalky and drying in the mouth, with high acidity. Oak. It's the midpalate i like most. High perfume. Dried flowers? Lovely. Reasonably long. Drying. Smooth tannins. Moreish.
With more air, sweetness in the attack replaces the oak. Still thinking of pot-pourri. In a good way.
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11/3/2014 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 88 Points
Free Style Big Wine Night (Extra Space): Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, purple colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of cedar wood, green herbs, and mint. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of blackberry, minty green herbs, and chalky minerality. Medium+ finish.
Acceptable quality Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. From rich Terra Rosa soil over limestone. May have small amount of Cabernet Franc added. Drinking fine now, may develop a bit more over the next 3+ years.
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8/10/2014 - RobertLA wrote: 96 Points
The vivid purple-crimson colour semaphores a wonderfully elegant, intensely aromatic and definitively flavoured Coonawarra cabernet; the flavours of cassis, whiffs of Coonawarra mint and earth, and cedar ex French oak, all come together in unison on the long, medium-bodied palate.
James Halliday - Published on 26 Jul 2014
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4/9/2014 - henrygjeffreys wrote:
minty nose - touch of cannabis
light
refreshing
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