Screwcap. Tasted next to the 2014; this tasted like the same wine, but better. Both had strong tannins, but while the 2014's tannins were grainy and powdery, the 2004's tannins are long, tight, and structured. The fruit seems more open: it has the same intense blackcurrant flavour as the 2014, but also has complementary notes of green herbs (thyme, mint), and caramel oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar to last notes on this wine. The Majella cabs start out on the cusp of too much ripeness and oak, but given enough time they do improve. Still quite dark in colour, blackfruits, mint and cedar on the powerful nose, and similar flavours on the full bodied, velvety palate, and with enough acidity and ripe tannins to give it structure. The fruit is fading a bit (a good thing), but this is still a young, powerful, concentrated wine. But classic Coonawarra and cabernet. This will last quite a while I think. It fleshed out on the second day (A-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright and fresh at 12 years old and quite similar to the last time I tried this in 2014. Definitely evolving slowly so no hurry to drink for those who still have some left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
beautifully balanced cab sauv, drinking really nicely. Velvety almost silky mouthfeel, lots of black fruit, and a bit of tannin to give it structure. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of black fruit straight away on the nose - blackberry dominant. Beautiful, bright red in colour. On first taste the word balanced comes to mind. Well crafted. Fruit, acidity and oak in harmony. Finishes dry and long with silky, sandy tannins that coat the tongue. A very good Majella cabernet which will hold for many years to come. Don't rush to drink this one but if you have to, you will not be disappointed!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At 10 years old and under screwcap, this still has a long life ahead of it for those who choose to wait. Colour was still vibrant, and it still tasted fresh. Typical of the Majellas I've had in the past, in that there is a long line of acidity that mingles with the tannins. Good length and enjoyable drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose showed classic Aussie Cab notes with a bit of bell pepper too. Nicely resolved on the palate with only a touch of heat on the back end. At peak. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
S/C not much colour development, bright reddy purple, nose a bit muted but cedar, spice & black fruits. Flavour explodes in the mouth, fine lingering tannin & a savoury fruitiness? Suggest decanting for drinking now but loads of life ahead
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep red in colour, the nose balances ripe blackberry with dusty blackcurrant and olive aromas.
The palate has dense dark berry fruits, with mouth watering acidity and drying, astringent tannins. This is a serious Cabernet that will continue to evolve and change over the next decade as the dominant fruit gives way to more delicate earthy characters, and the framing tannin structure comes into its own.
One of the best examples of Majella Cabernet over the last 8 years. Review Link - www.winereviewer.com.au (drink from 2015-2022)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nose of violets, sweaty socks, chocolate, fruit cake, a touch of brett and plenty of pepper and spice. The palette continues the spicy and peppery theme with dark, rich fruits, green stalks and a perfect acid/tannin balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly good bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. Aerated and decanted for almost 2 hours prior to drinking. We tasted some great wines during this evening and this was standout. Black fruit, chocolate and a hint of earthiness on the nose. Full, soft mouth feel without the big sweetness typical of big Australian wines. Lingers nicely in the mouth and sticks to the glass - delicious! Drank this with some big home ground, sirloin burgers. Makes me hungry and thirsty again thinking about it... Only one bottle left :^(.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't take notes last night, but this was an improvement on an earlier botttle. This is still a bit of a bruiser of a wine, full-bodied, and New World in character, but with more structure than previous bottles. Lots of blackfruits, a hint of mint on the nose, some tomato leaf in the palate. A solid Coonawarra cab that is just starting to come into its own; but this will last and improve for many years to come, as it's still quite primary. Drank with a 2003 Don Melchor, 2003 Casa Real (both Chile) and 2006 Switchback Ridge (CA), and it held its own in pretty impressive (and more expensive) company (A-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep bright ruby. Huge whiffs of eucalytyptus, mint and blackcurrant. Lovely open voluptuous cabernet, very true to it's origins. Big fruits, clear euclaptuus & mint, touch of earthiness too. Ripe, smooth tannins. Medium length but fresh and fruity. A big glorious mothful but not for everytime perhaps. Good value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stained the glass with its saturate purple colours. Fabulous nose. Beautiful fruit blackberry power! Exceptional structure balance and length, but the tannins so good as to make now consumption a pleasure. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very deep in colour. Classic tomato leaf and blackcurrant on the nose. Very rich and ripe, a bit too much so, to my mind: I can see why it won so many gold medals early on. Very dark blackfruits on the palate, and a touch of capsicum and mint, as well as some prickly acid. Perhaps it's just disjointed now, but it was a bit too OTT with not enough structure or balance for my liking. Still a nice wine, but not quite what I was hoping for (B+).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich blackcurrant and sweet cherry aromas mingling with chocolate, oak, earthy spice and a menthol streak. Big bold palate; plenty of fruit and ripe tannins. Long finish, just a touch oaky at present. Could probably do with another couple of years. But still a very good, well made wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unmistakably and undeniably coonawara cab merlot! The eucalyptus and mintyness radiates from the glass with good juicy fruit and interesting after eight chocolate resonance. As aptly described by many at the table, this is a smoker's wine... marlboro menthol lights!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
World Cup Tasting - Brazil vs The Rest of the World (Aston's Prime, Joo Chiat Road): I thought this was the best red and probably the one with the most character of the evening. Perhaps it is telling that this was the only non Michel Roland wine apart from the underperforming Warwick estate. Not power-packed or jaw-dropping, but this was a classic, classic Coonawarra. Nose had fresh mint, eucalyptus, menthol and chocolate. Very lively palate that was fresh and clean, flowing smoothly from the nose with a beam of pure blackcurrant fruit, some chocolate and a slightly shortish finish which showed tobacco and menthol lights. Well structured tannins were nicely integrated into the rest of the package. Simple and primary at the moment, but excellently balanced with a lovely sense of drive and focus. Very enjoyable, and I am sure it will get even better with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decent Coonawarra. Plenty of fruit but more restrained than most. Opens with sweet tomato, green capsicum and chilli slowly settling into a flood of rich blackcurrant and spice. Tannins are ripe and fine-grained, blackcurrant on the palate, red capsicum and cedary oak. Mid-length finish the only let down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
mild tobacco and sour cherry on the nose with a hint of alcohol. Totally balanced on the palate with a lovely texture, soft toasty oak, currant and cassis. out and out delicious. Drink now to 2013.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop-n-pour, Textbook Coonawarra Cabernet - Has the right balance between sweet and savoury. Beautiful oak treatment. Drinking well out of the bottle but went into a bit of a hole on the second night. I would suggest drink straight out of the bottle or hold for at least 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened this earlier than I meant to - it will be even better in a few years. A beautifully balanced Cabernet, with a powerful heady aroma, and well structured tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NobleRottersSydney - Christmas Lunch 2006 (David's place): {14.5%, screwcap, A$28} An impenetrable black/ruby colour. Rich cabernet fruit – oak is well submerged these days. Clean and very new-world; tannic, full in weight, rich with a reasonably long finish. Absurdly young – 10 years should do wonders.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/4/2022 - chrisb2096 wrote:
Drinking superbly. Still good fruit but plenty of secondary characterstics on show. Great wine and brilliant QPR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2021 - IVVeritas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth and cedar tones on concentrated fruit and slight sweetness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2017 - Drinking Trees wrote:
Screwcap. Tasted next to the 2014; this tasted like the same wine, but better. Both had strong tannins, but while the 2014's tannins were grainy and powdery, the 2004's tannins are long, tight, and structured. The fruit seems more open: it has the same intense blackcurrant flavour as the 2014, but also has complementary notes of green herbs (thyme, mint), and caramel oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2017 - JohnSh wrote: 92 Points
Similar to last notes on this wine. The Majella cabs start out on the cusp of too much ripeness and oak, but given enough time they do improve. Still quite dark in colour, blackfruits, mint and cedar on the powerful nose, and similar flavours on the full bodied, velvety palate, and with enough acidity and ripe tannins to give it structure. The fruit is fading a bit (a good thing), but this is still a young, powerful, concentrated wine. But classic Coonawarra and cabernet. This will last quite a while I think. It fleshed out on the second day (A-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2016 - paulf wrote: 91 Points
Bright and fresh at 12 years old and quite similar to the last time I tried this in 2014. Definitely evolving slowly so no hurry to drink for those who still have some left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2015 - srpage Likes this wine:
Delicious
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2015 - jelam Likes this wine: 94 Points
beautifully balanced cab sauv, drinking really nicely. Velvety almost silky mouthfeel, lots of black fruit, and a bit of tannin to give it structure. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2015 - G.M. wrote: 91 Points
This is classic Coonawarra cabernet at its best. Still fresh and a delicious drink now. (91 Very good wine)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2015 - sthugo wrote: 92 Points
Lots of black fruit straight away on the nose - blackberry dominant. Beautiful, bright red in colour. On first taste the word balanced comes to mind. Well crafted. Fruit, acidity and oak in harmony. Finishes dry and long with silky, sandy tannins that coat the tongue. A very good Majella cabernet which will hold for many years to come. Don't rush to drink this one but if you have to, you will not be disappointed!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2014 - paulf wrote: 91 Points
At 10 years old and under screwcap, this still has a long life ahead of it for those who choose to wait. Colour was still vibrant, and it still tasted fresh. Typical of the Majellas I've had in the past, in that there is a long line of acidity that mingles with the tannins. Good length and enjoyable drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2014 - godx wrote: 88 Points
Nose showed classic Aussie Cab notes with a bit of bell pepper too. Nicely resolved on the palate with only a touch of heat on the back end. At peak. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2013 - guy12 wrote: 90 Points
S/C not much colour development, bright reddy purple, nose a bit muted but cedar, spice & black fruits. Flavour explodes in the mouth, fine lingering tannin & a savoury fruitiness? Suggest decanting for drinking now but loads of life ahead
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2013 - tonsta wrote: 93 Points
Just lovely now but with plenty left in the tank!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2012 - Patrick - winereviewer.com.au wrote: 95 Points
Deep red in colour, the nose balances ripe blackberry with dusty blackcurrant and olive aromas.
The palate has dense dark berry fruits, with mouth watering acidity and drying, astringent tannins. This is a serious Cabernet that will continue to evolve and change over the next decade as the dominant fruit gives way to more delicate earthy characters, and the framing tannin structure comes into its own.
One of the best examples of Majella Cabernet over the last 8 years.
Review Link - www.winereviewer.com.au (drink from 2015-2022)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - AlexGarner Likes this wine: 93 Points
A nose of violets, sweaty socks, chocolate, fruit cake, a touch of brett and plenty of pepper and spice. The palette continues the spicy and peppery theme with dark, rich fruits, green stalks and a perfect acid/tannin balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2011 - NoseKnows wrote: 93 Points
Surprisingly good bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. Aerated and decanted for almost 2 hours prior to drinking. We tasted some great wines during this evening and this was standout. Black fruit, chocolate and a hint of earthiness on the nose. Full, soft mouth feel without the big sweetness typical of big Australian wines. Lingers nicely in the mouth and sticks to the glass - delicious! Drank this with some big home ground, sirloin burgers. Makes me hungry and thirsty again thinking about it... Only one bottle left :^(.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2011 - Mic Mac wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic. A blackberry nip and vanilla fruitshake with a touch of earth and chocolate. Still plenty left in the tank.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2010 - JohnSh wrote: 91 Points
Didn't take notes last night, but this was an improvement on an earlier botttle. This is still a bit of a bruiser of a wine, full-bodied, and New World in character, but with more structure than previous bottles. Lots of blackfruits, a hint of mint on the nose, some tomato leaf in the palate. A solid Coonawarra cab that is just starting to come into its own; but this will last and improve for many years to come, as it's still quite primary. Drank with a 2003 Don Melchor, 2003 Casa Real (both Chile) and 2006 Switchback Ridge (CA), and it held its own in pretty impressive (and more expensive) company (A-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2010 - burgundyboy wrote: 94 Points
Amazing quality length and expression
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2010 - cannym wrote: 90 Points
Deep bright ruby. Huge whiffs of eucalytyptus, mint and blackcurrant. Lovely open voluptuous cabernet, very true to it's origins. Big fruits, clear euclaptuus & mint, touch of earthiness too. Ripe, smooth tannins. Medium length but fresh and fruity. A big glorious mothful but not for everytime perhaps. Good value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2009 - vancouvermatt wrote:
Cork broke in half... pronounced sour acidity. Lacks length, body, and structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2009 - rockenrude wrote: 90 Points
maturing well - doesn't need anymore time but will last a couple more years - very enjoyable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2009 - Raph1234 wrote: 80 Points
Very heavy, fruity, palate-coating wine. Not to my taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2009 - Mic Mac wrote: 93 Points
Stained the glass with its saturate purple colours. Fabulous nose. Beautiful fruit blackberry power! Exceptional structure balance and length, but the tannins so good as to make now consumption a pleasure. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2009 - vancouvermatt wrote: 90 Points
Balanced & distinctive. Bay leaf, blackberry, currant syrup, and dried herbs. Fully integrated tannins. Drink up now - 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2009 - JohnSh wrote: 88 Points
Very deep in colour. Classic tomato leaf and blackcurrant on the nose. Very rich and ripe, a bit too much so, to my mind: I can see why it won so many gold medals early on. Very dark blackfruits on the palate, and a touch of capsicum and mint, as well as some prickly acid. Perhaps it's just disjointed now, but it was a bit too OTT with not enough structure or balance for my liking. Still a nice wine, but not quite what I was hoping for (B+).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2009 - moods wrote: 90 Points
Rich blackcurrant and sweet cherry aromas mingling with chocolate, oak, earthy spice and a menthol streak. Big bold palate; plenty of fruit and ripe tannins. Long finish, just a touch oaky at present. Could probably do with another couple of years. But still a very good, well made wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2009 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
Unmistakably and undeniably coonawara cab merlot! The eucalyptus and mintyness radiates from the glass with good juicy fruit and interesting after eight chocolate resonance. As aptly described by many at the table, this is a smoker's wine... marlboro menthol lights!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2009 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
World Cup Tasting - Brazil vs The Rest of the World (Aston's Prime, Joo Chiat Road): I thought this was the best red and probably the one with the most character of the evening. Perhaps it is telling that this was the only non Michel Roland wine apart from the underperforming Warwick estate. Not power-packed or jaw-dropping, but this was a classic, classic Coonawarra. Nose had fresh mint, eucalyptus, menthol and chocolate. Very lively palate that was fresh and clean, flowing smoothly from the nose with a beam of pure blackcurrant fruit, some chocolate and a slightly shortish finish which showed tobacco and menthol lights. Well structured tannins were nicely integrated into the rest of the package. Simple and primary at the moment, but excellently balanced with a lovely sense of drive and focus. Very enjoyable, and I am sure it will get even better with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2009 - mattwoolley wrote: 89 Points
Decent Coonawarra. Plenty of fruit but more restrained than most. Opens with sweet tomato, green capsicum and chilli slowly settling into a flood of rich blackcurrant and spice. Tannins are ripe and fine-grained, blackcurrant on the palate, red capsicum and cedary oak. Mid-length finish the only let down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2009 - Lucasrje wrote: 90 Points
mild tobacco and sour cherry on the nose with a hint of alcohol. Totally balanced on the palate with a lovely texture, soft toasty oak, currant and cassis. out and out delicious. Drink now to 2013.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2008 - rockenrude wrote: 89 Points
needs more time - lots of cherry - nice lingering finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2008 - tonsta wrote: 91 Points
Pop-n-pour, Textbook Coonawarra Cabernet - Has the right balance between sweet and savoury. Beautiful oak treatment. Drinking well out of the bottle but went into a bit of a hole on the second night. I would suggest drink straight out of the bottle or hold for at least 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2008 - jelam wrote: 92 Points
I opened this earlier than I meant to - it will be even better in a few years. A beautifully balanced Cabernet, with a powerful heady aroma, and well structured tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2006 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Christmas Lunch 2006 (David's place): {14.5%, screwcap, A$28} An impenetrable black/ruby colour. Rich cabernet fruit – oak is well submerged these days. Clean and very new-world; tannic, full in weight, rich with a reasonably long finish. Absurdly young – 10 years should do wonders.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment