Dry as a bone. Acidic without overt tannin. Still has varietal nose: oaked choc mint, vanilla essence, confected black fruit. Spices. Empty cedar-wood cigar box. Slight petrochemical overtone. Palate tastes more high-toned — think red apple skin. Drink soon because the tannin has well and truly abated.
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Pretty good and well made wine. Heavily oaked but well integrated in the body of fruit and tannin.The delicious factor was somewhat lacking. Lots of licorice on the palate.
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N: Cedar, spice, mint, black fruits. Not the least bit subtle. P: Graphite, black fruits, black cherries. Nice acidity balance out fruit, mouth drying tannins F: very long
Delicious. Wish I purchased more! Very well balanced.
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Enjoyed another bottle of this almost a year after the first. Still drinking quite nicely. Seems like it could hold up for a few more years. Based on my previous note I'd say it's evolved somewhat. A little more complex though still a straight-forward daily drinker when you get down to it. I'd like to think I'd recognize as being from down under but without knowing the label I could see it being mistook for a South African wine. Thicker and heavier than a typical Cali cab but still very enjoyable.
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Very well integrated at this point, ready now and probably can stay a bit longer based on day 2 drinking. As someone noted this is not exceptionally complex but does being more to the table than just fruit and is a certainly a good QPR if you are a Cab fan.
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Lots of candied red fruit on nose, starburst. Instant coating of intense tart, ripe yet fresh and acidic red cherries. A little pine resin in the retronasal. Long finish. Love this wine.
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Drank this over a period of a few days --capped very tightly between the two days. Reminiscent of a California cab for me -- not a bad thing. Decent, but not noteworthy.
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Had with pizza. Went perfectly well as it was strong and bold enough to hold up but not overpowering. Smoke, cedar, vanilla, cherry along with some green. Not complex but not one-dimensional either. Saving a bit to see how it is on day 2. Exciting? No. Satisfying, enjoyable, decent QPR? Yes.
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Good fruit, some blueberry and a bit of wood action. Tannins are well integrated and the wine transitions nicely front start to finish. Drinking well right now.
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I'm not a great fan of numbers so take the 89 with a grain of salt - YMMV. I opened this bottle on New Year's Day because my lovely wife and I spent New Year's on Kangaroo Island a few years ago and, if memory serves, actually went to this winery on December 30. So it was a trip down memory lane here. The wine itself was as I remember it: nice and full-bodied without being too heavy. Tonight we drank it with a cheese plate and some olives, which went well, and edamame which didn't really but we wanted some vegetation so there you go. You won't regret purchasing this wine, or drinking it, but I doubt you'll find much of it for sale. It's a typical Australian Cabernet - not overly alcoholic like the California wines, not face-slapping like a Shiraz, just smooth and easy to drink. The Kangaroo Island soil is amazingly iron-rich and you get a sense of that in the wine. By the by: if you do make it to Australia on a tasting journey do make the voyage to Kangaroo Island - it's about 2 hours drive south of Adelaide, right near the McLaren, and is totally amazing.
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I feel like I drank a different wine than everyone else. There was no flaw, so maybe bottle variation is at work. I would have never guessed this as aussie, with more of a typical bordeaux nose. But I found this to be extremely light, hollow, and basic. There was a nice acidity that paired up better with food, but this was a huge disappointment. I feel that nearly any basic supermarket cab would have been better. Totally unremarkable wine. Drank over two nights, decanted. Have one more bottle, we'll see if that's better.
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Popped and poured, similar to last TN on 10/19. However, it appears this wine is peaking and while still capable of aging should be consumed in the near term for maximum enjoyment.
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Nose: Cedar, spice box, hint of mint, big, dark currants. Not the least bit subtle. Palate: Graphite, currants, plums on the attack. Big wave of cherries show up on the mid-palate. Acid and tannins check in on the finish but show restraint. Finish is very long. This wine is all new world and if not an outright fruit bomb, verges on such... but that's not a bad thing. With some time and air, this cab proves to be quite good... with other flavors showing up as I write this. I was ready to score this an 88 until this last sip... which was quite delicious.
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Popped and poured. Deep crimson hue. Not shy on the nose, with forward aromas of black fruits, toasted coconut, fresh mint, and a touch of mocha. Medium-plus body. On the palate, this comes off as a hedonistic, new-world styled wine...but not in the classic fruit bomb sense, more so because of the judicious use of American oak (which some will not enjoy as much as I do), which really frames the flavors of blackberry, creme de cassis, and bitter chocolate. However, there is a bit of complexity here too...with herbaceous notes of mint, eucalyptus, and even a touch of menthol. Tannins are chewy and rounded on the moderate-plus finish. Drinking great right now but can definitely age.
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Nice Bordeaux style nose and velvety mouthfeel. Decanted and really enjoyed this wine as it opened up to reveal a touch of black olive, dark berry fruit with a nose of licorice, clove and vanilla. The garnet color and nose indicate that this wine is coming into its prime.
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12/4/2020 - matthawke@randomfixation.net wrote:
Dry as a bone. Acidic without overt tannin. Still has varietal nose: oaked choc mint, vanilla essence, confected black fruit. Spices. Empty cedar-wood cigar box. Slight petrochemical overtone. Palate tastes more high-toned — think red apple skin. Drink soon because the tannin has well and truly abated.
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4/20/2016 - putter520 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice Cab from down under. Very Cab on the nose, with those green pepper scents, but has good acidity, balance and finish.
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3/1/2013 - Winiac wrote: 89 Points
Pretty good and well made wine. Heavily oaked but well integrated in the body of fruit and tannin.The delicious factor was somewhat lacking. Lots of licorice on the palate.
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1/1/2013 - prof b wrote:
consumed too quickly to take notes. great qpr at $18 though.
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1/31/2012 - BuffaloLou wrote: 91 Points
N: Cedar, spice, mint, black fruits. Not the least bit subtle.
P: Graphite, black fruits, black cherries. Nice acidity balance out fruit, mouth drying tannins
F: very long
Delicious. Wish I purchased more! Very well balanced.
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7/25/2011 - PBM wrote:
Enjoyed another bottle of this almost a year after the first. Still drinking quite nicely. Seems like it could hold up for a few more years. Based on my previous note I'd say it's evolved somewhat. A little more complex though still a straight-forward daily drinker when you get down to it. I'd like to think I'd recognize as being from down under but without knowing the label I could see it being mistook for a South African wine. Thicker and heavier than a typical Cali cab but still very enjoyable.
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4/13/2011 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 84 Points
Boom. The other bottles were different degrees of disappointment, but Kangaroo Island saved the best for last. Quite nice. Good showing.
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2/12/2011 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 74 Points
Not much to start and disappointing at the finish. Would not buy again.
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1/17/2011 - Bdbrutus wrote: 90 Points
Very well integrated at this point, ready now and probably can stay a bit longer based on day 2 drinking. As someone noted this is not exceptionally complex but does being more to the table than just fruit and is a certainly a good QPR if you are a Cab fan.
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1/8/2011 - jeremy_ross Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of candied red fruit on nose, starburst. Instant coating of intense tart, ripe yet fresh and acidic red cherries. A little pine resin in the retronasal. Long finish. Love this wine.
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11/1/2010 - John Nezlek wrote: 87 Points
Drank this over a period of a few days --capped very tightly between the two days. Reminiscent of a California cab for me -- not a bad thing. Decent, but not noteworthy.
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10/26/2010 - abunai wrote: 90 Points
base: 50 pts
color & appearance - max 5 pts: 5
aroma & bouquet - max 15 pts: 14
flavor and finish - max 20 pts: 15
overall quality & potential - max 10 pts: 6
OVERALL: 90
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10/7/2010 - costacasa wrote: 88 Points
This is a very good Cab, not over powering, much more accessible. Excellent with beef, also very good on it's own. Will continue to buy this.
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5/19/2010 - PBM wrote:
Had with pizza. Went perfectly well as it was strong and bold enough to hold up but not overpowering. Smoke, cedar, vanilla, cherry along with some green. Not complex but not one-dimensional either. Saving a bit to see how it is on day 2. Exciting? No. Satisfying, enjoyable, decent QPR? Yes.
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5/8/2010 - Bdbrutus wrote: 89 Points
Good fruit, some blueberry and a bit of wood action. Tannins are well integrated and the wine transitions nicely front start to finish. Drinking well right now.
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1/2/2010 - DonMcGowan wrote: 89 Points
I'm not a great fan of numbers so take the 89 with a grain of salt - YMMV. I opened this bottle on New Year's Day because my lovely wife and I spent New Year's on Kangaroo Island a few years ago and, if memory serves, actually went to this winery on December 30. So it was a trip down memory lane here. The wine itself was as I remember it: nice and full-bodied without being too heavy. Tonight we drank it with a cheese plate and some olives, which went well, and edamame which didn't really but we wanted some vegetation so there you go. You won't regret purchasing this wine, or drinking it, but I doubt you'll find much of it for sale. It's a typical Australian Cabernet - not overly alcoholic like the California wines, not face-slapping like a Shiraz, just smooth and easy to drink. The Kangaroo Island soil is amazingly iron-rich and you get a sense of that in the wine. By the by: if you do make it to Australia on a tasting journey do make the voyage to Kangaroo Island - it's about 2 hours drive south of Adelaide, right near the McLaren, and is totally amazing.
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12/28/2009 - jamiebarger wrote:
Heavy turpentine on the nose (WTF?) but after decanting for 1+ hour this was a fantabulous wine, definitely will buy again.
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12/15/2009 - jpdel wrote: 82 Points
I feel like I drank a different wine than everyone else. There was no flaw, so maybe bottle variation is at work. I would have never guessed this as aussie, with more of a typical bordeaux nose. But I found this to be extremely light, hollow, and basic. There was a nice acidity that paired up better with food, but this was a huge disappointment. I feel that nearly any basic supermarket cab would have been better. Totally unremarkable wine. Drank over two nights, decanted. Have one more bottle, we'll see if that's better.
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11/8/2009 - *Vine* wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured, similar to last TN on 10/19. However, it appears this wine is peaking and while still capable of aging should be consumed in the near term for maximum enjoyment.
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10/21/2009 - gunpwdr wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Cedar, spice box, hint of mint, big, dark currants. Not the least bit subtle. Palate: Graphite, currants, plums on the attack. Big wave of cherries show up on the mid-palate. Acid and tannins check in on the finish but show restraint. Finish is very long. This wine is all new world and if not an outright fruit bomb, verges on such... but that's not a bad thing. With some time and air, this cab proves to be quite good... with other flavors showing up as I write this. I was ready to score this an 88 until this last sip... which was quite delicious.
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10/19/2009 - *Vine* wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Deep crimson hue. Not shy on the nose, with forward aromas of black fruits, toasted coconut, fresh mint, and a touch of mocha. Medium-plus body. On the palate, this comes off as a hedonistic, new-world styled wine...but not in the classic fruit bomb sense, more so because of the judicious use of American oak (which some will not enjoy as much as I do), which really frames the flavors of blackberry, creme de cassis, and bitter chocolate. However, there is a bit of complexity here too...with herbaceous notes of mint, eucalyptus, and even a touch of menthol. Tannins are chewy and rounded on the moderate-plus finish. Drinking great right now but can definitely age.
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10/19/2009 - Friedo wrote: 90 Points
Blackberry, currant, licorice. Good balance and velvet.
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10/17/2009 - jeremy_ross wrote: 90 Points
Very fruity, blueberries, juicy, a bit of vanilla.
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10/17/2009 - ksde wrote: 90 Points
Nice Bordeaux style nose and velvety mouthfeel. Decanted and really enjoyed this wine as it opened up to reveal a touch of black olive, dark berry fruit with a nose of licorice, clove and vanilla. The garnet color and nose indicate that this wine is coming into its prime.
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