Cabernet Sauvignon night

This was a presentation and tasting of several Cabernet Sauvignon wines to friends. An opportunity to see what the grape does in different parts of the world and understand its characteristics. Wines will be discussed and analysed, and rated, but the aim if not one of comparison for quality, but for understanding of style.

Chateau Montrose, 2001 (St Estephe, Bordeaux, France)
Lacoste Borie, 2000 (Pauillac, Bordeaux, France)
Yarra Yering Dry Red no.1, 1987 (Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia)
Majella Coonawarra Cabernet, 2006 (Coonawarra Valley, South Australia)
Heitz Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Bella Oaks, 1999 (Napa Valley, California, USA)
Mas de Daumas Gassac, 2006 (Languedoc, France)
Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 (Mendoza, Argentina)

• 2006 Mas de Daumas Gassac 82 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Pays d'Hérault

  Bright red. Not dark. Rather nondescript nose, a bit gamey. Palate watery. Deeply disappointing. Then again...... I do know that MDDG goes into a "dumb phase" at round about this age. Judgement reserved, but scored for drinking now nonetheless (generously!)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Dark still. Nose a bit savoury. Dusty. Palate dull. Fruit is somewhat "strange" to me: perhaps more like Caignane than cabernet. Dull and flat. Didn't really like this, Certainly not the cassis of Napa cabernet. Maybe an off bottle?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Lacoste Borie 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Still pleasant. A nice modern-styled Bordeaux.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Château Montrose 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Starting to show some age, but only just. Nose took a while to get going in the glass, but offering up classic St Estephe cassis mixed with cedar, leadpencil, wood and so on. Very nice. Palate extraordinarily smooth and balanced. Wow. Lovely. Decent length. A beatiful and civilised wine, not a powerhouse.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2005 Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Catena Alta 93 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Dark and deep. Nose lovely. Strong cassis and menthol. I thought this was Napa Cabernet. Complex, worth exploring. Palate powerful, perfectly backing up the bouquet expectation. A little feisty and butch right now, but all in balance. I like this a lot, and while not scoring the highest from me, my WOTN nonetheless. A really class act.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1987 Yarra Yering Dry Red N°1 92 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Some bricking. Lovely deep and complex nose of cassis, methol, green olives and anchovies. Palate very dry. Leathery fruit. Medium-body. Good length. Nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

  Dark purple. Bouquet incredibly primary cassis with some vanilla. Alcoholic ribena. Palate lovely and immense in fruit. A bit too primnary for me at the moment. It needs time to develop complexity. Good structure, powerful and lean. Extraordinarily good value for the price.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No