Blind Tasting - 2000 Vintage in Australia

Tasted Saturday, June 30, 2012 - Sunday, July 1, 2012 by CamWheeler with 686 views

Flight 1 - Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 1990 Petaluma Riesling 91 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

    (7/1/2012)

    Toast, wax and honey on the nose. There is some excellent acidity driving the palate. Shows good length. Not exceptionally complex but still great drinking. Reasonably consistent with a bottle tasted late last year.

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Flight 2 - Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Andrew Harris Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Mudgee

    (7/1/2012)

    Cherry, blackcurrant and some stalks on the nose. The palate is very restrained, but does show some cherry fruit and more stalky character.

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  • 2000 Barwang Cabernet Sauvignon South Eastern 89 Points

    Australia, South Eastern

    (7/1/2012)

    Tobacco and earth with some briary notes. The palate is medium bodied with good development evident through the integration of fruit and tannin. Good length and very nice drinking now.

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  • 2000 Grevillea Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Wetlands 85 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, South Coast, Southern Highlands

    (7/1/2012)

    Some floral notes initially that got overtaken by stalks and some funky brett/barnyard character with time. The palate is developed and resolved but doesn't show much depth. Personally for me the brett wasn't overwhelming but there wasn't a lot of character otherwise.

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Flight 3 - Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 2000 Clonakilla Cabernet Merlot 90 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District

    (7/1/2012)

    Fading ruby-red coloured. Redcurrant, cinnamon and some earthy notes on the nose. The palate was well balanced and had good length, along with complexity and depth to round out the package. Not falling over but I think it is in a very good spot right now. For me, significantly better than the two times I've tried the flagship Shiraz Viognier from the 2000 vintage.

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Flight 4 - Flight 4 (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (7/1/2012)

    Fresh nose of raspberry, blackcurrant and graphite. Palate has some intensity to it, with fruit flavours being the main driving force. Tannins and oak are still present and play a supporting role. There isn't much complexity here but it is a good wine.

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  • 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Museum Release 86 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River

    (7/1/2012)

    Black fruits on the nose along with a background hint of sultanas. The palate is medium bodied but peters out early and isn't really interesting enough overall.

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  • 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Reserve 88 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, Greater Perth, Swan Valley

    (7/1/2012)

    Secondary nose of leather, dust and tar, with some cedar coming through as well. Quite full bodied compared to the other wines in the same flight, there is more complexity and interest through some spice notes here as well.

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Flight 5 - Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Houghton Crofters Cabernet Merlot 89 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River

    (7/1/2012)

    There is some interesting complexity on the nose with small goods, liquorice and a dusty character. Balanced and savoury on the palate with good length. Well integrated tannins and drinking close to its peak.

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  • 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Jack Mann 91 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River

    (7/1/2012)

    Muscular on the nose and palate. Cedar, cassis, blackcurrant and dark chocolate aromas. A step up in depth over many of the previous wines. Still youthful, there is impressive balance here and I think that it will continue to improve over the next 5-6 years.

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Flight 6 - Flight 6 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (7/1/2012)

    Violets, raspberry, blackberry and some cedar aromas. Balanced on the palate, with nice length but not enough depth to step from very good to great.

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  • 2000 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon 84 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (7/1/2012)

    The nose is dominated by VA and boot polish with some graphite and tobacco struggling through. The palate is somewhat better than the nose but slightly astringent and without much flesh to it.

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Flight 7 - Flight 7 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Cullen Wines Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot (Diana Madeline) 89 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (7/1/2012)

    The nose shows pepper, blackcurrant, aniseed and some vanilla cola tinged oak. Palate is quite good, tannins have started to soften and there is a fresh lift to the fruit that makes it quite appealing to drink. It doesn't have the depth or class of the other wine tasted in this bracket but should continue to develop over the next 5 years.

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  • 2000 Vasse Felix Heytesbury 92 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (7/1/2012)

    Aromas of blackberry, pencil shavings, graphite and black cherry. The palate is driven by dark fruit, but there are textured layers of complexity and depth. Starting to develop and there is room to improve further over the medium term. A classy, interesting wine that was a clear level above the Cullen Diana Madeline 2000 served by its side.

    Tasted blind twice from the same magnum at different times during the evening, with the same score both times and consistent positive opinion from the tasting group. Note is a combination of the two glasses.

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Flight 8 - Flight 8 (1 Note)

  • 2000 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes

    (7/1/2012)

    An appealing nose of bacon, red cherry, truffle and liquorice. Medium bodied palate with savoury fruit and well composed tannins providing structure.

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Flight 9 - Flight 9 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon Moonambel Pyrenees Flawed

    Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees

    (7/1/2012)

    Cloudy colour. Cherry, mint and briar on the nose. The palate is ungenerous and structurally unsound with a short finish. Not having had this wine before I'm unsure if it was just a poor bottle, but will mark it as flawed. Would score in the low-mid 70s if it is representative.

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  • 2000 Epis & Williams Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges

    (7/1/2012)

    The nose is the highlight - blackcurrant, vanilla and cedar with some earthy complexity swirling in the background. The palate is not as interesting, there is good length but it is comprised of superficial fruit. That said, there is structure and it is still ticking along nicely, so it may develop further over the next 4-5 years.

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Flight 10 - Flight 10 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Coldstream Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    (7/1/2012)

    Nose took some time in the glass to open up but it got better with air - some tobacco, cherry and floral notes. The palate shows excellent class, there is restraint but plenty of texture and interest. Fantastic length and structure, there is plenty of time for this to develop further. There was some discussion about the identity of this wine, but looking at my previous note from a bottle late last year, it matches up very well.

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  • 2000 Mount Mary Quintet 89 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    (7/1/2012)

    A smoky, earthy and blackberry driven nose. Medium bodied, with some sweet fruit poking out a bit, taking the focus. There is some structure there but only medium length. A good wine, but a let down compared to a superb and seamless bottle tried late last year.

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Flight 11 - Flight 11 (1 Note)

  • 2000 Rosemount Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Show Reserve 89 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    (7/1/2012)

    A nose of cassis, liquorice, redcurrant and oak coming through. Attractive on the palate with some rich fruit playing off against the still evident oak. Drinking well now and should continue to do so over the next few years while the fruit holds.

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Flight 12 - Flight 12 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Petaluma Cabernet Merlot Coonawarra 89 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    (7/1/2012)

    A reticent nose, with some pepper, cassis and spice. The palate is shut down tightly as well, giving off little character now. Despite this there still seems to be potential as it is structurally good, with fine but unresolved tannins, I'm just not certain what will happen on the other side when it emerges.

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  • 2000 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth 90 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    (7/1/2012)

    Dark blackberry fruit, with tobacco, graphite and some lifted perfume. The palate is well structured and displays fine balance, leading into a long finish. I would be very interested to see this in 5 years time as I think it has some upwards room to move.

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Flight 13 - Flight 13 (2 Notes)

  • 2000 d'Arenberg Cabernet Sauvignon The Coppermine Road 88 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    (7/1/2012)

    A nose of sawdust, coconut, blackcurrant and cherry. Medium bodied, quite savoury, with oak and tannin still present and supporting. There isn't much depth to it right now and I can't see it significantly improving in that aspect. I think this will be at its best over the next 2-3 years.

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  • 2006 Wild Duck Creek Shiraz Reserve 90 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote

    (7/1/2012)

    Blackberry, chocolate, liquorice, vanilla and plum aromas comprise the nose. Extra-rich fruit on the palate, it really kicks things up a gear or two from the prior wines. This is a big, thick, rich wine that needs some more time to settle, I think it has the structure and the fruit to do so over the next 10 or more years.

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Flight 14 - Flight 14 (1 Note)

  • NV Campbells Rutherglen Topaque 90 Points

    Australia, Victoria, North East, Rutherglen

    (7/1/2012)

    Honey, toffee and apricot aromas. Quite rich on the palate, reigned in by good acidity. Finishes a touch spirity, but overall this is very good. Consistent with a bottle tasted late last year.

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