Wineflock - Australian Cabernets

Last minute reschedule, we still got a nice turnout. I had high expectations for this tasting as I think Cabernet is actually one of the better wines to come out of Australia and we've had great luck with past tastings. I would say this tasting was just a bit disappointing compared to those high expectations, but definitely some good wines here nonetheless.

We started with a Cuvee No. 1 bubbly, an 05 Wyncroft Avonlea Chardonnay (contribution from Jim - an unexpected guest!), and a 99 Smith Haut Laffite.

All wines blind as usual.

• 1998 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707

  Australia, South Australia

  Group #7, My #11 - I've had this wine many times and this bottle was not showing typcially so I have reserved score. Full opaque red color. Full red fruit nose with a nice round green note. Bright zingy red black fruit with good structure. A bit angular with some bitterness on the finish.

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

• 1997 Greenock Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Roennfeldt Road 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Group #5, My #4 - Full bright red color. Medium forward nose of spicy light cherry/strawberry - bright with just a hint of green. Rich full big bright casss blakc fruit with black spices and coffee. Long finish. Serious. 93-94 pts.

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

• 1996 Henschke Keyneton Estate 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Group #9, My #10 - Full crimson color. MEdium nose of secondary round red friut with a hint of spcie and licorice. Nice round red fruit with nice complexity, but a bit hollo on the mid palate. Clearly some bottle variation on these...

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

• 1996 Henschke Cyril Henschke Flawed

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Just ever so mildly corked, but enough to take the luster off what otherwise seemed like a very good wine. Most of the tasters did not notice the TCA until it was pointed out, and some really liked the wine.

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

• 1998 Kay Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon Amery Vineyards 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Group #4, My #3 - Full deep red/purple. MEdium black fruit nose of cola, coffee, and violets. Mnnn, big electric black fruit with black spice and asphalt notes with a long coffee finish.

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

• 2002 John's Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Individual Selection 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Group #6, My #5 - Full red/crimson color. Big full round purple cassis with just the slightest canned note. Lovely rich round red fruit - medium bodied but good depth and a long finish.

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

• 2002 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Group #2, My #2 - Full deep red color. Big sweet round black fruit nose with bubblegum hints and some dusty toffee. Big black round fruit with coffee, cola, and black spice notes. Long asphalt finish. Plenty of tannin - this one could use some time.

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

• 2002 d'Arenberg Cabernet Sauvignon The Coppermine Road 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Group #8, My #6 - Opaque red/black color. Big ripe coffee black fruit nose with a clean bright eucalyptus note. Lovely interesting bright red fruit with some black fruit notes and a notion of sweetness.

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

• 1996 Leasingham Cabernet Sauvignon Classic Clare 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Gropu #3, My #7 - Full red color. Medium full black cherry nose with just a hint of heat. nice big black fruit with good acidity - lively. some black spice and a coffee note on the finish.

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

• 1998 d'Arenberg Cabernet Sauvignon The Coppermine Road 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Group #11, My #9 - Again, probably not a perfect bottle here based on past experience... Opaque coffee red color. Pale dustry nose with black fruit hints - very subdued. With air, a sweaty sock note emerged. Nicer on the palate with round black fruit, but a bit simple.

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

• 2002 Penfolds Grange 95 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Group #1, My #1 (ringer) - Opaque deep black/red color. Medium full young nose of black fruit, coffee, and some black spice with more complexity and some cassis notes emerging with air. Incredible richness and energy on the palate - lovely black fruit, cola, and spice with coffee notes on the lingering finish. I was looking forward to opening this given the comparisons to 98 and how well that wine showed young. In this case, the quality and stuffing are there, but it is more traditional in terms of really needing probably at least 10 years to show its stuff. Tuck this one away in back... 95+ pts.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon Moonambel Pyrenees 89 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees

  Group #10, My #8 - Soft full red color with pink edges. Interesting spicy red fruit nose with a hint of heat. Slightly odd red fruit with some spice on the palate. A bit short on the finish.

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

Finished with a Buller Rare Calliope Muscat - lovely as always.