January 5, 2024 - I have taken many years to come round to Cabernet/Shiraz blends from Oz but we found this example to be genuinely impressive.
It has benefitted greatly from time in the cellar. Very deep dark, opaque, colour but with a still-youthful edge. The nose was reticent at first but the palate showed good dark berry fruits with a good backbone of soft acidity and tannins which made it a touch ‘mouth-puckering’ at first but a good partner for food. It softened and improved tremendously given time after opening. Not a wine to ‘pop and pour’. The nose became much more pronounced and attractive as it opened with mainly dark berry fruits.
Quite complex with some pepper (as mentioned by PHILCKW) developing later on the mid-late palate together with classic cedar notes from the Cabernet.
3 hours after opening, this was drinking beautifully. It showed elegance, complexity and rich dark cherry/cherry skin fruit together with beautiful balance and very good length. It continued to change, develop, and improve until it was gone. I have added another point - this is a special wine.
I have extended the suggested drinking window to 2030 from the unrealistic earlier low figure shown earlier. I believe this wine will continue to mature and develop over the longer term if it has been stored well. Most of it has been drunk much too soon.
December 9, 2021 - The Cab is dominant.
January 16, 2021 - Dark ruby colour. Nose of red cherry. With a hint of thyme. Lucious, rich and mouth watering with a mid-length finish that’s a bit peppery. I really enjoy drinking this. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too sour with steak.
May 26, 2018 - Nice blend of Cab Sav and Shiraz. Little pepper and ripe fruits with nice medium-Long finish. Paired with a ribeye and was delicious! Also great value for 2012! Will try to buy more!
April 19, 2018 - Deep purple color with blackfruits and violets on the nose. On the palate this is a full bodied wine with medium + tannins, medium + acidity, black plums, blackberries, blackcherries- alot of fruit. Tannins are somewhat green. Finish is medium plus. Fruit forward wine that would suit your pizza or pasta night.
July 3, 2017 - Not a fan of Cabernet-Shiraz blends as they blend two strong-flavored grapes that, to my palate, compete with with each other. This is like adding chocolate chips to a double chocolate brownie. No subtlety. As a traditionalist, I favor cabernet sauvignon-merlot-cabernet franc-petit verdot blends and syrah-grenache-mourvedre blends, which have been established over eons. This is a nice wine fashioned to appeal to younger drinkers who prize power over subtlety.
May 17, 2017 - Nose starting to have tertiary aromas, tannins are a bit grippy but it makes the wine feel serious. Medium body with the nose getting more interesting with aeration. I could pay much more for that wine without feeling ripped off. Get it while you still can.
February 3, 2017 - Black fruits dominate, cab stands out more than the Shiraz in the blend. Chewy tannins but a pop of fruit from the Shiraz. May get better with more time.
January 18, 2017 - With 5 yrs in the cellar, this wine is drinking at its peak and presenting beautifully and well above its $15 sticker price from DM's.
Full bodied with just enough character, this (with 5yrs in the cellar) is a great quaffing wine that represents great value.
Upon opening, this wine was hurriedly decanted and poured into a waiting glass. The bouquet was somewhat confronting and requiring a little time to settle down. On the palate, it was smooth (spicy when agitated by the cheeks) and tasty. Not an amazing wine, but def buy again.
I have tasted this wine very soon after vintage and although drinkable, there is no doubt that it benefits from 5 yrs in the cellar.
What is missing is some time in oak, but at this price point, that is a huge ask!
Although this rounded out with time in the cellar, I believe that further storage would not result in a better drinking experience. Regardless of age, it is a pleasure to drink a wine at its peak.
Time to open the other bottle I stashed away (and buy some more for opening in 5yrs time ...
January 8, 2017 - I was really surprised how Rhonesque this was. Beautiful full aromas of roasted ripe plums, dark cherries. Nice intense palate; ripe fruit, slightly warming, smoky, earthy and mineral edges. Strong acidity and medium tannins. Medium to long aftertaste. Quite layered. Nice!