Very perfumed. Creamy blackcurrant, earth, bay, wet gravel, menthol, chocolate, pencil shavings.
Fresh and elegantly fruited palate. Plentiful, fine sandy tannins and thirst–inducing finish. Only on the early side of middle-age; there is still lots of fruit here, softened, and lots of structure for long–term cellaring.
Opinion: elegant Cabernet yet lacking a little stuffing. Not sure what the flavours are going to do with more age, however the wine is drinking well now and for at least the next 6–8 years.
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Softening a little now, still has a slight firmness of grippy tannin but has now melted more into the fruit. Earthy, medium bodied, savoury black fruits, pencil, moderate oak, olives and hints of five spice. It’s a lovely drink with nice length and good bones, needs some protein to complement this structure and flavours. No immediate hurry to drink, under screwcap as well which will help with longevity.
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The Nose is a little muted but there were sweet and savoury elements to it. The fruit is still present but there is an underlying tobacco and leather smell with a touch of mint and aniseed as well as a slight smokiness. That sweetness is there initially too, along with a little pepper and spice, but it is overtaken by moorish savoury flavours in the mid palate. The transition is pretty seamless and you become aware of tannin at the end which is fine and gives length. NO hurry here. but it is drinking well now.
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Screwcap, 14.5% alc. Deep black red with a crimson hue.
Blackcurrant, redcurrant , bay leaf, smoked meats and a minty lift on the nose.
A weighty, and relatively primary and sweet fruited palate presents initially, before the savoury and mineral notes emerge, resulting in a slightly thin and austere presence on the aftertaste. Decent carry, with the dusty tannins still asserting themselves. By Day 3, the primary aromas begin to dissipate, revealing some additional complexity like tobacco, pencil shavings, fennel, and deli meats; lots of lovely “Bordeaux” things going on.
Opinion: Very primary and reticent upon opening, displaying little in the way of tertiary complexity. However extended airing helps to showcase a more intriguing wine. Leave for 6+ years before opening again.
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Dark red at the rim - shy nose with graphite and some dark fruits. Medium to full bodied, the fruit has hidden behind the structure - fresh and tannic (but smooth tannins), this wine is now beginning a secondary phase and is relatively closed for the moment.
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This was a real surprise package for me - so much class. Blackberry, chocolate, black cherry, pencil, cedar, vanilla and black olive. Although still quite primary, it's starting to develop some really nice secondary aspects. Tannins already feeling tamed. Outstanding length. You could say it borders on decadence but it stays on the more elegant side of the equation, for my palate anyway.
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This was really good with a great colour and really lifted and perfumed nose, full of blackberry, pencil and cedar. Medium to full bodied, great depth with a flavour profile to match the nose. Great chalky tannic backbone and awesome length. A joy to drink now but the best it yet to come for this one.
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Middle/dark red at the rim - slightly muted nose, olives and wood. Medium bodied, more savoury than fruit driven, silky tannins, I think this bottle is sulking a trifle, it is -3 degrees outside and my cellar is down to 10 degrees, I am not sure that one could really blame an Aussie wine for being pissed off ! :-)
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Lovely Drinking with improvement to come. There is still some primary fruit here. I also got some overtones of coffee and for the first time that I can remember, I've understood references to pencil shavings. Medium bodied with a long finish. I'll be looking forward to seeing where this goes in the future.
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Crimson at the rim, tending to black at the core - cassis, black olives and cedar on the nose. Medium bodied, still with the primary blackcurrant fruit on the palate but this wine is developing at a rate of knots: the tannins are now softer and more integrated than a year ago and the wine is just on the cusp of losing its puppy fat and developing some secondary characteristics. Very smooth and polished - excellent value.
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Dark red/black, tending to red at the rim - menthol and olives on the nose. The palate has opened up considerably since I last tried this a year ago, cassis and blackberry are dominant, quite tannic. Now becoming really quite enjoyable.
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Mint, cedar and olives on the nose. Very tightly wound - closed - watertight to 20 fathoms like the proverbial duck's arse. Medium bodied, but with a great intensity, this wine needs cellar time, four hours in the decanter has done little to open it up. Quite frankly this wine is not nice to drink at the moment. I think I am going to take a punt, buy a case and hope for great things in a few years.
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An attractive deep red in colour, the nose is steeped in olive and blackberry with some richer plum in the background.
The palate expresses Cabernet varietal characteristics with dark berries and olive framed by dusty tannins that complment the dense fruit.
The wine finishes with an enjoyable interplay between ripe fruit and a rustic, sense of place tannin structure, a hallmark of an excellent Margaret River Cabernet. Review Link - www.winereviewer.com.au (drink from 2014-2020)
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2011 Sydney International Wine Show - Top 100 tasting (Menzies Hotel, Sydney): {screwcap, 14.5%} Pure youthful currant/cassis nose, along with that green olive/herbal tinge that screams Margaret River. A mass of fine powdery tannins frame ripe fruit and subtle oak. It’s solidly medium-bodied, with a medium-length finish. Too young to show much complexity now, but ought to blossom nicely for 5-10 years.
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3/19/2022 - McWood wrote:
Delicious
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11/13/2021 - mphatic Likes this wine:
Screwcap, 14.5% alc. Deep dark red, bright hue.
Very perfumed. Creamy blackcurrant, earth, bay, wet gravel, menthol, chocolate, pencil shavings.
Fresh and elegantly fruited palate. Plentiful, fine sandy tannins and thirst–inducing finish. Only on the early side of middle-age; there is still lots of fruit here, softened, and lots of structure for long–term cellaring.
Opinion: elegant Cabernet yet lacking a little stuffing. Not sure what the flavours are going to do with more age, however the wine is drinking well now and for at least the next 6–8 years.
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9/4/2019 - deverett wrote: 92 Points
Softening a little now, still has a slight firmness of grippy tannin but has now melted more into the fruit. Earthy, medium bodied, savoury black fruits, pencil, moderate oak, olives and hints of five spice. It’s a lovely drink with nice length and good bones, needs some protein to complement this structure and flavours. No immediate hurry to drink, under screwcap as well which will help with longevity.
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6/8/2019 - paulf Likes this wine: 94 Points
The Nose is a little muted but there were sweet and savoury elements to it. The fruit is still present but there is an underlying tobacco and leather smell with a touch of mint and aniseed as well as a slight smokiness. That sweetness is there initially too, along with a little pepper and spice, but it is overtaken by moorish savoury flavours in the mid palate. The transition is pretty seamless and you become aware of tannin at the end which is fine and gives length. NO hurry here. but it is drinking well now.
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10/13/2018 - mphatic Likes this wine:
Screwcap, 14.5% alc. Deep black red with a crimson hue.
Blackcurrant, redcurrant , bay leaf, smoked meats and a minty lift on the nose.
A weighty, and relatively primary and sweet fruited palate presents initially, before the savoury and mineral notes emerge, resulting in a slightly thin and austere presence on the aftertaste. Decent carry, with the dusty tannins still asserting themselves. By Day 3, the primary aromas begin to dissipate, revealing some additional complexity like tobacco, pencil shavings, fennel, and deli meats; lots of lovely “Bordeaux” things going on.
Opinion: Very primary and reticent upon opening, displaying little in the way of tertiary complexity. However extended airing helps to showcase a more intriguing wine. Leave for 6+ years before opening again.
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10/26/2015 - Jasper May wrote: 89 Points
Dark red at the rim - shy nose with graphite and some dark fruits. Medium to full bodied, the fruit has hidden behind the structure - fresh and tannic (but smooth tannins), this wine is now beginning a secondary phase and is relatively closed for the moment.
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9/20/2015 - azzah Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was a real surprise package for me - so much class. Blackberry, chocolate, black cherry, pencil, cedar, vanilla and black olive. Although still quite primary, it's starting to develop some really nice secondary aspects. Tannins already feeling tamed. Outstanding length. You could say it borders on decadence but it stays on the more elegant side of the equation, for my palate anyway.
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4/30/2015 - deverett wrote: 93 Points
This was really good with a great colour and really lifted and perfumed nose, full of blackberry, pencil and cedar. Medium to full bodied, great depth with a flavour profile to match the nose. Great chalky tannic backbone and awesome length. A joy to drink now but the best it yet to come for this one.
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2/2/2015 - Jasper May wrote: 89 Points
Middle/dark red at the rim - slightly muted nose, olives and wood. Medium bodied, more savoury than fruit driven, silky tannins, I think this bottle is sulking a trifle, it is -3 degrees outside and my cellar is down to 10 degrees, I am not sure that one could really blame an Aussie wine for being pissed off ! :-)
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11/2/2014 - paulf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely Drinking with improvement to come. There is still some primary fruit here. I also got some overtones of coffee and for the first time that I can remember, I've understood references to pencil shavings. Medium bodied with a long finish. I'll be looking forward to seeing where this goes in the future.
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2/17/2014 - Jasper May wrote: 91 Points
Crimson at the rim, tending to black at the core - cassis, black olives and cedar on the nose. Medium bodied, still with the primary blackcurrant fruit on the palate but this wine is developing at a rate of knots: the tannins are now softer and more integrated than a year ago and the wine is just on the cusp of losing its puppy fat and developing some secondary characteristics. Very smooth and polished - excellent value.
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1/26/2013 - Jasper May wrote: 90 Points
Dark red/black, tending to red at the rim - menthol and olives on the nose. The palate has opened up considerably since I last tried this a year ago, cassis and blackberry are dominant, quite tannic. Now becoming really quite enjoyable.
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2/16/2012 - Fur in the glass Likes this wine:
Great nose, we found it very easy to drink and not as heady as expected
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1/20/2012 - Jasper May wrote: 90 Points
Mint, cedar and olives on the nose. Very tightly wound - closed - watertight to 20 fathoms like the proverbial duck's arse. Medium bodied, but with a great intensity, this wine needs cellar time, four hours in the decanter has done little to open it up. Quite frankly this wine is not nice to drink at the moment. I think I am going to take a punt, buy a case and hope for great things in a few years.
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1/13/2012 - Patrick - winereviewer.com.au wrote: 94 Points
An attractive deep red in colour, the nose is steeped in olive and blackberry with some richer plum in the background.
The palate expresses Cabernet varietal characteristics with dark berries and olive framed by dusty tannins that complment the dense fruit.
The wine finishes with an enjoyable interplay between ripe fruit and a rustic, sense of place tannin structure, a hallmark of an excellent Margaret River Cabernet.
Review Link - www.winereviewer.com.au (drink from 2014-2020)
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4/9/2011 - graemeg wrote:
2011 Sydney International Wine Show - Top 100 tasting (Menzies Hotel, Sydney): {screwcap, 14.5%} Pure youthful currant/cassis nose, along with that green olive/herbal tinge that screams Margaret River. A mass of fine powdery tannins frame ripe fruit and subtle oak. It’s solidly medium-bodied, with a medium-length finish. Too young to show much complexity now, but ought to blossom nicely for 5-10 years.
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