Tasted as part of a cabernet tasting. Wine was decanted and the returned to the bottle for about an hour before tasting. Typical Coonawarra cab flavours of eucalpyt and mint, tannins smooth and well integrated, and acid balanced. At the young end of mature.
Shame it's the last bottle of this vintage as it would seem to have at least another 5 years, probably more if well cellared.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Three hour decant, then followed over four hours. The air time really calmed it down and smoothed it out. Has that eucalyptus thing going on. Needs long decant if drinking soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awash with ripe, dark blackberry and plum fruits. Plenty of tannin. A decent whack of oak. Not a subtle wine. Big and a bit rough and in your face. Tobacco prominent on day two. No aniseed or licorice. Can't see it mellowing out the way a WA cab does, as it already has five years on it. Fruit is a touch too ripe for me. A solid enough wine. Drink with a Winter roast after a decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A big classy full-bodied Coonawarra cabernet. Luscious ripe cassis, blueberry and black plumb flavours predominate, along with a hint of mint, liquorice and tobacco across that unique earthy Coonawarra background. Nice complexity and great length of finish. A very nice wine.
The only downside is that the oaky tannins are still quite firm and feel a little chalky and mouth-drying. I think the tannins still need quite a bit more bottle time to fully integrate. The good news is that the wine has a good acid balance, so it should be capable of carrying the tannins the distance. I suspect the wine needs a least another 5 years, maybe even 10 years, but should be a lovely, or possibly a stunning wine by then.
Note, after having been decanted for several hours, those tannins settled down a bit, so if you are planning on drinking the wine young, decanting is highly recommended.
Night 2
After having been given 24 hours to decant, the wine has changed considerably. Firstly, those tannins have been transformed into the super-fine variety. There is still the slightest hint of powder dusting in the mouth, but nothing show stopping. The flavours in the wine have also continued to develop. The tobacco flavours have become much more dominant, but not overpowering and have been joined with a hint of chocolate, with the liquorice more subdued. The flavours push through the finish, with layers of complexity. I can’t wait to taste it again in another 5 years. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saturated, very dark red violet color; tart red currant, eucalyptus nose; silky textured, intense, tart red currant, eucalyptus palate could use 5 years; medium-plus finish 91+ points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/1/2022 - tom_brennan Likes this wine:
Tasted as part of a cabernet tasting. Wine was decanted and the returned to the bottle for about an hour before tasting. Typical Coonawarra cab flavours of eucalpyt and mint, tannins smooth and well integrated, and acid balanced. At the young end of mature.
Shame it's the last bottle of this vintage as it would seem to have at least another 5 years, probably more if well cellared.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2018 - jskuek Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, it helped to open up nicely ... however, if you can wait for another 3-5 years would be nicer
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2017 - PeterjW Likes this wine: 90 Points
cases with a hint liquorice, full bodied with some cinnamon and spice and a good finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2017 - Mic Mac wrote:
Nice smooth balanced Cabernet. On just medium-bodied.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - lady_lizard Likes this wine:
.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2016 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Three hour decant, then followed over four hours. The air time really calmed it down and smoothed it out. Has that eucalyptus thing going on. Needs long decant if drinking soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2016 - jskuek Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Too young, green even after one hour in decanter. Please wait over 3-5 years before trying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/26/2016 - DanielJH wrote: 89 Points
Awash with ripe, dark blackberry and plum fruits. Plenty of tannin. A decent whack of oak. Not a subtle wine. Big and a bit rough and in your face. Tobacco prominent on day two. No aniseed or licorice. Can't see it mellowing out the way a WA cab does, as it already has five years on it. Fruit is a touch too ripe for me. A solid enough wine. Drink with a Winter roast after a decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2016 - Delectable Blue Likes this wine: 91 Points
Night 1
A big classy full-bodied Coonawarra cabernet. Luscious ripe cassis, blueberry and black plumb flavours predominate, along with a hint of mint, liquorice and tobacco across that unique earthy Coonawarra background. Nice complexity and great length of finish. A very nice wine.
The only downside is that the oaky tannins are still quite firm and feel a little chalky and mouth-drying. I think the tannins still need quite a bit more bottle time to fully integrate. The good news is that the wine has a good acid balance, so it should be capable of carrying the tannins the distance. I suspect the wine needs a least another 5 years, maybe even 10 years, but should be a lovely, or possibly a stunning wine by then.
Note, after having been decanted for several hours, those tannins settled down a bit, so if you are planning on drinking the wine young, decanting is highly recommended.
Night 2
After having been given 24 hours to decant, the wine has changed considerably. Firstly, those tannins have been transformed into the super-fine variety. There is still the slightest hint of powder dusting in the mouth, but nothing show stopping. The flavours in the wine have also continued to develop. The tobacco flavours have become much more dominant, but not overpowering and have been joined with a hint of chocolate, with the liquorice more subdued. The flavours push through the finish, with layers of complexity. I can’t wait to taste it again in another 5 years. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2015 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth and soft on the medium to full body with red berry and a little toasty oak. Cedar and vanilla coming in on the finish. Easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2015 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Saturated, very dark red violet color; tart red currant, eucalyptus nose; silky textured, intense, tart red currant, eucalyptus palate could use 5 years; medium-plus finish 91+ points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2014 - startinoz wrote: 93 Points
Minty nose. Dark fruit. Classic cabernet. Good finish. Great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment