Dark red/black, tending to lighter red at the rim - menthol and cassis on the nose. Moderate body, not overdone but by the same token not of any great depth or complexity either. Thoroughly decent, but unexceptional.
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Weekly tasting group #051; Bordeaux blends (By me @ BD): You can smell the eucalyptus from a distance. Cassis in the nose as well. Same on the palate. Very ripe black fruit juice, a lot of sweetness, ok acidity and bitterness, a lot of sweetness again. There is some freshness as well, but overall the very ripe and very sweet impressions are not very interesting.
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One of my favorite Cabs from Oz and something used to drink on a regular basis. Medium body. Acidity levels out and becomes smooth as its exposed to air amd the end of the bottle is mellow without losing its complexity.
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Good – clear dark red/purple appearance; dark fruits on nose; dry; full body; mid acidity; high tannins – soft but mouth drying on finish; mid length finish; dark fruits on taste; tannins quit soft; decanted with a Vinturi 1 hour before drinking. Went really well with Roast Beef. Good value for the £8.00 price.
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Very nice, florals on the nose, nice dark fruit on the palate, great balance, bit of oak but not overpowering, not your typical Aussie over the top wine, very food friendly.
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Very dark purple. Nose of plums, raisins, dark cherries, menthol, wet stone. Fairly thin viscosity, but dense fruit flavor with some spice and a light toasty/smoky taste. Medium acid, and light tannins on the finish. Decent balance overall.
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A well crafted wine! Garnet red with great clarity and somewhat more transparent than expected. Definitely not your typical Australian wine, with a cool nose of blackfruit and menthol. Maybe a hint of that smell when you walk through the forest, but not quite as earthy as "forest floor." Medium bodied, with not too much sweetness, slightly fruity and minty on the midpalate followed by relatively strong acidity and as someone else said, present (but not strong) tannins. Due to the acidity, slightly sour finish. A slight bit out of balance, would have benefited from a little less acidity (or more tannins).
This is a food-friendly, more Bordeaux style wine that had some development over about an hour, so definitely taste over time. If you're looking for something like Mollydooker, please look somewhere else. Otherwise, a restrained, more complex wine than you can usually find at the price. $13 at Costco.
Day 2 - this wine is fascinating... the foresty notes are resolving into blackfruit, menthol, and a touch of oakiness. Acidity more balanced today. At $13, the QPR on this is amazing. Not a hedonistic wine at all, very interesting.
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In a sampling of mid-priced Aussie Cabs, this was my favorite of the night. Mint and menthol on the mid-palate with a balanced but lengthy finish. Very nice for the price.
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Nose is clear, medium +, youthful with notes of floral (touches of green) and fruit as well.
Palate is dry, medium alc (really?), medium body (shockingly low for Australia), medium + acidity (without really tasting acidified), medium tannins (in that they actually show). Flavor is medium and it doesn't quite outride the tanins.
Overall this is good wine. A bit shocking for Australia in its "balance" -- high tannins and high acidity for aussie. Very youthful.
Is it the limestone that gives the tannic, chalky minearlity on the back end?
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{screwcap, 14.5%} Authentically Clare Valley expression of minty/menthol cabernet on the nose and palate; could use a splash of traditional Malbec briariness to tone down the dominant olive green aspect to the wine's presentation. Some tannin, not too harsh; it's dry and a bit reserved and no fruit-bomb. Medium-weight, with a short-medium finish, but still largely pervaded by mint, so if you don't like that...
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5/6/2017 - MSheridan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Plenty of blackcurrant and eucalyptus. Still feels youthful and should keep for many more years.
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8/29/2014 - redz wrote: 86 Points
tart, not a lotta fun. pnp , might try long decant.
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2/15/2013 - Jasper May wrote: 88 Points
Dark red/black, tending to lighter red at the rim - menthol and cassis on the nose. Moderate body, not overdone but by the same token not of any great depth or complexity either. Thoroughly decent, but unexceptional.
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1/19/2013 - Astjerne Likes this wine: 88 Points
Pretty good. Dark in colour. Some alcohol in the nose. Dark berries in taste.
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11/12/2012 - Zweder wrote: 85 Points
Weekly tasting group #051; Bordeaux blends (By me @ BD): You can smell the eucalyptus from a distance. Cassis in the nose as well. Same on the palate. Very ripe black fruit juice, a lot of sweetness, ok acidity and bitterness, a lot of sweetness again. There is some freshness as well, but overall the very ripe and very sweet impressions are not very interesting.
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6/22/2012 - cardinalfanrc wrote: 92 Points
Awesome. Great everyday can. Not too big. Good match for most foods. Buy a case!
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11/30/2011 - mhondo17 wrote: 88 Points
Very solid, hints of menthol mixed with the fruit. Good balance and decent finish.
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7/29/2011 - pinotage1972 wrote: 90 Points
One of my favorite Cabs from Oz and something used to drink on a regular basis. Medium body. Acidity levels out and becomes smooth as its exposed to air amd the end of the bottle is mellow without losing its complexity.
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6/25/2011 - Johnsand13 wrote: 87 Points
The menthol in the nose was a little more than I prefer, but overall tasty.
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5/7/2011 - HStaal wrote: 86 Points
Good – clear dark red/purple appearance; dark fruits on nose; dry; full body; mid acidity; high tannins – soft but mouth drying on finish; mid length finish; dark fruits on taste; tannins quit soft; decanted with a Vinturi 1 hour before drinking. Went really well with Roast Beef. Good value for the £8.00 price.
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4/16/2011 - stercomm wrote: 88 Points
Very nice, florals on the nose, nice dark fruit on the palate, great balance, bit of oak but not overpowering, not your typical Aussie over the top wine, very food friendly.
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4/10/2011 - jazanol07 wrote: 83 Points
very average Australian cab.
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3/31/2011 - TinaLazaruk wrote: 93 Points
Very good for price, complex yet smooth. Great on it's own without food. Will buy again, often.
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3/17/2011 - jeremy_ross wrote: 87 Points
Very dark purple. Nose of plums, raisins, dark cherries, menthol, wet stone. Fairly thin viscosity, but dense fruit flavor with some spice and a light toasty/smoky taste. Medium acid, and light tannins on the finish. Decent balance overall.
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3/8/2011 - Metanoia wrote: 89 Points
A well crafted wine! Garnet red with great clarity and somewhat more transparent than expected. Definitely not your typical Australian wine, with a cool nose of blackfruit and menthol. Maybe a hint of that smell when you walk through the forest, but not quite as earthy as "forest floor." Medium bodied, with not too much sweetness, slightly fruity and minty on the midpalate followed by relatively strong acidity and as someone else said, present (but not strong) tannins. Due to the acidity, slightly sour finish. A slight bit out of balance, would have benefited from a little less acidity (or more tannins).
This is a food-friendly, more Bordeaux style wine that had some development over about an hour, so definitely taste over time. If you're looking for something like Mollydooker, please look somewhere else. Otherwise, a restrained, more complex wine than you can usually find at the price. $13 at Costco.
Day 2 - this wine is fascinating... the foresty notes are resolving into blackfruit, menthol, and a touch of oakiness. Acidity more balanced today. At $13, the QPR on this is amazing. Not a hedonistic wine at all, very interesting.
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2/6/2011 - taylormd wrote: 92 Points
In a sampling of mid-priced Aussie Cabs, this was my favorite of the night. Mint and menthol on the mid-palate with a balanced but lengthy finish. Very nice for the price.
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1/27/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Color is clear, medium and purple.
Nose is clear, medium +, youthful with notes of floral (touches of green) and fruit as well.
Palate is dry, medium alc (really?), medium body (shockingly low for Australia), medium + acidity (without really tasting acidified), medium tannins (in that they actually show). Flavor is medium and it doesn't quite outride the tanins.
Overall this is good wine. A bit shocking for Australia in its "balance" -- high tannins and high acidity for aussie. Very youthful.
Is it the limestone that gives the tannic, chalky minearlity on the back end?
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11/27/2010 - graemeg wrote:
{screwcap, 14.5%} Authentically Clare Valley expression of minty/menthol cabernet on the nose and palate; could use a splash of traditional Malbec briariness to tone down the dominant olive green aspect to the wine's presentation. Some tannin, not too harsh; it's dry and a bit reserved and no fruit-bomb. Medium-weight, with a short-medium finish, but still largely pervaded by mint, so if you don't like that...
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