2014 Jim Barry Cabernet Sauvignon The Cover Drive

Community Tasting Notes (17) Avg Score: 88.5 points

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  12/1/2020 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Not much to add to MJW note, great value for the level of complexity and balance, drinks like many wines costing 2X or more. Nice toasty cigar box and distinctive eucalyptus finish. Will likely reach peak drinking in 1 -2 years but not a lot of reason to wait further, good stuff.

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  5/6/2020 - Kiwiboy Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Beautifully balanced wine. Got a bit of everything and especially good value for quality. Really yummy Aus Cabernet!

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  7/22/2018 - Wineducator wrote: 83 Points

  Finish not so good, bitterness, perhaps smoke or ashtray

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  7/2/2018 - greenducks wrote:

  Nice full body Cab
  Good with BBQ

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  6/23/2018 - mjwstickings Likes this wine: 90 Points

  In the past, I have described this as "an exceptional wine from an exceptional producer," giving a 90 to both the 2010 and 2013 vintages. One thing that's different about the 2014 is the price -- in Ontario, a remarkable $20 compared to $27 for previous vintages, including the 2013. Thankfully, the (significant) reduction in price is accompanied by only a very slight reduction in quality -- this is still in the 89-90 range, but it's not the 90-91 of the 2010 and the solid 90 of the 2013. Of course, this is nitpicking, to a point, because there's a lot to like here, including notes of blackcurrant, plum, menthol, spearmint, and smoke, all quite characteristic of wine and terroir, as well as that gorgeous Coonawarra minerality, rooted in the iron soil, all with a creamy mouthfeel and excellent depth and length. Vanilla and chocolate come later, while a slight gamy note detracts but doesn't linger too long. The problem, it seems, is more with how the overall package comes together, specifically the sharp acidity that would benefit from some additional aging even though the tannins are fine and very well integrated at this point and the fruit is at its peak but a touch muddled. So maybe a year or two more? Or just aerate it well. Because this is still an excellent wine at a new price that's hard to beat.

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View all 17 Community Tasting Notes

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