14.4 Shiraz 2009-07-15T07:19:49Z 33 gold 2006, Mount Camel Ridge Shiraz. Rich, shy. No piercing prickly elements. No searing SO2, spirit, acid. Safely submerge nose and … <p>Rich, shy. No piercing prickly elements. No searing SO2, spirit, acid. Safely submerge nose and …</p> Front & Mid Palate: … Dries flower, leaf. Integration. Quiet fruit. Balance. Back Palate: … Aftertaste: Great length. Integrated finishExpensive French oak. Some viognier? Fruit is woven into the structure of the wine. The typical old world wine superior argument vis a vis the new bras world imbalanced wine. Interesting, no added acid or acid addition. Native yeasts input. 5-7 years? 18.8 <p>Front &amp; Mid Palate: <br /> …<br /> Dries flower, leaf.<br /> Integration.<br /> Quiet fruit.<br /> Balance.</p> <p>Back Palate:<br /> …</p> <p>Aftertaste:<br /> Great length.<br /> Integrated finishExpensive French oak.<br /> Some viognier?</p> <p>Fruit is woven into the structure of the wine.<br /> The typical old world wine superior argument vis a vis the new bras world imbalanced wine.<br /> Interesting, no added acid or acid addition.<br /> Native yeasts input.<br /> 5-7 years?</p> <p>18.8</p> 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 5 3 5 Heathcote 95 18.8

So far, my wine of the year. <p>So far, my wine of the year.</p> 2009-07-15T07:25:42Z 15.0 Shiraz 2009-07-15T07:14:17Z 32 2005, Hanging Rock, Cambrian Rise, Shiraz 2 2 1 1 3 1 2 3 1 2 2 Heathcote 86 15.0

Angular SO2 and Spirit showing? Some wet oak wood, light spices featuring some vanilla. The Front & Mid Palate is soft, fluffy and undefined. Low tannins in Back Palate. Aftertaste is Prickly. Minor eucalypt. 15.0 <p>Angular SO2 and Spirit showing? Some wet oak wood, light spices featuring some vanilla. The Front &amp; Mid Palate is soft, fluffy and undefined. Low tannins in Back Palate. Aftertaste is Prickly. Minor eucalypt. 15.0</p> 2009-07-15T07:15:11Z Cabernet Australia 2009-07-15T07:08:22Z 31 silver 2006 Penfolds, Bin 407, Cabernet Sauvignon. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 South Australia 89 17.0

2009-07-15T07:08:22Z Cabernet Australia 2008-10-30T23:50:02Z 30 gold 2005 Moss Wood, Cabernet Sauvignon Understated. Reserved nose. Minor simple sulphide characters appear early but these blow off early. A shy aroma mix of cassis, dust, mint, light tobacco and cigar box. Suggesting a promise of more flavour released in maturity. I have vague feelings of a high G-G ratio(glycosyl-glucose)? <p>Understated. Reserved nose.</p> <p>Minor simple sulphide characters appear early but these blow off early.</p> <p>A shy aroma mix of cassis, dust, mint, light tobacco and cigar box. Suggesting a promise of more flavour released in maturity. I have vague feelings of a high G-G ratio(glycosyl-glucose)?</p> An elegantly structured mid-palate, round, and full weighted (to the point of heaviness). Richness. Dense fine tannins. Back palate is where all the action is. Ripe blackcurrant flavours. Ripe, ripe, ripe, dusty and savoury tannins. Long aftertaste, enduring in the order of several minutes, linger savoury ripe tannins. Most of the wine’s action is in the aftertaste. The real pleasures reside here. Ironically most of the pleasure of this “drink” occur in the “drank” stage, that is, after the swallow. In Australia and other new world producers the locus of palate sensation tends to be at the front to mid palate - with this one and likewise with Bordeaux, the locus shifts down to the back palate and in the aftertaste. Integration is unnoticed because it is so seamless and attention is directed into visceral pleasures. An aristocratic wine. One of Australia’s top 10 Cabernets. <p>An elegantly structured mid-palate, round, and full weighted (to the point of heaviness). Richness. Dense fine tannins.</p> <p>Back palate is where all the action is. Ripe blackcurrant flavours. Ripe, ripe, ripe, dusty and savoury tannins.</p> <p>Long aftertaste, enduring in the order of several minutes, linger savoury ripe tannins. Most of the wine’s action is in the aftertaste. The real pleasures reside here. Ironically most of the pleasure of this “drink” occur in the “drank” stage, that is, after the swallow.</p> <p>In Australia and other new world producers the locus of palate sensation tends to be at the front to mid palate &#8211; with this one and likewise with Bordeaux, the locus shifts down to the back palate and in the aftertaste.</p> <p>Integration is unnoticed because it is so seamless and attention is directed into visceral pleasures.</p> <p>An aristocratic wine.</p> <p>One of Australia’s top 10 Cabernets.</p> AUD $90 - $110 5 3 5 4 4 3 3 3 5 4 5 Margaret River 96 18.9

Understated. Reserved nose. Minor simple sulphide characters. A shy aroma mix of cassis, dust, mint, light tobacco and cigar box. Suggesting a promise of more flavour released in maturity. An elegantly structured mid-palate, round, and full weighted (to the point of heaviness). Richness. Dense fine tannins. A back palate of ripe blackcurrant flavours. Ripe, ripe, ripe, dusty and savoury tannins. Long aftertaste, enduring in the order of several minutes, linger savoury ripe tannins. Integration is unnoticed because it is so seamless. An aristocratic wine. 96/100 <p>Understated. Reserved nose. Minor simple sulphide characters. A shy aroma mix of cassis, dust, mint, light tobacco and cigar box. Suggesting a promise of more flavour released in maturity. An elegantly structured mid-palate, round, and full weighted (to the point of heaviness). Richness. Dense fine tannins. A back palate of ripe blackcurrant flavours. Ripe, ripe, ripe, dusty and savoury tannins. Long aftertaste, enduring in the order of several minutes, linger savoury ripe tannins. Integration is unnoticed because it is so seamless. An aristocratic wine. 96/100</p> 2008-10-31T14:03:54Z Shiraz Australia 2008-10-30T11:04:36Z 29 gold 2005 Voyager Estate Shiraz Lifted perfume but of a slightly confused and suspect aroma? I am thinking and searching for a wine fault but in retrospect attribute it to the 1% Viognier addition and the aroma is apricot kernel. I believe that Viognier disrupts the nose on a shiraz(syrah) and I tend to think, mistakenly, along the lines of dried orange fruits, that is the botrytis fungal infection - my style hangup only. Additionally, my negative reflex is from many past tasting experiences whereby poor shiraz fruit is bolstered or hidden with a dash of the Viognier. Black and blue fruits with some light spices pepper and anis evolve in time. <p>Lifted perfume but of a slightly confused and suspect aroma?</p> <p>I am thinking and searching for a wine fault but in retrospect attribute it to the 1% Viognier addition and the aroma is apricot kernel.</p> <p>I believe that Viognier disrupts the nose on a shiraz(syrah) and I tend to think, mistakenly, along the lines of dried orange fruits, that is the botrytis fungal infection &#8211; my style hangup only.</p> <p>Additionally, my negative reflex is from many past tasting experiences whereby poor shiraz fruit is bolstered or hidden with a dash of the Viognier.</p> <p>Black and blue fruits with some light spices pepper and anis evolve in time.</p> Fruit sweet flavours. A light and lean mid-palate with the slightest of round curves perhaps from the Viognier. Looking like the cool climate shiraz that it is. Lightly structured featuring light savoury spices. A clean finish with a hint of white pepper. Powdery tannins building to a mild grippy-ness. A wine of high drinkability and by that I mean … swallow. Bonus points for the beautifully simple and seamless integration of all elements. This is a "wine trade whisper"; retailer folks actually buy and hide this one for themselves. Top value. <p>Fruit sweet flavours.</p> <p>A light and lean mid-palate with the slightest of round curves perhaps from the Viognier. Looking like the cool climate shiraz that it is.</p> <p>Lightly structured featuring light savoury spices.</p> <p>A clean finish with a hint of white pepper.</p> <p>Powdery tannins building to a mild grippy-ness.</p> <p>A wine of high drinkability and by that I mean … swallow.</p> <p>Bonus points for the beautifully simple and seamless integration of all elements.</p> <p>This is a &#8220;wine trade whisper&#8221;; retailer folks actually buy and hide this one for themselves.</p> <p>Top value.</p> AUD $25-$35 3 4 3 2 5 3 4 4 5 4 3 Margaret River 94 18.5

Lifted perfume. Black and blue fruits with light spices of pepper and anis evolving in time. Fruit sweet flavours. A light and lean mid-palate with the slightest of round curves perhaps from the Viognier. Lightly structured featuring light savoury spices. A clean finish with a hint of white pepper. Powdery tannins. A wine of high drinkability. Bonus points for the simple and seamless integration of elements. 94/100 <p>Lifted perfume. Black and blue fruits with light spices of pepper and anis evolving in time. Fruit sweet flavours. A light and lean mid-palate with the slightest of round curves perhaps from the Viognier. Lightly structured featuring light savoury spices. A clean finish with a hint of white pepper. Powdery tannins. A wine of high drinkability. Bonus points for the simple and seamless integration of elements. 94/100</p> 2008-10-30T11:04:36Z Cabernet Australia 2008-10-30T06:06:04Z 28 silver 2005 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz Primary aromas of black currents and dust and perhaps a light floral or two. Secondary impressions of richness. The fruit and oak play the richness game. Rich Fruit related: ripe-black-cherry and some lifted florals-violets. Rich Oak related: choc-coffee-vanilla, some cedar wood-shavings making the wood a shade visible. <p>Primary aromas of black currents and dust and perhaps a light floral or two.</p> <p>Secondary impressions of richness. The fruit and oak play the richness game.</p> <p>Rich Fruit related: ripe-black-cherry and some lifted florals-violets.</p> <p>Rich Oak related: choc-coffee-vanilla, some cedar wood-shavings making the wood a shade visible.</p> Medium bodied, soft and round mid-palate shape. The word ‘elegance’ comes to mind. Rich plump Shiraz is lightly structured by the Cabernet; the unique Australian Cabernet Shiraz(Syrah)blend experience. A warm, bitter-strike of a ‘purple-skins’ character on the back palate leaves me a little unsure and mars an otherwise carefully crafted wine of high-level inputs. Will storage dampen in time? (Note to self, revisit in 3 years. Mark higher if this element softens.) High levels of Grippy, dry puckering tannins. This measure for longevity indicates medium to long-term storage. <p>Medium bodied, soft and round mid-palate shape. The word ‘elegance’ comes to mind.</p> <p>Rich plump Shiraz is lightly structured by the Cabernet; the unique Australian Cabernet Shiraz(Syrah)blend experience.</p> <p>A warm, bitter-strike of a ‘purple-skins’ character on the back palate leaves me a little unsure and mars an otherwise carefully crafted wine of high-level inputs. Will storage dampen in time? (Note to self, revisit in 3 years. Mark higher if this element softens.)</p> <p>High levels of Grippy, dry puckering tannins. This measure for longevity indicates medium to long-term storage.</p> AUD $50 - $70 3 3 2 3 5 3 3 4 3 3 4 South Australia 92 18.0

Primary aromas of black currents and dust and perhaps a light floral or two. Secondary impressions of richness. Medium bodied, soft and round mid-palate shape. The word ‘elegance’ comes to mind. Rich plump Shiraz is lightly structured by the Cabernet. A warm, bitter-strike of a ‘purple-skins’ character on the back palate leaves me a little unsure. High levels of grippy, dry puckering tannins. This measure for longevity indicates medium to long-term storage. 92/100 <p>Primary aromas of black currents and dust and perhaps a light floral or two. Secondary impressions of richness. Medium bodied, soft and round mid-palate shape. The word ‘elegance’ comes to mind. Rich plump Shiraz is lightly structured by the Cabernet. A warm, bitter-strike of a ‘purple-skins’ character on the back palate leaves me a little unsure. High levels of grippy, dry puckering tannins. This measure for longevity indicates medium to long-term storage. 92/100</p> 2008-10-31T11:57:07Z Shiraz Australia 2008-10-30T05:14:53Z Not sure why you wouldn’t drink now or at least soon. The highlight is the fresh primary fruits and the soft and silky mid palate texture. This is not to say it will not go for a long time rather to ask yourself the question is the peak now? <p>Not sure why you wouldn’t drink now or at least soon. The highlight is the fresh primary fruits and the soft and silky mid palate texture. This is not to say it will not go for a long time rather to ask yourself the question is the peak now?</p> 2008-2018 27 gold 2005 Mount Langi Ghiran, Langi, Shiraz Sweet black plums and berries. Sweet chocolate oak and warm white pepper spice. Warm and cuddly seasoned with a grown-ups dose of white pepper. The purple skins character – over-ripe flavours or a carbonic maceration component? Complexing spices match fresh primary fruits. <p>Sweet black plums and berries. Sweet chocolate oak and warm white pepper spice.</p> <p>Warm and cuddly seasoned with a grown-ups dose of white pepper.</p> <p>The purple skins character – over-ripe flavours or a carbonic maceration component?</p> <p>Complexing spices match fresh primary fruits.</p> Rich and ripe berry primary fruits are supported by a moderate measure of spices. Dense, flooding and rich mid-palate. Silky, supple and fleshy. A pleasure now proposition. Fine Emery board tannins. Almost hidden. Slightly dry and puckering. A finish a shade warm accented by a pepper spice. <p>Rich and ripe berry primary fruits are supported by a moderate measure of spices. Dense, flooding and rich mid-palate. Silky, supple and fleshy. A pleasure now proposition.</p> <p>Fine Emery board tannins. Almost hidden. Slightly dry and puckering.</p> <p>A finish a shade warm accented by a pepper spice.</p> AUD $55 - $65 3 5 4 4 5 5 4 5 4 5 3 Grampians 95 18.8 Serve at 16-18 degrees Celsius

Sweet black plums and berries, sweet chocolate oak and an array of warm spices that make the wine very interesting as well as hedonistic. Dense and flooding flavours sit in a silky, supple and fleshy mid-palate. A pleasure now proposition. Fine Emery board tannins. A finish accented with warm pepper. 95/100 <p>Sweet black plums and berries, sweet chocolate oak and an array of warm spices that make the wine very interesting as well as hedonistic. Dense and flooding flavours sit in a silky, supple and fleshy mid-palate. A pleasure now proposition. Fine Emery board tannins. A finish accented with warm pepper. 95/100</p> 2008-10-30T11:12:24Z !/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png! 2007 Trophy, National Wine Show, Canberra, Best Shiraz 2005 or older. !/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png! 2006 Trophy, National Wine Show, Canberra, Best Shiraz. !/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png! 2006 Trophy, National Wine Show Canberra, Best Red. !/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png! 2006 Trophy, Victorian Wine Show, Best Shiraz. !/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png! 2006 Trophy, Victorian Wine Show, Best Red Wine. !/images/notes/accolades/gold.png! 2007 Top Gold Medal, National Wine Show, Canberra. <p><img src="/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png" alt="" /> 2007 Trophy, National Wine Show, Canberra, Best Shiraz 2005 or older.</p> <p><img src="/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png" alt="" /> 2006 Trophy, National Wine Show, Canberra, Best Shiraz.</p> <p><img src="/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png" alt="" /> 2006 Trophy, National Wine Show Canberra, Best Red.</p> <p><img src="/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png" alt="" /> 2006 Trophy, Victorian Wine Show, Best Shiraz.</p> <p><img src="/images/notes/accolades/trophey.png" alt="" /> 2006 Trophy, Victorian Wine Show, Best Red Wine.</p> <p><img src="/images/notes/accolades/gold.png" alt="" /> 2007 Top Gold Medal, National Wine Show, Canberra.</p> Dark, dense purple. Blackberry and mulberry fruits interlaced with dark plum characters with mixed spice and hints of pepper. Extremely complex and typical of the site. Boldly structured tannins on the palate, with ripe blackberry fruits, spice and tight acidity adding length and definition. Complex savoury characters in the background will evolve with time. Old Vine fruit grown in the Old Block. Long cold soaks and gentle plunging have led to a wine with terrific tannic structure and length of palate. Careful selection of barrels from four specific French coopers has added layered spice and complexity to the wine without overshadowing the bright fruit elements. Cellar up to 20 years. Mount Langi Ghiran. <p>Dark, dense purple. Blackberry and mulberry fruits interlaced with dark plum characters with mixed spice and hints of pepper. Extremely complex and typical of the site. Boldly structured tannins on the palate, with ripe blackberry fruits, spice and tight acidity adding length and definition. Complex savoury characters in the background will evolve with time. Old Vine fruit grown in the Old Block. Long cold soaks and gentle plunging have led to a wine with terrific tannic structure and length of palate. Careful selection of barrels from four specific French coopers has added layered spice and complexity to the wine without overshadowing the bright fruit elements. Cellar up to 20 years. Mount Langi Ghiran.</p> Shiraz Cork Australia 2008-10-17T22:59:31Z 26 gold 2000 Craiglee Shiraz Opens with a confident, ripe statement of bright red fruits which is very impressive for an 8 year old Australian Shiraz. Underneath and entwined are the middle-age aromas of complex tobacco and bitumen tar with a whisper of white pepper and vanilla. Very impressed as the new and the older aromas cohabitate. Is the wine turning from youth into an integrated and softer new age? An orderly passing from primary fruit to integrated and softer tannin? The nose really has me sitting up and taking a great deal of notice. This could be one of those rare wine moments. <p>Opens with a confident, ripe statement of bright red fruits which is very impressive for an 8 year old Australian Shiraz.</p> <p>Underneath and entwined are the middle-age aromas of complex tobacco and bitumen tar with a whisper of white pepper and vanilla.</p> <p>Very impressed as the new and the older aromas cohabitate. Is the wine turning from youth into an integrated and softer new age? An orderly passing from primary fruit to integrated and softer tannin?</p> <p>The nose really has me sitting up and taking a great deal of notice.</p> <p>This could be one of those rare wine moments.</p> Mature and fresh. The mid palate is full bodied, round and fleshy. The Expansive Nature on the palate reminds me of good Hermitage – the spiritual home of Fine Shiraz. Vibrant fresh red fruit flavours are interlaced with threads of tar, bitumen and dry black tea-leaf. Flecks of mint, white pepper and warm spices give even more interest. Subtle, light, powdery tannins. Harmonious, gentle. An advertisement for why you lay-down wine. <p>Mature and fresh.</p> <p>The mid palate is full bodied, round and fleshy. The Expansive Nature on the palate reminds me of good Hermitage – the spiritual home of Fine Shiraz.</p> <p>Vibrant fresh red fruit flavours are interlaced with threads of tar, bitumen and dry black tea-leaf.</p> <p>Flecks of mint, white pepper and warm spices give even more interest.</p> <p>Subtle, light, powdery tannins. Harmonious, gentle.</p> <p>An advertisement for why you lay-down wine.</p> AUD $40-$60 3 5 3 4 5 5 4 5 4 4 3 Sunbury 94 18.5

Aromas of fresh bright red fruits and light white pepper and vanilla spice. Complexing middle-age aromas of tobacco and tar cohabitate. Mature though fresh. The mid palate is full bodied, round and fleshy. Ripe tannins. Harmonious, gentle. 94/100 <p>Aromas of fresh bright red fruits and light white pepper and vanilla spice. Complexing middle-age aromas of tobacco and tar cohabitate. Mature though fresh. The mid palate is full bodied, round and fleshy. Ripe tannins. Harmonious, gentle. 94/100</p> 9/9/2008 18 degrees Celsius 2008-10-30T06:40:24Z 14.5% Shiraz Australia 2008-10-17T10:38:49Z 25 gold 2004 Penfolds, St Henri, Shiraz A single Blackberry appears of the freshest, plumpest and ripest order. Blackberry themes emerge, blackberry liqueur in particular. <p>A single Blackberry appears of the freshest, plumpest and ripest order.</p> <p>Blackberry themes emerge, blackberry liqueur in particular.</p> A soft and supple mid palate with flavours of guess what? Blackberries. I have never seen such a pure expression of one type of black fruit, almost a hologram? of blackberries appears in the mid palate. Plump moist, just picked. Finest, slightest damp tannins support the fruit. Barely visible tannin-scaffolding construct the altar of this single, black fruit. Hints of mint later if you go diving for it but it remains in the depths under … blackberries. Finish fine. Tannins Fine. Cant be faulted anywhere. Oddly enough, I find myself a little nettled through the whole tasting experience. Is the fruit dominated in one dimension of black fruit to the point of suppressing other complexing factors? Is it protective winemaking gone to the extreme to protect primary fruit character? It is the single time I have thought that I have too much fresh and ripe primary fruit. I just cant get excited about it. Perhaps it is the absence of other elements, even some imperfection to investigate that would give me more pleasure. I feel guilty about not getting all gushy about the perfect primary fruit. The fresh fruit school of thought, the *“Australian high church of Fresh Fruiters”* rejects cooked or baked fruit under all circumstances, idolizes the fresh fruit and is leery of the appearance of Woodiness from oak. I think this wine is at the outer limit of the fresh primary fruit wine-space. I am intrigued to see what lies under the Blackberry hologram. Try in 5 years and see. <p>A soft and supple mid palate with flavours of guess what? Blackberries.</p> <p>I have never seen such a pure expression of one type of black fruit, almost a hologram? of blackberries appears in the mid palate.</p> <p>Plump moist, just picked.<br /> Finest, slightest damp tannins support the fruit.</p> <p>Barely visible tannin-scaffolding construct the altar of this single, black fruit.</p> <p>Hints of mint later if you go diving for it but it remains in the depths under … blackberries.</p> <p>Finish fine. <br /> Tannins Fine. <br /> Cant be faulted anywhere.</p> <p>Oddly enough, I find myself a little nettled through the whole tasting experience.</p> <p>Is the fruit dominated in one dimension of black fruit to the point of suppressing other complexing factors?</p> <p>Is it protective winemaking gone to the extreme to protect primary fruit character?</p> <p>It is the single time I have thought that I have too much fresh and ripe primary fruit.</p> <p>I just cant get excited about it. Perhaps it is the absence of other elements, even some imperfection to investigate that would give me more pleasure.<br /> I feel guilty about not getting all gushy about the perfect primary fruit.</p> <p>The fresh fruit school of thought, the <strong>“Australian high church of Fresh Fruiters”</strong> rejects cooked or baked fruit under all circumstances, idolizes the fresh fruit and is leery of the appearance of Woodiness from oak.</p> <p>I think this wine is at the outer limit of the fresh primary fruit wine-space.</p> <p>I am intrigued to see what lies under the Blackberry hologram. Try in 5 years and see.</p> AUD $70-$90 3 5 4 1 5 5 5 5 4 5 4 South Australia 95 18.7

Fresh, ripe Blackberries dominate the nose; further Blackberry themes emerge, blackberry liqueur in particular. A soft, supple and mildly viscous mid palate with dense Blackberry flavours. Barely visible tannin act as scaffolding for the strong primary fruit. Hints of mint. I think this wine is at the outer limit of the fresh primary fruit wine-space. 95/100 <p>Fresh, ripe Blackberries dominate the nose; further Blackberry themes emerge, blackberry liqueur in particular. A soft, supple and mildly viscous mid palate with dense Blackberry flavours. Barely visible tannin act as scaffolding for the strong primary fruit. Hints of mint. I think this wine is at the outer limit of the fresh primary fruit wine-space. 95/100</p> 9/9/2008 18.5 Degrees Celsius 2008-10-30T11:54:45Z Cabernet Australia 2008-10-17T09:22:00Z Drinking well now with the Merlot dollop in the mid-palate and may go for 10 years. <p>Drinking well now with the Merlot dollop in the mid-palate and may go for 10 years.</p> 2011-2014 24 silver 2004 Parker Estate, First Growth, Cabernet Blend This wine opens with an overwhelming *sneezy, dry Dust*. This dusty aroma distracts(and overrides?) the nose early in the pour. I am displeased. Within all this *dry, attic dust* there emerges a Leafy-Green Mint which places this Cabernet in the Coonawarra wine region. Following tentatively, and *rather shy* is the expected black-current (of the cassis style); a bit player only(muted?). All this aggressive dust, leaf and mint is counterbalanced by *a sweet capsicum (very odd)* and some Rich Toasty Oak (not odd). A curious nose and it is with some trepidation that one proceeds. I am on *high alert for the unripe Cabernet experience* and its attendant methoxypyrazines - those *nasty little daggers* on the palate. So I proceed with caution. <p>This wine opens with an overwhelming <strong>sneezy, dry Dust</strong>. This dusty aroma distracts(and overrides?) the nose early in the pour.</p> <p>I am displeased.</p> <p>Within all this <strong>dry, attic dust</strong> there emerges a Leafy-Green Mint which places this Cabernet in the Coonawarra wine region.</p> <p>Following tentatively, and <strong>rather shy</strong> is the expected black-current (of the cassis style); a bit player only(muted?).</p> <p>All this aggressive dust, leaf and mint is counterbalanced by <strong>a sweet capsicum (very odd)</strong> and some Rich Toasty Oak (not odd).</p> <p>A curious nose and it is with some trepidation that one proceeds. I am on <strong>high alert for the unripe Cabernet experience</strong> and its attendant methoxypyrazines &#8211; those <strong>nasty little daggers</strong> on the palate.</p> <p>So I proceed with caution.</p> Perfumed Green flavours (clean mint-leaf) mix with some meaty cassis without the offensive stabbing on the palate – ahhh, *perhaps some undeclared Cabernet Franc* and the riddle would be solved? Its tends towards perfumed, emphasize *‘perfumed’ green herbs* which is code language for poor quality but in this case it is not. A rule breaker. A large and perhaps a *rather rude dollop of merlot* in the mid palate makes for easy drinking in the Now. Soft, round and tame the mid-palate is a little bulky, others may suggest curvaceous. The *finish is of the highest order* and by far the highlight of the wine. The finish is Focused with ripe tannins which saves the day. Forgiveness. Fine grained Tannins with some minor furriness? A reminder to consider the ripeness of the wine. Lots to ponder upon with this wine which means bonus marks. <p>Perfumed Green flavours (clean mint-leaf) mix with some meaty cassis without the offensive stabbing on the palate – ahhh, <strong>perhaps some undeclared Cabernet Franc</strong> and the riddle would be solved?</p> <p>Its tends towards perfumed, emphasize <strong>‘perfumed’ green herbs</strong> which is code language for poor quality but in this case it is not. A rule breaker.</p> <p>A large and perhaps a <strong>rather rude dollop of merlot</strong> in the mid palate makes for easy drinking in the Now. Soft, round and tame the mid-palate is a little bulky, others may suggest curvaceous.</p> <p>The <strong>finish is of the highest order</strong> and by far the highlight of the wine. The finish is Focused with ripe tannins which saves the day.<br /> <br /> Forgiveness.</p> <p>Fine grained Tannins with some minor furriness? A reminder to consider the ripeness of the wine.</p> <p>Lots to ponder upon with this wine which means bonus marks.</p> AUD $60-$70 4 1 5 4 5 2 3 3 3 1 5 Coonawarra ... <p>&#8230;</p> 92 18.0 16-18 Degrees Celsius. 7-10 years.

This wine opens with an over-whelming sneezy, dry Dust. Within all this dry, attic dust there emerges a Leafy-Green Mint. Following tentatively, and rather shy is the expected black-current a sweet capsicum and some Rich Toasty Oak. Perfumed Green flavours (clean mint-leaf) mix with some meaty cassis. A large and perhaps a rather rude dollop of merlot in the mid palate makes for easy drinking in the Now. Soft, round and tame the mid-palate is a little bulky, others may suggest curvaceous. The finish is of the highest order and by far the highlight of the wine. The finish is Focused with ripe tannins which saves the day. Fine grained Tannins with some minor furriness? Lots to ponder upon with this wine which means bonus marks. 92/100 <p>This wine opens with an over-whelming sneezy, dry Dust. Within all this dry, attic dust there emerges a Leafy-Green Mint. Following tentatively, and rather shy is the expected black-current a sweet capsicum and some Rich Toasty Oak. Perfumed Green flavours (clean mint-leaf) mix with some meaty cassis. A large and perhaps a rather rude dollop of merlot in the mid palate makes for easy drinking in the Now. Soft, round and tame the mid-palate is a little bulky, others may suggest curvaceous. The finish is of the highest order and by far the highlight of the wine. The finish is Focused with ripe tannins which saves the day. Fine grained Tannins with some minor furriness? Lots to ponder upon with this wine which means bonus marks. 92/100</p> 19/9/2008 18 Degrees Celsius, Decant for 3 hours. 2008-10-31T00:16:56Z The finish demonstrates some ripe high grade Tannin. <p>The finish demonstrates some ripe high grade Tannin.</p>