Clare Wine Co. 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Some earthiness giving way to some mint. Difficult to determine what fruit aromas exist

Flavour: Strangely, the flavour is like a black-currant lolly. This is a heavier style of Cab with a surprising pepperiness to it as well. Nice and dry. Big and bold. Not sure if my cup of tea for a Cab.

Points: 83

Loom Wine. 2009 "The Yelverton Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon

General: This week's wine for Friday
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Brambly with blackcurrant and some mint
Flavour: Medium bodied with good length. Fruit flavour according to nose and flavour is dense. Very nice dry finish with some wood flavours as well. Good drop.
Points: 83
Notes: $11.67 (210 Kc) from the Wine People wine club. Another very nice wine from their selection.

Two Rivers. 2009 "The Confluence" Cabernet Merlot

General: Another from the Hunter Wine Society case

Varities: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in equal measure

Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter, Upper Hunter Valley

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Although plum, I think red berries may be slightly ahead in aromas with some lovely vanilla lurking in the background

Flavour: Nice fruit flavour matching the nose with good tannins to hold the back end of the taste. I found it a little short in length in spite of its medium body

Points: 83

Penmara 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: One from the Hunter Valley Wine Society case

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Complex nose where the fruit is raspberry with aromas of vanilla and a little wet earth in the mix as well

Flavour: Excellent. Medium body and length. The fruit again is raspberry but now with a little blackcurrant there as well. This has a good, dry finish.

Points: 85

Notes: Costing $14.77 (256Kc) per bottle in a mixed case, this is a very nice Cab in a gentle style.

Tenet Estate. 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Barossa

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: I had to check the label as the nose was not what I expected. There was some plum as well as wet earth aromas

Flavour: Full bodied and good length. A very nice transition in the mouth. There is some blackcurrant in the flavour profile afterall, some brambly (forest floor) flavours and a good dry finish. Very enjoyable

Points: 85

Zonte's Footstep. 2008 Shiraz

General: A nice Shiraz for the cool nights...

Variety: Shiraz

Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (This is marketed as a single vineyard wine from the Lake Doctor Vineyard)

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Dense plum, mulberry and some vanilla.

Flavour: Medium body with very good length. As expected, fruit at the fore, with some vanilla undertone and this leads nicely through to a dry, peppery finish. What makes this better than average is its length and good balance

Points: 84

Notes: This is a good Shiraz to have handy for an enjoyable drink.

Nova Vita 2009 "Mad Russian" Shiraz

General: From the Shiraz case I bought last year....

Variety: Shiraz

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Restrained. Dense plum fruit.

Flavour: Good full flavour that carries through consistently. Interesting flavours of plum, rosemary, thyme and some vanilla. Integrated very nicely. You can taste it's young but very enjoyable as is. Would be perfect with lamb chops.

Points: 84

Notes: In the wine club it was about $14 (c.250 Kc). Well worth it. A lovely Shiraz.

Brown Brothers. 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: From a producer known for consistent quality at a reasonable price

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Central Victoria

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Very typical blackcurrant with a hint of some earthy spice

Flavour: The fruit is there as expected as well as something I think of a "sticks" from the forest floor. Not so elegant but tasty and the tannins are very mild as well. Quite fine.

Points: 82

Dorrien Estate 2009 "The Valleys" Merlot

General: This is the average stuff that the wine club adds to their mixed cases. My expectation wasn't high and it was about right for a Friday night drink. My Wine tasted from the same producer here.

Variety: Merlot

Region/G.I.: Barossa, Barossa Valley

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Small round plums and a bit gamey as well

Flavour: Uniform throughout. Balanced fruit as per nose but not really much there. Went well with the pizza

Notes: From the cheap and cheerful selection - $11.87 (214 Kc) which is about right