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Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Cabernet Franc (20%), Merlot (5%)
Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare ValleyColour: Deep redAlcohol: 14.0%Bouquet: Plummy. A hint of forest berries
Flavour: Soft savoury spice which are gentle but something is not quite right/ pleasant about them. A little bit short in the finish. In the profile, nothing stands out as a highlight.Points: 80 (3+5+10+6+6+50)Notes: The clear loser of our Cab Merlot/ Bordeaux blend tasting. Interesting that it comes from a region known for Rieslings. This wine has a cult following and retails at about $65/bottle.
Varieties: Unable to obtain actual split for 2004 vintage. Primarily Merlot (~80%) with the remainder being made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and CarmenereRegion: Saint-Emilion
Colour: Deep redAlcohol: %Bouquet: Strong earth and animal tone with lashings of forest fruit. Old world aromasFlavour: On first tasting, it was restrained. Incredibly smooth, the flavour is licorice like with other savoury flavours, like rosemary and thyme in the mix. On a later tasting, the wine opened and we were rewarded with a long finish
Points: 88 (3+7+12+8+8+50)Notes: The third wine tasted in our Cab Merlot/ Bordeaux blend tasting. This was the clear winner. Hard to determine the price but it appears that on release is was around GBP 20. The person who brought it lived in the UK and it came back from there.
Varieties: Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (5%)Region: Bordeaux AOCColour: Deep redAlcohol: 13.5%Bouquet: Some animal (wet leather) aromas with a hint of tomato vine and a touch of menthol
Flavour: When initially tasted, the mid-palate of dusty, blackcurrant fruit was a highlight of this very gentle wine which was a little short in length. However, by the time of retasting, it had really opened at the tail end and the mild tannins lingered. Very smooth.
Points: 86 (3+8+11+7+7+50)Notes: The last of four wines tasted. At $15.57 (~312) through the wine club this is very good considering it's a EUR 8.8 bottle excluding VAT in other markets. A couple of these are ageing in the cellar.
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), Merlot (26%)Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, GIs: Coonawarra and WrattonbullyColour: Deep redAlcohol: 14.5%Bouquet: Tomato stalk and blackcurrant
Flavour: Savoury herbs of bay leaf and thyme with some blackcurrant fruit. The long, drying tannins gave the wine away as an Australian version. Distinctive and very enjoyable
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)Notes: The first wine tasted on our Cab Merlot/ Bordeaux blend tasting. Popular with the punters. It retails for about $25 (500 Kc)
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Colour: Dense, dark purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Tar, licorice, dense forest conserve (povidla)
Flavour: Wow. Brambly, chewy soft licorice and forest berries lolly (candy) but the real highlight is the tannin, which covers the entire mouth and lasts and lasts. Young.
Points: 86 (3+7+12+7+7+50)
Notes: This is a lovely wine and I have to go out and buy some to cellar as there is so much in it, even if it is so young. It is interesting that the producer rates it 87 on its website when most local producers consistently score 90+ on all wines. I am a fan of this producer and when my friend K. visited last year we enjoyed a Sangiovese/Barbera blend from them. This was $20 (~360 Kc) as it was not bought through an online wine club. Happy World Malbec day tomorrow!
Variety: Cabernet SauvignonRegion: Fleurieu, McLaren ValeColour: Ruby redAlcohol: 14.5%Bouquet: Blackcurrant and a hint of licorice and mentholFlavour: There is a little bit of astringency in the plummy and blackcurrant fruit in the initial intake. Menthol in aftertaste. Good drying tannins and length. Overall, fine with a reservation about overall balance.Points: 83 (3+7+11+6+6+50)Notes: $10.75 ~ 215 Kc, through an online discount seller. Fine but there are many betters Cabernets around
Variety: Pinot NoirRegion: Central Otago, sub-appellation: BendigoColour: PurpleAlcohol: 14.0%Bouquet: Animal stall aromas with hints of Cherry Ripe (a chocolate coated cherry candy).Flavour: Nice body and regular cherry fruit and a long finish. Additional complexity arising from feint earthy flavours.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)Notes: $50.00/~1,000 Kc. We tasted this at a blind wine tasting and it was consistently liked but not considered the best wine of the evening, even for two tasters who insist on only buying pricier wine.
