Sat Cabernet tasting

[Gerard Connors]

Sorry guys, can't be bothered posting these separately. Thanks to Stew at the Grape for putting these on.

The McAlister 2001

Mid red, beautiful cool climate nose of light blackcurrant fruit with leafy, mulchy, cedary nuances, the palate is slightly heavier, quite linear and elegant at first, but the medium long finish has the faintest hint of raisined fruit to go with the supple tannins. Brett correctly pointed out this might be a mix of under-ripe and over-ripe fruit in an attempt to gain complexity.

88/100 Value OK at $60

Rosemount Traditional 2001

Full red, this wine showed better than the bottle I posted about a week or two ago, but is still a dense, powerful McLaren Vale dry red, rather than showing the varietal typicity that the other three wines showed today. Nevertheless it is very well made, and today had a hint of a bit more complexity with some violets and sherbetty flavours on the finish. probably will cellar quite well in the Penfolds dry red style.

89/100 Value Excellent

Moss Wood Cab Sauv 2000

Mid red, the nose is quite ripe, hints of alcohol, in the syrupy blackberry rather than cassis spectrum, the palate is medium bodied, but at the same time has a glycerol rich mouthfeel, unctuous blackberry and red currant fruit, supple tannins and Stew noticed a bit of EtOH heat. The wine has a very long finish and is no doubt classy, but i'm not sure this is what I was expecting. It's certainly not a model of MR gravelly elegance, and I'd probably prefer the 01 Cullen personally.

91/100 Value Below Average

Petaluma Coonawarra 2000

Mid to full red, I'll preface this by saying I have a big soft spot for Petaluma Coonawarra - it's not the trendiest of wines, and it's been around for al ong time, and it's not $80, so I suppose it doesn't get a lot of attention. Anyway, it has the sortof nose I really like, just enough green elements to get my attention, with a well of plummy rich fruit sitting behind it, not as cassis styled as the 98 or, say, a Majella, but it has an elegance about it which translates to the palate, which at present is medium to full bodied and quite restrained, showing a bit of merlot (50%) plummy predominance at the moment. The tannins are powdery and dry, and I think this is probably going to be the longest lived out of these wines.

93/100 Value Very Good

Cheers

Ged

[Rory]

Hi Gerard,

It's interesting to note the different things our individual paltes picked up on the 2000 Petaluma.
At least we're both in agreeance to the quality of the wine, but how long had your bottle been opened for, was it decanted?
I know it has %50 Merlot in that vinatge, but the bottle I tasted was remarkably lacking in "pluminess".
Regards,
Rory

[Gerard Connors]

Had only just been opened and not decanted - may account for the differences.

Ged

[Irregular]

Ged, given you’re a Petaluma fan, what is your view of the 98? I purchased some when released, but after trying it on two occasions not long after that time, was pretty disappointed. I’m really hoping it will come together, but was not convinced back then. What do you think?

[TORB]

Ian,

I am not Ged but I am a Petaluma fan too. The 91 is at it peak but will hold for a while longer, the 92 is just starting to go over, the 93 is at its peak, the 94 is still on the rise, the 95 is drinking well, havent even though of trying a 96 yet. Get the picture?

They need time to show thier best.

[Irregular]

Thanks Ric. Time will tell. With most young cabs, there are usually signs of what will come, apart from the obvious tannin/acid structures i.e. the fruit is 'open' early in their lives, before going into that 'dumb' phase. I just didn't get any hint of what the fruit will deliver with the Petaluma, but given your note, will look forward to trying one in about 5 years time.

[TORB]

Ian,

Agree with your comments thats why I never try them to see how they are progressing till they are at least 7 years old (and thats from a bad vintage.)

The other wine that doesn't show well (by comparison to its aged brothers) is St Henri. The young ones are very ho hum but give them 10 years to gain some complexity and you have a lovely wine.

[kenzo]

For mine the Petaluma is not an exciting drink. Quality, but in a ho hum fashion. My fave of recent wines (I've only had up to the 98 before I gave up on the wine) is the 92, of which I have a solo remaining bottle.

Irregular, Don't be afraid to admit you don't like it - especially if it hasn't grabbed you (for a few vintages). Sure, it may be a wine of quality, but if it don't ring your bell, there are other wines at the $40 mark that may do...

[Irregular]

"don't like it" .............. Kenzo, I'm gunna love the stuff - I've got a case and a half stashed away. I'm patient too, won't be touching them for at least another 5 years.

[Dig]

Simon - Good to see that you got your image to post.