Here are three examples I enjoyed lately.
- 2000 Punters Corner Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (1/10/2007)
Hazy notes from yesterday. A deeply coloured wine, with a nice nose of blackfuits, earth and a slight hint of mint. M-F bodied on a plush palate, with more blackfruits and a herbal note and healthy tannins at the end. Nice now, but this has the stuffing to last (and improve) for several years. (A-) - 1997 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon The Menzies - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (1/5/2007)
Hazy notes: just had a small taste of this last night. A absolutley glorious nose here, with blackfruits and vegetal and slight mint notes. Still well structured (i.e., fairly tannic), with a real green streak running through the wine - reminds me of a few old, greenish Bordeaux I've tried. But there's a lively and lovely mixture of other flavours here too, and a nice texture to the wine. But the palate doesn't quite live up to the killer nose yet. Better in a few years? (A-) - 1999 Lindemans Shiraz Cabernet Limestone Ridge Vineyard - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (12/29/2006)
Second day notes. Deep brick in colour, with a lovely nose of blackcurrants, cedar, pepper, and hints of mint and brown sugar. Quite cab-like on the palate, with more blackfruits and spicy plums, but also a subtle green streak that is attractive. There's good purity of fruit, and a nice, structured balance of fruit, tannins, oak and acid. The wine is 71% shiraz and 29% cab - I would have thought there was more cab, the way this bottle is tasting right now. Very tasty blend. (A-)