Crushing! Your fav NZ/AU Cabernet and Merlots + blends?

[Craig(NZ)]

The chardonnay pinot thread was a goodie so here is another

To be honest I have been remiss with keeping up with Australia in recent years on this front, so it will be interesting to see some responses

For me I am hell bent on classical, refined, elegant styles - wines with sophistication and grace. I despise spirity, over ripe wines

NZ

Cabernet and Cabernet Predominant Blends:
Stonyridge Larose
Te Mata Coleraine
Sacred Hill Helmsman
Church Road Tom


Merlot and Merlot Predominant Blends:
Puriri Hills Pope
Puriri Hills Reserve
Esk Valley Terraces
Craggy Range Sophia
Elephant Hill Hieronymus


Aus

Cabernet and Cabernet Predominant Blends:
Moss Wood
Cullen
Henschke Cyril

Merlot and Merlot Predominant Blends
Zip, hook me up

[TiggerK]

A few brief comments FWIW

NZ

Cabernet and Cabernet Predominant Blends:
Stonyridge Larose - Don't know as I still haven't had a good bottle of this (i.e that wasn't poorly stored or corked)
Te Mata Coleraine - Yes, most definitely.
Sacred Hill Helmsman - Must try this.
Church Road Tom - Hmm, I always associate the Tom label with far too much oak, but only tried briefly.


Merlot and Merlot Predominant Blends:
Puriri Hills Pope
Puriri Hills Reserve
Esk Valley Terraces
Craggy Range Sophia
Would agree with these four, although Sophia is still a bit heavy on the oak for me, need to try one with proper age.
Elephant Hill Hieronymus - not tried this...


Aus

Cabernet and Cabernet Predominant Blends:
Moss Wood - good without being great for me.
Cullen - same but not tried that many old ones.
Henschke Cyril - yes, very good.
Lakes Folly - definitely.
Wynns John Riddoch - definitely
Yarra Yering Dry Red #1 - Perhaps?
Woodlands can be very good too.

Merlot and Merlot Predominant Blends
Zip, hook me up

Zip is my answer too.... If you must have Merlot, it's Bordeaux or NZ every time. Sorry AU, Merlot is just not good here, especially when you make it like a big ripe Shiraz.
Although I do have some Blue Poles Allouran in the cellar, supposed to be quite good but needs time, hence not tried one yet.

[Dragzworthy]

I don't think I'm qualified to comment on NZ. But for 'stralia I'll go with:

Woodlands
Moss Wood
Cullen
Yarra Yering
Lakes Folly

Shock no Coonawarra in there?

[Craig(NZ)]

A few brief comments FWIW

NZ

Cabernet and Cabernet Predominant Blends:

Stonyridge Larose - Don't know as I still haven't had a good bottle of this (i.e that wasn't poorly stored or corked). Ive tried every vintage bar three and most vintages many many times. I find this an extremely consistent label and it more times than not really wows me. Love it

Te Mata Coleraine - Yes, most definitely. I have tried 25 or 26 vintages of Coleraine, most vintages many times. Not quite as consistent as Larose, but top vintages though not as exotic as Larose are very correct and super sophisticated. It doesn't have the richness of Larose but then again it doesn't try to

Sacred Hill Helmsman - Must try this. I don't quite put this up there with the two above yet though it is really really improving. 2013 and 2014 very smart. It just needs a shade more complexity I think. It is a bit more "obvious" than the two above

Church Road Tom - Hmm, I always associate the Tom label with far too much oak, but only tried briefly. Fair comment and in isolation I agree but the funny thing is blind in a lineup it seems to perform. Again I put it behind Larose and Coleraine and don't drink much of it because of the $$$ but I do always enjoy the chance to try it


Merlot and Merlot Predominant Blends:
Puriri Hills Pope
Puriri Hills Reserve
Esk Valley Terraces
Craggy Range Sophia
Would agree with these four, although Sophia is still a bit heavy on the oak for me, need to try one with proper age. You are correct when referring to earlier vintages of Sophia but since 2010 really that isn't such an issue. The have paired it back. The 2006 too was sensational last year. It doesn't quite have the sophistication of PH and Terraces but it's hard to think of another not listed I would put here. For 100% merlot it's hard to go past Villa Maria Reserve. Puriri Hills just keeps getting better an better. I've tried the unreleased 2013-2015's and they are better than anything so far released. Terraces too has really improved since the "californian decade" (2000's). 2013 and 2014 showed more structure and a more serious side. Exciting wines that have performed very well in blind line ups

Elephant Hill Hieronymus - not tried this...

A bolter for me and one to keep an eye on. The 2013 was sensational and a match for any of the established names. I see it as a slightly more refined Terraces. In fact I picked it as Terraces in the last blind tasting I attended


Aus

Cabernet and Cabernet Predominant Blends:
Moss Wood - good without being great for me. I see this as extremely classical cabernet showing all the flavours one would expect in a classy claret styled wine - blackcurrant, cassis, dry leaf, graphite, olive stone
Cullen - same but not tried that many old ones. not quite as wow as the Moss Wood. Last week I tried the 2015 DM next to 2010 PH Pope and it came second. Still an impressive wine though
Henschke Cyril - yes, very good. I used to drink a lot of this but prices now prevent me drinking much now
Lakes Folly - definitely. I've only tried this once and found it "ok"
Wynns John Riddoch - definitely Definitely very classical though the recent ones not quite as monumental. To me though they do lack a bit of complexity and sophistication even with cellaring. I am currently drinking 1994 (occasionally!!)
Yarra Yering Dry Red #1 - Perhaps? only tried once
Woodlands can be very good too.never tried

Merlot and Merlot Predominant Blends
Zip, hook me up

Zip is my answer too.... If you must have Merlot, it's Bordeaux or NZ every time. Sorry AU, Merlot is just not good here, especially when you make it like a big ripe Shiraz.
Although I do have some Blue Poles Allouran in the cellar, supposed to be quite good but needs time, hence not tried one yet.

[dave vino]

Cabernet
Lakes Folly
John Riddoch
Cullen Diane Madeline
Moss Wood
Yeringberg
Balnaves The Tally

Merlot
Irvine
Blue Poles
Hillcrest

[Ozzie W]

Lots of great suggestions above. I'm surprised nobody mentioned Houghton Jack Mann/Gladstones.

[mjs]

It would be remiss of me if I did not add to this thread. Perhaps no real surprises in AU Cabernet that does it for me. Has to be something that delivers at 10+ years of age and preferably 20 years

Moss Wood
Yarra Yering #1
Wynns John Riddoch
Wynns Black Label
Penfolds Bin 707 (now too expensive for regular purchase)
Penfolds Block 42 (an indulgence and probably my #1 in this list, both ‘96 and ‘04)
Mount Mary
Lakes Folly (just)

Honourable mention to Balnaves The Tally. Not quite the same track record yet (first bottling in ‘98), but I seem to be buying this consistently..

[Diddy]

In terms of what has already been mentioned, I would re-affirm:-

Cullen Diane Madeline
Lakes Folly
Moss Wood
Mount Mary Quintet
Woodlands
Wynns Black Label
Wynns John Riddoch
Yarra Yering No. 1

I'd probably also suggest you could throw the Wendouree Cab and Cab-Malbec into the mix.

I've loved recent vintages of Rockford Rifle Range, but does it have the proper pedigree to sit with the above wines?

[Chuck]

I think Voyager Estate MR Cab Merlot is the best blend I have tried.

Agree with most of the above and that Margaret River is the best cab and blend area in OZ.

Carl

[Diddy]

I think Voyager Estate MR Cab Merlot is the best blend I have tried.

Agree with most of the above and that Margaret River is the best cab and blend area in OZ.

Carl

Hi Carl, Voyager Estate up to around 2009 was absolutely cracking VFM. They've been a bit off the mark since then in my view. Perhaps coincides with expansion of their range and dilution of quality.

[paulf]

My personal favorite at the moment is the Juniper Cabernet with the Tally not far behind. There are years where I think the standard Balnaves Cabernet comes pretty close to the Tally though.

[rooman]

I think Voyager Estate MR Cab Merlot is the best blend I have tried.

Agree with most of the above and that Margaret River is the best cab and blend area in OZ.

Carl

Hi Carl, Voyager Estate up to around 2009 was absolutely cracking VFM. They've been a bit off the mark since then in my view. Perhaps coincides with expansion of their range and dilution of quality.

I’m glad a few people have put up their hands for Voyager. I’ve been a bit disappointed with them in the past but realise now I’ve just drunk them too early. By way of contrast the ‘99 I had a month ago was one of my top reds for the year along with a 2005 Bordeaux and a 2008 Stonyridge. With age they are really superb. In terms of Aus Cab/Merlots it was by far the best I had over winter.

One of the other Cab Merlot blends I’ve really enjoyed this year is Wantirna Estate Amelia Cab Merlot. IVe been drinking some of the 04 and in contrast to Cabs 2004 from SA, these wines from the Yarra are in a superb spot. Fresh feminine with excellent depth of palate.

[rooman]

My personal favorite at the moment is the Juniper Cabernet with the Tally not far behind. There are years where I think the standard Balnaves Cabernet comes pretty close to the Tally though.

I’ve got a bit of the 04 & 05 Tally tucked away but they seem to be taking forever to break on through to the other side. Based on the ones I’ve had so far I doubt I will try them again this decade.