Katnook Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

[TravisW]

It's been a long time since I've posted a tasting note, but this bottle gave so much pleasure that it left me wondering if anyone else has recently tried this vintage?

The last half dozen Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignons that we've had (all different producers and from various vintages) have all left me a bit non plussed. No idea why. But this bottle was cracked and poured, into bog standard wine glasses, and was beautiful.

The best description for any different that I could find would be "cool". The fruit had this cool element to it. There was plenty of tannin/fruit/acid balance to make up the wine, but what kept me coming back to the glass was the refreshing cool element in the palate.

Has anyone else noticed this on any other specific wines?

Cheers, Travis

[Michael McNally]

Good to see you back Travis!

I think the 'cool' you refer to might be the combination of relatively high acid with a touch of eucalypt/menthol (not overt). I often get this with older Majella and Murdock wines, and certainly on the Limestone Ridge (which has Shiraz in there as well).

If the eucalypt/mint/menthos is overt it becomes that minty flavour rather than just the 'cool' background note.

I might be barking up the wrong tree completely, but trying to explain what someone else is tasting is quite challenging.....

Cheers

Michael

[Waiters Friend]

Good to see you back Travis!

I think the 'cool' you refer to might be the combination of relatively high acid with a touch of eucalypt/menthol (not overt). I often get this with older Majella and Murdock wines, and certainly on the Limestone Ridge (which has Shiraz in there as well).

If the eucalypt/mint/menthos is overt it becomes that minty flavour rather than just the 'cool' background note.

I might be barking up the wrong tree completely, but trying to explain what someone else is tasting is quite challenging.....

Cheers
Michael

I'm with Michael on this one. The first thing that sprung to mind was menthol / eucalypt which in the lower perception ranges would indicate 'cool'. Coonawarra is well known for the 'mint' phenomenon, at slightly higher perception ranges, and I have experienced both 'cool' and 'mint' in Katnook and other Coonawarra cabernets.

Cheers
Allan