10 tasting glasses, each with a 40 ml pour, served blind, an hour to taste through them making notes and at the end of the hour everyone (14 persons tonight) is asked to vote on thier favourite, least favourite and two others that would come in at equal second place.
I was suprised at how quiet the group was, with very little discussion/comments about the wines until the hour was up, although there was Wikos joke which I can't repeat here in mixed company
1. 2002 Turkey Flat Cabernet
A nice nose of sweet coffee, some capsicum and dusty blackberry. The palate was very nice with blackfruits, some toffee but with a slight greeness on the back palate. Good persistence and nice complexity.
(0/14 best, 2/14 Least, 3/14 - Equal second/Third)
2. 2002 Kaesler Cabernet
A milk chocolate nose with sweet blackberrys on the attack, finishing a little short and perhaps a bit simple for my liking, although still a nice wine.
(1/14 best, 1/14 Least, 1/14 - Equal second/Third)
3. 2002 Rockford Rifle Range
The nose was wound a bit tight with blackfruits/licorice flavours and a hint of greeness on the back palate. One of the controversial wines of the evening, I was quite suprised to hear this was the rifle range considering all the great things I have heard about it, as were others around the table who had voted this wine one of thier favourites at a previous tasting.
(1/14 best, 4/14 Least, 2/14 - Equal second/Third)
4. 2002 Villa Tinto
Nice intense licorice/chocolate fruit with some plum and berry characteristics, good persistence and tannins. Located next to Rockfords, this was a nice little suprise from a small producer.
(0/14 best, 0/14 Least, 4/14 - Equal second/Third)
5. 2002 Mamre Brook Cabernet
An outstanding nose that fairly jumped at you from the glass, blackberry liquer and sweet milk chocolate with nuances of malty oak. A plush palate of sweet, pure blackberries and nicely rounded tannins.
(3/14 best, 1/14 Least, 1/14 - Equal second/Third)
6. 2002 Glaymond Cabernet
This was one my favourites for the evening. An intense, savoury nose of roasted meat, nuts,fragrant violets and cassis. A gorgeous, silky palate of integrated tannins wound around a core of finely knit blackcurrant, licorice and smoke with great mouthweight, balance and a finish that lingered the longest of any of the wines.
(1/14 best, 1/14 Least, 3/14 - Equal second/Third)
7. 2002 Ross Estate Cabernet
Chocolate, licorice and some berry fruit aromas with a palate of milk chocolate, concentrated and intense blackfruits, good mouthfeel and tannins but finishes a bit short.
(1/14 best, 1/14 Least, 3/14 - Equal second/Third)
8. 2002 Charles Melton Cabernet
A savory nose that I first thought may have been bandaid, but it blew away over the course of the evening and became an iodine and seaweed aroma with nice fruits and coffee. The palate was smooth and silky with layers of espresso coffee, intense fruits and some sweet toffee characteristics. Good persitence and balance.
(3/14 best, 0/14 Least, 3/14 - Equal second/Third)
9. 2002 Greenock Creek Cabernet
There was a hint of orange underlying a nose of ground coffee, earth and sweet, intense black fruits. A silky smooth palate, with plush, pure fruits and integrated tannins.
(0/14 best, 3/14 Least, 4/14 - Equal second/Third)
10. 2002 Kabiminye Cabernet
Sweet nose of mocha, earth and grilled nuts with a lovely intensely fruit driven palate with coffee and spices on a somewhat short finish.
(3/14 best, 0/14 Least, 2/14 - Equal second/Third)
A great tasting, thank you to the Blacktongues for the invite, I look forward to being asked again
