Divine State of Origin Cabernets Tasting

[Neville K]

Very good all round, with no howlers. Andrew Wood and his team are to be congratulated. Where was the trade?
Don't be surprised if NZ wins, yet on paper WA had a dream team:incl Leeuwin, Houghton Jack Mann, Cape Mentelle, Voyager, Plantagenet, Howard Park, Devil's lair, Heytesbury, Moss Wood, Cullen

Victoria's finest were missing: Mount Mary, Yeringberg, Yarra Yarra Reserve, Giaconda, Coldsream Hills Reserve et al

The publc will be different from the judges as an afternoon taste-off of the top 21 gives sharper focus than the public run through.

Some highlights for me:

1998 Vidals Joseph soler Gimblett Gravels
A bit good here: sophisticated nose, juicy palate weight; gorgeous mouthfilling long wine. A highlight.

1999 Leeuwin Estate Art Series
Some methanol, delicious weight and structure. Seriously good;beautiful balance subtly builds and builds, finishing well. Beguiling.

2002 craggy Range Gimblett Gravels "Quarry"
Inky black. Sausage and white chocolate. Buttery lively tannins melt. Superb texture.The best texturally.

2002 Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cab/Merlot
Bordeaux like on the nose; fleshy big powerful wine. Sophisticated largesse. Good wine.

2001 Moss Wood
Meaty, full bodied, nice weight. Masculine.Finishes really well, astringency in check. Swallowed, not spat. (Couldn't help it.)

2000 Penley Estate Reserve
Seriously good nose. Multivalent. Swallow worthy. Really good wine.Stands out.

2001 Howard Park
Dusty nose. Enveloping and diverse. Really attractive. A little gem with length.

2000 Brown Brothers Patricia
Beautiful balance; delightfully harmonious. Violets and delicacy.

QPR
2000 Barwang
Lovely spice and balance apparent. delicate fine and elegant. Not a ball-tearer. Nice palate sweetness. Good.

2001 Wynns Cabernet (Black Label I assume)
Very serious nose. Proper wine. Proper balance. Gorgeous finish. A real wine.

Other comments:
I confess have a predisposition to Voyager and particularly Cullen> However such bias was not noted blind in the glass.

2001 Voyager Estate
Powerful structured wine. Too harsh and extracted. Not my style.

2002 Cullen Diana Madeline
Good. Sweet. Too sweet. Generic.

Neville K

[Grant]

Nev,


The 99 Leeuwin Cab really impressed me when I first tasted it back in August last year. Different to past vintages,it really seems like they have moved away from,or finally got a handle on,that herbaceous character that dominated the wines in the early to mid 90's. I'm glad to see someone else talking it up,because it was pretty fashionable to bag Leeuwin red's,and I think they may have turned the corner with this one. Dennis Horgan made a point when I last saw him of saying that they have done a lot of work in the vineyard on canopy cover,it seems to have made a difference.

Cheers

[Rory]

Hi Nev,

Thanks for the notes.

Interesting the comments on the Leewuin as every time i've opened one and served it blind (even at our offlines) it gets favourable comments, and everyone is suprised to see what it is once it is unveiled (all those wines were from '90 to '94).
I think it suffers from a prejudice.
Looking forward to the release of the '01 Moss Wood this year, jealous that you got to taste it.

Rory