Red Planet - the Coonawarra

[Sean]

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[phillisc]

Really enjoy reading these Sean, and fortunately along with your other thread, Shiraz, I am lucky to have most of these.

Cheers
Craig.

[Chuck]

Great notes Sean. I cut my early years on Coonawarra Cabs and whilst still love them have a crush on Margaret River cabs. For me MR is Coonawarra without the mint/eucalyptus which I'm not keen on. Re Leconfield cabernet I feel recent vintages (say post 2007) have been a step up in quality. More fuller bodied with less green and minty characters than earlier earlier vintages. More my style. Agree your comments on recent Wynns Black label cabernet. Can't help being concerned more of the grapes that used to go into it are now being directed into other premium wines. I tried a 1980s BL a few years ago and it was just stunning. Not sure recent vintages will have the same grape quality. Having said that the amazing recent vineyard renovations may have improved quantity of quality fruit. You may like to try the one off wines from the Jamiesons Run series from 1998 - 2003 where winemakers were given small batches of premium grapes to play with. Alexander Block Cabernet, Winemakers Reserve Blend, O'Dea's Block Cabernet, McShane's Block Shiraz etc. Very interesting but very expensive wines that I think would appeal to your palate. Quintessential Coonawarra with long cellaring time generally required. The JR name caused them to crash and burn in the primary mark and you can pick them up in the secondary market for a song ie around $20 although supply seems to be drying up.

[Sean]

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[mjs]

Sean, nice post, even more effusive than some of my recent posts about the great red wine area that is Coonawarra
cheers, Malcolm