TNs - Three current vintage Cabernet
Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 1:33 pm
With all the wonderful South Australian Shiraz that my poor dear taste buds have had to endure recently, I began to realise it had been a little too long since the last Cab off the rank. Being away from the home 'cellar', a few readily available vintages from around the country were sampled.
1999 Leeuwin Art Series - $50odd - Despite what follows, I did enjoy this wine very much. It certainly isn't what I expected it to be, in fact I was a little worried that my palate might have been, for want of a better and more PC term, Shiraz-f*&#ed
Deep vibrant red, not at all purple, with a little glass cling. At first, some stalkiness on the nose, this blew off to reveal somewhat tight cherry, red fruit and blueberry, coffee and light leafy notes. Not at all unpleasant. The palate did not seem very tightly knit, but it certainly is approaching huge, mouthfilling with flavours reflecting the bouquet - just not as tightly structured as I had anticipated. There's a good long slightly pepper flavoured finish with coffee and a little softer red fruit. Something is a little varnishy here, even after an hour of breathing and tannins are not pronounced at all. The wine carries the ridiculous 15% alcohol without too much trouble, but this is not something I would have picked as Cabernet. Not great value to me, it is strange but quite beautiful 
2000 De Bortoli Yarra Valley - $30ish - A very forward and approachable wine. Deep vibrant red with purple tinges, looking very young - great colour and some glass cling. Nose of sweet cherry, strawberry ( yep! ), blackcurrants, some coffee and cranberries. Great mouthfeel, and quite layered flavours in similar region to the nose. A little freshing acid, very rounded tannins, though not at all an extensive finish. Good, and while layered, the red soft fruits are pronounced enough that it feels somewhat simple. For me, again this is not a good buy and doesn't meet expectation - the Yarra has some stunning Cabernet to offer, this falls short.
1999 Yalumba The Menzies - $30 or so - Deep cherry red with purple hues, only light glass cling. Already on the nose, things are looking up! Roasted coffee, cherry, bitter dark chocolate, cedar, some leafy and earthy notes there too. Tight, still a little astringent with fine drying 'puckering' tannins, palate notes once again are in line with the nose, with more black berries and even a whisper of liquorice, finishing dry with good length. This is more like it, a good honest Cabernet and well priced too. Ahhhh
All in all a little confusing. A sanity and/or palate check might be in order, so first thing cracked open on return will be a Moss Wood and maybe a Wynns BL
1999 Leeuwin Art Series - $50odd - Despite what follows, I did enjoy this wine very much. It certainly isn't what I expected it to be, in fact I was a little worried that my palate might have been, for want of a better and more PC term, Shiraz-f*&#ed
Deep vibrant red, not at all purple, with a little glass cling. At first, some stalkiness on the nose, this blew off to reveal somewhat tight cherry, red fruit and blueberry, coffee and light leafy notes. Not at all unpleasant. The palate did not seem very tightly knit, but it certainly is approaching huge, mouthfilling with flavours reflecting the bouquet - just not as tightly structured as I had anticipated. There's a good long slightly pepper flavoured finish with coffee and a little softer red fruit. Something is a little varnishy here, even after an hour of breathing and tannins are not pronounced at all. The wine carries the ridiculous 15% alcohol without too much trouble, but this is not something I would have picked as Cabernet. Not great value to me, it is strange but quite beautiful
2000 De Bortoli Yarra Valley - $30ish - A very forward and approachable wine. Deep vibrant red with purple tinges, looking very young - great colour and some glass cling. Nose of sweet cherry, strawberry ( yep! ), blackcurrants, some coffee and cranberries. Great mouthfeel, and quite layered flavours in similar region to the nose. A little freshing acid, very rounded tannins, though not at all an extensive finish. Good, and while layered, the red soft fruits are pronounced enough that it feels somewhat simple. For me, again this is not a good buy and doesn't meet expectation - the Yarra has some stunning Cabernet to offer, this falls short.
1999 Yalumba The Menzies - $30 or so - Deep cherry red with purple hues, only light glass cling. Already on the nose, things are looking up! Roasted coffee, cherry, bitter dark chocolate, cedar, some leafy and earthy notes there too. Tight, still a little astringent with fine drying 'puckering' tannins, palate notes once again are in line with the nose, with more black berries and even a whisper of liquorice, finishing dry with good length. This is more like it, a good honest Cabernet and well priced too. Ahhhh
All in all a little confusing. A sanity and/or palate check might be in order, so first thing cracked open on return will be a Moss Wood and maybe a Wynns BL
