The Auswine Forum

Been thinking a little too much lately, and got pondering the "Australian" blend of cabernet and shiraz (also done elsewhere, of course): what are people's favourite proportions of cabernet to shiraz?

Sometimes I feel that close-to-even proportions tend to dumb down the wine, with neither grape adding the touch of complexity or flair that might otherwise be achieved. The result is seamless and often almost creamy (Wynns Centenary and Limestone Ridge are cases in point), however some might say that this makes the wine pleasant, but less interesting. What are your thoughts?

I'm starting to think that a touch of cabernet in the shiraz a la Grange, or a touch of shiraz in the cabernet (an old Bordeaux trick?) might make for a better wine, with the lesser portion adding subtle complexity and intriguing nuances.

What are your favourite cabernet shiraz blends, and do you know of the proportions of each variety that were blended to make them? (examples being 389, the Signature, the Vicar, and others?

Which style do you prefer - a similar ratio, or a dash of one or the other?

I would be loath to be prescriptive. Many of the CS with a bit of shiraz and shiraz with a bit of CS wines would not be disclosed as blends (as the minority component would be less than 15%). The willingness of some labels to vary the blend according to available fruit and vintage conditions would reinforce my point of view.

Matthew

Simon,
Most of these "blends" r fr parcel of fruits which didnt make it into the stand alone varietal except for some like the Majella Mallea which stood out. Another supreme exp. is the Orlando Reserve Shiraz Cabernet. These r 2 blends which I can think off which is better than their "straight" bottling.