Tag Archives: Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon

Henry’s Drive ‘Parsons Flat’ Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

13 Friday Dec 2013

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‘The Beav’ is my buddy’s nickname.  He is a funny guy and good humored.  We have been partnered together on a month long training course that ends this weekend.  We have eaten together, drunk together, taken daily walks together and gone to the gym together.  We have had a really good time with each other and now the end is nigh, so we went big on some wine purchases last night.  He picked this one because the label was so cool.  Little did he know how good it was going to be.

A blend of Padthaway Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon that have melded together beautifully and have integrated a lovely oak presence with some well crafted tannins.  Dark red in the glass and showing black fruits on the nose.  The taste was of black currants, blackberry and dark plums.  Some mocha and chocolate powder popped out on the back end and the mouthfeel was exceptional.  The structure of this wine was great, balanced and easy to drink.  We happened to have a bunch of cheese and salami at the time but it would go well with Tenderloin or perhaps a roasted Cornish Hen.  I thoroughly enjoyed this 91 point wine that the Beav paid $27 for making it a 5 star wine in my books.  Salut….

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Yalumba Y Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

29 Friday Nov 2013

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This bottle came along after the Turkey dinner was over and we had polished off all the other bottles.  I was trying to figure out the basic flavors and I kept thinking ‘purple’.  I know colors don’t taste like anything, yet I closed my eyes and saw it.  The wine was a little jammy, with plums and fig dominating, hence the purple connotation.  A basic wine with a short shelf life as the cellaring components are not there.  I am giving it 85 points and for the $15 price tag, 2 stars.  Salut….

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d’Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

24 Sunday Nov 2013

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If you read my previous post about the d’Arenberg winery you will know that I thoroughly enjoy their offerings and find them to be consistent and delicious.  This wine held true.  It was dark purple in the glass, always a good sign, and the nose showed off black fruits and cedar box.  A really delicious palate was made up of blackberry, blueberry, pepper and a hint of oak.  Well balanced and drinking en pointe with smooth tannins and good mouthfeel.  This is a sure fire winner and for $15 it gets 5 stars from me for its 91 point rating.  We drank it pre-dinner but it would hit every imaginable red wine combo.  Salut….

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Wolf Blass Red Label Cabernet Merlot 2012

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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This is the third varietal in the Red Label series that I have tried from Wolf Blass.  Cabernet and Merlot blended together are one of my go-to combos.  This wine rolled in at $20 for two 1 liter bottles, do the math.  It’s a very reasonably priced wine that everyone enjoyed.  Easy to drink with raspberry and red currants on the palate and a red fruity nose.  Built for pop-n-pour, it offers no complexity and no associated stuffiness.  The tannins are slight and the acidity very gentle making it very versatile for pairing.  I think this would be an awesome party wine and believe it is widely available.  86 points and 4 stars for this one.  Salut….

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Mollydooker Maitre D’ 2012

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

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I’m on a mission, tasting as many of the Mollydooker line as possible.  I snagged this one at my local shop for $22 and proceeded to pop-n-pour.  Inky black in the glass- I knew I was in for a treat.  This is a super concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon that needs a good aerating, cellaring or severe pouring through a Vinturi.  It screams black fruit and offers up some blue fruits as well on the initial attack.  The nose is currently closed for business, perhaps a dumb phase.  There is a certain minerality to this wine that I love and some serious pencil lead and blackberry on the mid palate.  The tannins are ferocious right now and left me with a massive case of dry mouth for about 20 minutes.  The balance of acidity and fruit is going to be great when this whole package comes together.  This is a serious Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon that needs some time to sort itself out.  I reckon this one will hit a few home runs and provide amazing pleasure in 3-5 years.  I drank it over two days and noticed a marked softening by day 2.  I am going with 91 points and 5 stars for this wine and will be buying more for the cellar.  Salut….IMG_0314IMG_0315

Wolf Blass President’s Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

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I have had the 2008 President’s Selection before and thoroughly enjoyed it.  This version was slightly over the top for me.  Very dark purple in the glass, I could almost smell the color.  Over-extraction and judicious oak left me somewhat disappointed.  Blueberry jam and plum compote with good acidity and some bracing tannins.  Perhaps it may need some more time in the cellar methinks.  Anyway, at about $19 I think it is an 87 pointer and only 3 stars.  I can’t pinpoint a pairing that would work well, but this bottle could easily be drunk all by itself if you like this style.  Salut….

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Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2010

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

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I guess yesterday was the Aussie Cabernet tasting day for me.  This was the third wine in the lineup and I was suffering from ‘palate fatigue’ if you know what I mean!  Very basic and reasonably priced everyday wine from this mass-producer.  Nothing special, yet nothing untoward.  Balanced, somewhat fresh and definitely fruity.  I imagine this wine was made for pop-n-pour as it has very little long-term structure.  It will please at parties and is also an everyday dinner wine.  I won’t break the bank, but offers decent plum, blueberry and oak. The Shiraz is not overly jammy, the Cabernet adding some spice. 3 stars and 85 points from me.

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Penfolds “Rawson’s Retreat” Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

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If you just read my previous post, you will know that I bought this locally at a promotion price of $24 for three bottles, regularly $13 per.  With that in mind, this is actually a much better wine than the 2011 Shiraz blend.  Staying with the single varietal, I found better fruit, a more precise nose and much better tannins.  Albeit younger, this wine was more developed and had a better structure.  Red berries and vanilla were the predominant flavors, a good acidity and firm tannins rounded out the palate.  We drank this after lunch, but it would be good with pasta, perhaps some grilled steak.  Not overly exciting , but for the special price a repeat buy.  3 stars and 86 points.

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Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon President’s Selection 2008

08 Friday Jun 2012

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Liking this Aussie Cabernet for its fullness, balanced use of oak and adherence to varietal nuances while maintaining individuality and terroir.
The upper echelon wine of a somewhat large operation, they have done well to craft this beauty that pleases the palate with currants, a little mint and I sensed a some tobacco. The tannic structure is good, yet unobtrusive. Aging potential: another 5 years at least. Good length with no astringency and a nice balance.
Considering the company, I would imagine this wine is widely available and at a good price. 4 stars and 88 points from me for a good companion to grilled meats, cheese or just an evening on the porch sipping wine. Get some, you won’t be disappointed.

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Alexander Park Cab Sav 2008

08 Friday Jun 2012

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Much better than the previous wine, this one at least shows its varietal correctly. Juicy Cabernet Sauvignon, with a good nose and decent tannins make this a good eating wine. At 14.5% alcohol, I did not detect it and thought the balance was good. With some age in this bottle, it is at peak now and should last another 3-4 years. A basic steak and veggie dinner would be just about right here, I wouldn’t drink the whole thing on an empty stomach as it will sneak up on you. For the price/ quality ratio being good I award 3 stars and would hazard a guess at 86 points.

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