Tasting Panel – Cabernet

CABERNET The King of Reds

WITH A NEW ‘SOCIAL DISTANCING’ ENFORCED FORMAT, A REDUCED DRINKS TRADE TASTING PANEL RESUMED DUTIES TACKLING THE “KING OF RED WINE” – CABERNET SAUVIGNON. TRAVIS FULLER AND SCOTT MCWILLIAM TASTED 88 AUSTRALIAN CABERNETS (INCLUDING BLENDS), ACROSS 5 VINTAGES – FROM 2014 TO 2018, WITH ASHLEY PINI IN ATTENDANCE AS SCRIBE AND TIE-BREAKER FOR THE AFTERNOON. COVID RULES WERE ADHERED TO, SO THE PRESSURE WAS ON.

THE PANEL

Scott McWilliam is a sixth-generation family member, Global Ambassador and Wine Educator for McWilliam’s Wines. Scott is a fully qualified winemaker and international wine judge, with over twenty years’ experience in the global wine industry, including making wine in both France and USA. Our second panelist, Travis Fuller, is a highly-regarded wine judge, educator and marketer also with over 20 years-experience. Travis has worked on many of Australia’s most revered brands including: Penfolds, [yellow tail], Hardys, and, recently, as the Fine Wine Director for Pernod Ricard Winemakers. Each year Travis, along with Scott, heads across to Mundas Vini – the world’s largest wine show – representing Australia as Jury President. {Ed. news, as we go to print, Travis has been appointed as general manager for Kilikanoon Wines}.

As usual, the rules were simple: all samples are tasted blind from samples submitted by Australian producers and distributors. Wines must be commercially labelled and available to the Australian trade. Varietal, region and price point are ordered and disclosed to the panel.

THE VERDICT

“I was a little surprised by the variation in styles, more so due to winemaking than regional characteristics.”

“Overall the samples were very good stylistically, and showed us a broad spectrum of cabernets”.

“When we tasted the cabernet blends, we found some didn’t come together cohesively. The better ones had a richness and a structure to them that showed off the best of each varietal blended together” 11 wines were considered outstanding, three from the cabernet dominant blends category, and eight straight cabernets.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON - QUICK FACTS:

24,682 - Area planted in Australia (hectares)*

18.3% - Percentage of total area in Australia*

14.7% - Percentage of total crush in Australia*

15.2% - Percentage of total wine exports**

$7.85 - Average value per litre Cabernet Sauvignon bottled exports**

$5.94 - Average value per litre all bottled wine exports**

*Source: National Vintage Survey 2019 ** Source: Wine Australia Wine Export Approval System 2018-19

CABERNET BLENDS

THORN-CLARKE - SHOTFIRE QUARTAGE 2017 Barossa, SA RRP: $28 Distributor: Mezzanine 92 points

Panel Pick

This Bordeaux blend jumps out of the glass with a full body yet elegant mouthfeel, great structure, savoury and cedary notes, cinnamon and mulberry. Silky tannins and plush, generous fruits deliver a very enjoyable cabernet blend ready to drink straight away, but like many in this class – will cellar well. Great value at $28. Over delivers. JIM BARRY - SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET MALBEC 2016 Clare Valley, SA RRP: $35 Distributor: Jim Barry Wines 92 points Deep red, and bright. Blue fruits and a touch of lifted minty aroma. A velvety mouthfeel, mulberry and plum richness – supported by a healthy backbone structure with balanced tannins. This is a wine of great character and good length.

TIM ADAMS CABERNET MALBEC 2016 Clare Valley, SA RRP: $26 Distributors: • NSW - Winestock • Queensland – Cuttings Wines • South Australia – Nelson Wine

Company • Victoria / Tasmania – Sante

Wines • Western Australia - David Mullen

Wine Agency 91 points Great colour, vibrant blue/black fruits, leathery and delicious leafy characteristics; combined with a fine tannin structure. Wraps you up in a blanket of goodness.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

HOUGHTONS – JACK MANN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 Franklin River, WA RRP $150 Distributor: Accolade Wines 98 points Deep purple with great intensity. Blackberry, spice, mulberry, cold meats. Very complex and exotic – searing intensity. A purity and long core of black fruits, that doesn’t seem to end. What a wine!

D’ARENBURG – THE GALVO GARAGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 McLaren Vale, SA RRP $29 Distributors: • NSW & ACT - Young &

Rashleigh • VIC - The Wine Company • QLD - The Wine Tradition • SA – Empire Liquor • WA – Off the Vine 95 points Dense, taught and great length. Tasty fruits, and still very youthful. This has a long future. SOUMAH – SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Yarra Valley, Vic RRP: $40 Distributor: Soumah 92 points Fresh lifted leaf, blackcurrent and fine, silky tannins. A wine with intensity and a well rounded palate. Great length.

HARDY’S – THE CHRONICLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 McLaren Vale, SA RRP $16 Distributor: Accolade Wines 90 points Blackcurrent and liquorice. A complex mix of bright, juicy fruit framed with fine yet firm tannins.

TAYLORS - ESTATE RANGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Clare Valley, SA RRP $20 Distributor: Taylors Wines 91 points Big fruits and a well-structured, long finish and balanced tannins. `

LANGMEIL – BLACKSMITH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Barossa, SA RRP $30 Distributor: Negotiants 91 points Very attractive dark berry fruit. Dense with a sense of brooding, long and structures. Will have a long life ahead.

CHATEAU TANUNDA – GRAND BAROSSA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Barossa Valley, SA RRP $25 Distributor: Crush Wine and Drinks 91 points Deep, brick red. Ripe, black fruits, and a fruit forward nose. Plenty of tannin to support the plush fruits, Chewy plum and mulberry. A very good drink.

ZEMA ESTATE – FAMILY SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 Coonawarra, SA RRP $50 Distributor: Zema Estate 91 points Complex, leafy, and bright. Blackberry fruits - well balanced wine. Long on the palate and mint chocolate finish. A textural and supple wine with a wellbalanced mouthfeel. Overall the wine still feels youthful, and is set to last a long time.