7 minute read
Tasting Bench: Cabernet Sauvignon
TASTING BENCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON and Blends
For this year’s Cabernet Tasting we tasted through the straight Cabernets and then the blends by state. The panel worked in pairs and collated their stand-out wines before re-tasting and coming to a consensus. All wines were tasted blind. Judges were given regional, vintage and varietal information only. Wines were ordered by RRP, but specifics of the actual price were not disclosed.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Cabernet Sauvignon was created as a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc sometime in the 17th century and is a key component of the some of the world’s most famous blends such as Bordeaux and Super Tuscan wines. Australian’s have embraced the noble grape with our very own ubiquitous Australian Cabernet-Shiraz.
THE PANEL
NICK BARLOW
WINE SPECIALIST, 100 PROOF
After developing cocktail programs in international hotels, Nick Barlow turned to what is now his passion - wine, while working for the Rockpool Group for six years. On finishing his tenure, he applied his hand to building Riedel in the on premise on the East Coast before joining 100 Proof as the state Wine Specialist for NSW.
SCOTT MCWILLIAM
GLOBAL WINE AMBASSADOR AND EDUCATOR
Scott McWilliam is a sixth generation family global wine ambassador, wine educator, fully qualified winemaker and international wine judge with over twenty years’ experience in the global wine industry including making wine in both France and the USA.
CHRISTINE RICKETTS
CELLAR DIRECTOR & WINE EDUCATOR - CELLARMASTERS
Christine Ricketts is the Cellar Director and Wine Educator at Cellarmaster Wines. She fell in love with wine while working in a small London wine bar back in the late 1980s. After returning to Australia she graduated from South Australia’s prestigious Roseworthy campus and now runs wine education classes and master classes – from basic introductory level right up to the internationally accredited Wine and Spirit Education Trust Levels 1, 2 and 3. After 30 years in wine, she still enjoys the thrill of sharing her knowledge with novices, eager amateurs and wine and hospitality professionals across Australia.
TRAVIS FULLER
FINE WINE DIRECTOR, PERNOD RICARD WINEMAKERS
After studying marketing and finance, Travis Fuller worked for Southcorp Wines (now Treasury Wine Estates) marketing premium Australian wine to the world. He was invited to the Len Evans Tutorial in 2007 by Len himself after winning the inaugural Greg Doyle Medal for Best Associate Judge at the Royal Sydney Wine Show. Travis is a senior wine show judge across Australia and internationally, and Jury President at Mundus Vini.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Houghton’s Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
RRP: $130 Region: Franklin River Distributor: Accolade Wines Tasting note: A stand out wine of complexity and generosity. Rich cassis and dark, fleshy fruits up front. Beautifully integrated tannins structure and a savoury and complex palate. The long finish rounds-off the stunning fruit balance and concentration. Score: 97
RRP: $110 Region: Coonawarra Distributor: Leconfield Wines Tasting note: Aromas jump out with ripe, rich cassis and fine French oak. Generous mouthfeel with long silky tannin structure. Good length. Score: 97
Red Deer Station Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
RRP: $35 Region: Barossa Valley Distributor: Australia Swan Vintage Tasting note: Dense and generous fruit driven nose with cedar oak, dark chocolate and cassis. Mouth-filling, full bodied with plenty of layers. This is a complex wine that will age well. Score: 97
RRP: $20 Region: McClaren Vale Distributors: Australian Capital Territory - Young & Rashleigh Wine Merchants New South Wales - Inglewood Wines Northern Territory - Thomas Chin South Australia - Empire Liquor Merchants Queensland - The Wine Tradition Victoria - The Wine Company Western Australia - Off The Vine Tasting note: A big and brooding wine, jammy and lifted aromas, massive palate with big long tannins. Score: 96
Auswan Creek Master Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
RRP: $35 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Australia Swan Vintage Tasting note: Punching well above its weight, the wine is really balanced and has fine tannins and good length. Some aged notes and cooked fruits. Complex. Score: 95
Pertaringa Tipsey Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
RRP: $295 Region: McLaren Vale Distributor: Wines By Geoff Hardy Tasting note: Ripe fruits with generous nose. Balsamic. Massive; some mealy oak, great length and fine tannin finish. Delightfully balanced wine. Score: 96
St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
RRP: $50 Region: Coonawarra Distributor: Pernod Ricard Winemakers Tasting note: An elegant Cabernet, silky mouthfeel. Menthol and leaf with ground coffee and generous fruit, plums. Delightful mouthfeel, still feels youthful - considering it’s a 2015. Score: 96
Taylor’s St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
RRP: $50 Region: Clare Valley Distributor: Taylor’s Wines Tasting note: Hints of cigar box, preserved black cherry and cloves. Shows great purity of fruit and length on the palate. Balanced integrated tannins. Score: 95
Taylors The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
RRP: $200 Region: Clare Valley Distributor: Taylor’s Wines Tasting note: Deep purple with blackcurrants and blood plum. A balanced palate with coffee and chocolate and long fine tannins. A generous wine showing a graceful, elegant finish. Score: 94
Angas & Bremer Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
RRP: $20 Region: Langhorne Creek Distributor: Vinternational Tasting note: Cedar notes and leaf. Black cherries and blackcurrant. Hints of eucalyptus. Youthful mouthfeel and good length. Score: 93
Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
RRP: $35 Region: Coonawarra Distributor: Leconfield Wines Tasting note: Ripe cassis and blackberry. Medium to full bodied mouthfeel with good lifted fruit and integrated tannins. Bright and ‘fresh’ finish. Score: 92
Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
RRP: $85 Region: Margaret River Distributor: Deja Vu Wine Company Tasting note: Vibrant sweet black and red berry fruit. Cedar and chocolate add complexity and texture with great length and balance, supported by finegrained tannins. Score: 92
Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
RRP: $50 Region: Margaret River Distributor: Treasury Wine Estates Tasting note: Fragrant nose of mint and chocolate. Dark cassis and blackcurrant supported by a sweet fleshy palate. Fine integrated tannins. Score: 91
Penley Estate Pheonix Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
RRP: $30 Region: Coonawarra Distributor: Domaine Wine Shippers Tasting note: A cracking value wine, aromas of cedar and youthful hints of spice. Medium length of palate displaying black fruits working with beautifully integrated, fine tannins. Score: 90
Overexposed Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
RRP: $12 Region: King Valley Distributor: Kollaras Trading Company Tasting note: Bright red fruit, full bodied, blood plum and lifted black berries. Herbal finish with hints of liquorice. Score: 91
Deakin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
RRP: $10 Region: Victoria Distributor: Red + White (Australia wide) Tasting note: Polished and delicate nose, Juicy and luscious fruit, satsuma, plum and black berries. Score: 88
Harewood Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
RRP: $45 Region: Great Southern Distributor: Single Vineyard Sellers Tasting note: Dense inky red, complex spicy nose of plum and hints of chocolate; rich, generous, berries. Lashings of ripe, dark fruits on the palate, liquorice and well integrated oak. Score: 90
CABERNET BLENDS
Cape Mentelle Trinders Cabernet Merlot 2017
RRP: $25 Region: Margaret River Distributor: Moët Hennessy Tasting note: Classic cabernet aroma. Dense and complex palate with hints of mint and cassis, clever use of oak and balanced acidity. Elegant finish. Score: 96
St Hugo Cabernet Shiraz 2015
RRP: $45 Region: Coonawarra Barossa Distributor: Pernod Ricard Winemakers Tasting note: Bold and lifted aromatics. Crushed ant and dark, brooding, berry fruits, superb tannins and balance. Score: 95
Fraser Gallop Estate Cabernet Merlot 2016
RRP: $25 Region: Margaret River Distributor: Domaine Wine Shippers Tasting note: Dense dark red fruit, red currants and mulberries. Medium weighted body and a lively palate. Elegant, fine and long finish. Score: 94
Zema Estate Cluny Cabernet Merlot 2015
RRP: $20 Region: Coonawarra Distributor: Westward Wine Agencies Tasting note: Sweet and generous dark fruits, toasty oak with blood plum with subtle vanilla hints. Moreish and balanced. Score: 93
Geoff Hardy GMH Meritage 2017
RRP: $25 Region: South Australia Distributor: Wines By Geoff Hardy Tasting note: A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot - rich aromas of plum and dark berries followed by a generous palate showing satsuma plum and integrated tannins. Dark chocolate comes through with mint. Delicious. Score: 92
Leconfield Cabernet Merlot 2017
RRP: $26 Region: Coonawarra Distributor: Leconfield Wines Tasting note: Rich chocolate-mint nose and integrated subtle oak. Palate of cassis and plum; medium bodied, fine and rounded. Brooding tannins. Score: 92
Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage Cabernet / Cab Franc / Verdot / Merlot 2016
RRP: $28 Region: Barossa Valley Distributor: Mezzanine Wines Tasting note: Burnt confectionary; rich and juicy - grippy palate. Delivers a true varietal expression with a fine, integrated finish. Score: 92
