Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a classic big Australian export wine.  Its a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet and really goes well on a cold winter's day.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has some black cherry cough syrup, black raspberries and black pepper.  On the palate, this is ripe with black cherry and black raspberry fruit.  It is warming but not hot.  Nice texture.  Tons of fruit.  Its about pleasure not contemplation.  Long finish.  Certainly not for every one, but I like it at the right time.  

A nice throwback wine.  Consumed at 20 years from vintage.  Purple in color moving to ruby/orange at the rim.  Black raspberries and black cherries on the nose which follow thru to the palate.  Also some warm earth and dust.  This is soft with no tannins.  While it seems past prime, there is still fruit left and it drinks nicely.  Not as complex as I might have thought but some.  Clipped finish.  All in all a nice showing at this point.

Inky purple in color.  This is very tight (pop and pour).  Unlike a lot of 2012's, this needs some air or cellar time.  The nose is nice with cassis, graphite, vanilla and spice.  Full bodied.  Lush and big.  On the palate, black currants, black pepper, sandal wood and slight earthy forest floor notes.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Kept improving.  Great now, but with upside.  Probably anothe 10 years to peak and good for a couple more decades.  Prodigious wine.

Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has dark cherries, coffee and dust.  On the palate, sweet dark fruit.  Cassis with a toffee/coffee note.  Nice finish.  Not showing a lot right now so it is a bit confusing whether its shut down or not.  Given its pedigree, one would think so.  It is good, but I would have expected great.  So, probably hold for now or give it lots of air.  

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with cassis and tobacco.  On the palate, cassis and dark cherry fruit.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  There is some depth and complexity here.  It is nearing maturity given the vintage but easily a decade left.  

Inky purple in color.  The nose is very tight.  Black raspberries.  spice/oak.  Primary. On the palate, this is lush with a great texture.  Black raspberry fruit.  Seems deep but impenetrable.  Firm tannins.  Doesn't budge much with air.  Plenty of upside on this but it needs a decade to sort itself out and open up.  For now, its enjoyable but seems like the better course is to show patience.  

Opened at 9:00 am and allowed to breathe.  Served at 9:00 pm.  Gorgeous wine. Still young, of course, but after a night of a lot of wines, this demanded my attention.  This is just the Estate, I can't wait to try the Grand Vin.  I actually checked the label to make sure I didn't open the wrong bottle.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, slight cedar and spice, graphite, and a bit of dark chocolate.  Wonderful lush mouthfeel.  Good acidity.  Cassis flavors.  Deep but it unwinds in the glass.  Still a decade at least from peak.  Long finish.  I know these wines have escalated in

This bottle was popped open at 9:00 am and decanted at 9:00 pm and served immediately.  Seemed to be about right although the wine is still youthful.  Purple in color.  The nose is classic with cassis,  tobacco, leather, and slight funk.  On the palate, slight tannins.  Cassis layered with earthy forest floor/tobacco.  great balance.  Long finish.  Went well with a Roasted Eggplant and mildly spicy peppers casserole.  At 26 years from vintage, this might even have a bit of upside.  Seemed to be the crowds WOTN but I have had slightly better (more exuberant) bottles of this.  nitpicking of c

My friend Chris opened this for us.  He has had it since release.  It had been opened earlier in the day and given air.  This is still quite young but with air, it was superb.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cedar, eucalyptus/mint and slight fresh tobacco.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  On the palate, there is a lot of fruit.  The cassis carries thru along with the eucalyptus.  Also some coffee and hints of dill.  Complex.  Great with food.  Not at all the kind of wine one thinks about as coming from Australia yet it seems to show its sense of place.  Quite a treat.  Impressive.  

I opened this at 8:00 am for serving about 12 hours later.  It needed more time or a decant.  Still, once in the glass it continued to open up all night.  Just a gorgeous wine.  A bit more time and this probably merits a perfect score.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, gravel, char and slight cedar.  On the palate, just a wonderful juicy, lush texture.  Almost seamless.  Voluptuous.  Lots of bluieberry and cassis fruit with underlying gravel.  Pinpoint acidity.  Long finish.  Worked great with dinner.  While there is upside for holding it is fantastic right now.  Just an