Words from a Wine Glass

There is no doubting the pedigree of this wine.  The first one was 1987 and this one is the current release.  I’ve tried a few over the years and was going to say this is the ‘greatest’ but my judgement is influenced by just how good this one is in this moment.

I could be going out on a limb here by saying this was not classic Coonawarra Cabernet when I tasted it.  It doesn’t seem to have that mintyness, that herbal/leafy note to it that we’ve come to expect and love in wines from this region.  Natalie Cleghorn has produced a wine that is so, so approachable already yet has the structure to impress just as much in a decade at least.

It’s young so the colour was no surprise.  Deep, dense, glossy crimson red and purple.  What was a surprise was the aroma.  Definitely some charming dark fruits but there was a hint of cherry blossom/floral notes here which made me wonder if there was going to be some fruit sweetness when I eventually tasted it.  I say “eventually” because it’s pretty damn good on the nose, let me tell you.

The ever important part of course is the taste of a wine.  I tasted this and thought, hang on, blackberries and blackcurrant fruits but in a lighter spectrum if that’s possible.  Still rich yet not robust or in your face.  The primary fruit is quite obvious (of course) but sitting really nicely on the tongue and inviting the velvety, (slightly bitter) dark chocolate tannins in to add to the charm and sophistication of this wine that seems to linger for a long time.  I know I mentioned dark chocolate but on the finish there seems to be a really good, high quality, milk chocolate texture too.  It is all class and has time on its side, no doubt.

Yalumba Website

Region: Coonawarra, SA     Price: $60     Source: Gift

There are regions in Australia that are more commonly known for their Cabernet Sauvignon than Great Western in Victoria (I was going to say more popular but that would be an incorrect assumption).  Although Great Western is known more for its Shiraz, I would not be at all surprised if the words, “Best’s Great Western Cabernet Sauvignon…of course” are not uttered around dinner tables more often.

No surprises with the colour.  A youthful, dense vibrant purple.

Plenty of berries on the nose, and I mean plenty.  I joke you not, I could’ve smelt it all afternoon.  It’s indicative of just how young this wine is.

Goodness me!  The full on flavours don’t hold back when you sip it either.  It’s unmistakably all dark fruits and berries, plums seemingly spread across the palate with ease, nuance of cloves too and the tannins don’t hide behind the quality fruit either.  As strange as this may seem after you’ve read this, I found this wine to have a certain elegance and approachability about it.  This clearly has time on its side but don’t be afraid to open one and drink it with a slab of hard cheese or a hearty red meat dish.

Best’s Wines Website

Region: Great Western, Vic     Price: $25     Sourc: Wine Tasting

When this wine appeared at a tasting recently, I said nothing else to those in attendance except, “put that one aside and try it later.”  A couple of people went home but the majority stayed and they remembered what I’d said.  Well, let me tell you, those that hung around were mighty impressed.  Some of the expressions were; “Oh, that’s beautiful”, “What vintage is that again? (response, 2010) You’re joking me”, “Is that cab sav because I don’t like cab sav but I really like that”.

For fear of stating the obvious, I didn’t taste this when it was made.  Very few would’ve.  I can only imagine how tight and tannic it would’ve been.  Thankfully, Luke Tocaciu and the crew saw it fit to let it bottle age for as long as the bank manager would allow and release it with some, albeit little in the scheme of this wine, bottle age.

This has everything on the nose and palate.  Still primary in almost every aspect.  If there was one hint of age, and I seriously mean one hint, it was the slight brick red rim when I poured it.  That’s where the age characteristics end.

Rich and, dare I say it, classic Coonawarra (minus the minty/leafyness).  Lots and lots of plush, juicy blackberry and blackcurrant fruit characteristics are doing a great job of carrying the 100% new oak that it spent 40 months in.  It sits so lusciously and long on the tongue it’s incredible considering its age.  It’s a keeper that’s for sure.

Patrick of Coonawarra Website

Region: Coonawarra, SA     Price: $125     Source: Wine Show Tasting