A fourth set of wines with an Aussie theme in celebration of the week in which Australia Day falls. Today, Cabernet. Ish…
Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£12.99 Majestic, Morrisons, Globe Wines, Matthew Clark, nzhouseofwine.co.uk)
Reasonable leafy fragrance, but there’s a slightly baked edge to the dark fruit flavours, along with a touch of greenness, and ultimately it’s a bit thin. C(-)
Tussock Jumper Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, San Juan, Argentina (£8.99 Amazon)
Honest simple style, with a baked/jammy edge to the red berry and redcurrant fruit, along with a touch of cola (complete with a light prickle of fizz). C+
Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Clare Valley, Australia (£9.95-£12.99 Denby Dale Wines, The Wright Wine Company, Taste Fine Wines, Oz Wines, Majestic)
Honest hearty wine, with a tinge of mint alongside the cassis and liquorice, and the classic warm earthiness of Clare coming through on the finish. Tasty now, but good for 5+ years. S-
Garcia Schwaderer Facundo Red Blend 2011, Chile (£18.99 Naked Wines)
The piercing blackcurrant tang is classic Chile, but there’s also an exotic ginger and orange peel nuance, plus some dusty earthy notes. Starts well but let down by a slightly hard finish. B(+)
De Bortoli DB Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, South Eastern Australia (£6.75 Asda)
Does have some blackberry and blackcurrant character, but this is too minty for my liking, and there’s a drying oak edge there too. 0
Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Clare Valley/Coonawarra, Australia (£17-50-£20.99 The Square Wine Company, Hailsham Cellars, Denby Dale Wines, Oz Wines)
Complete, confident wine, has the blackcurrant, and menthol earthiness of Clare plus more fragrant leafy notes, maybe from the Coonawarra component. Not shy in the toasty oak department, but this is in balance with the general supple silkiness. Again, tasty now with a promising future. S
Hastwell & Lightfoot Cabernet Franc 2009, McLaren Vale, Australia (£16.99 Oz Wines)
Intense, throaty wine, but while the eucalyptus/mint character never gets too intrusive, alongside the dark berry flavours there’s the ‘dead fruit’ character of grapes that have been picked too late and shrivelled in the sun. I know some people love wines like this, but I find it a little stubborn. B-