Shaw Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Bit of mint, leaf, blackcurrant. Very fresh, youthful - interesting for a 4 year old. 

Medium bodied, vibrant, fresh. Not much of substance, more about fruit. Gummy flavours.

Fairly short - bit like this note - on length, but good fun. 88 

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website:

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Huntington Estate Block Three Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Strong capsicum aromas, bordering on a little greenness; tomato leaf, herbal.

Savoury on entry, scorched earth, licorice - varietal? A little mulberry, cassis - is this a warmer year? Slightly chocolatey, mud cake even. 

Slight concerns over varietal character - particularly at the asking price. 89 

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $65
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://huntingtonestate.com.au

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Alkimi The Good Earth Marsanne 2016

Good to see Yarra Marsanne on offer at a fairly affordable price, it’s something I think of as being at least north of $30. 

The aromatics here are fairly intriguing: cut fennel, honeyed florals for sure, but also backed up with a liberal sprinkling of exotic spice. Exotic a term - one imagines - is relative to your familiarity with your spice rack.

Reasonable degree of texture, with a generous length of lemon balm flavour coursing through the middle. It feels fairly nimble on the palate, backed up with a little phenolic pinch. A resurgent wash of citrus across the back palate just reels you back in for a second sip, lo and behold it’s an action you find yourself repeating. Great drinking. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 23rd May, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkimiwines.com/

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Yelland & Papps Devote Greenock Shiraz 2015

Sees a bit of American oak action too. Unusual for the brand, if not the region or variety.

Rich, dense, black fruit compote - Greenock on the Western fringes of the Barossa is known for this rich, almost chocolatey style. Bit auto-suggestive, but it's somewhat akin to a cherry ripe in that marriage of fruit and hedonistic oak sweetness. Classic Barossa. 

More of the same on the palate: slick, rich, mulberry and plum fruited depths. Has a glycerol slickness, a liqueur essence and beyond that ultra-fine tannin that elevate the wine to another level. 

Has a decent length that resolves fairly quickly. Classic Barossa, if not what I've come to think of as quintessential Yelland & Papps. It will have its fans. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 1st June, a Fruit day

Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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Katnook Estate Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Spending 24 months in predominantly French barriques, of which 35% new. Vinification that lends character to this Coonawarra icon.

That time under oak shows and dominates the wine in this early youth. Glimpses of fruit peek out from the under the wooden shroud. Majorly about mocha, seasoned timbers, touches of vanilla.  

Akin to rum n raisin, there's plenty of fruit, in spades - all bound up in this package of oak. For all that it's decidedly medium bodied and backed up with spice. It is dense and a powerhouse that essentially demands cellaring time. 92+ The plus here somewhat speculative, it's certainly going to need time to settle.  

Tasted on: Sunday 16th April, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $100
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: www.katnookestate.com.au

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Highland Heritage Patrono Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Second of a pair (Shiraz review here) of flagship wines for Highland Heritage Estate, marking the 70th anniversary of the d'Aquino family and their involvement in winemaking in Orange.

Clove, some kalamata olive skin in the mix, peanut shell, a little greenness, sandalwood - spice. 

Medium weight, earthen, cocoa powder tannin. Buoyed with boysenberry and plum fruit. More savoury than fruit driven, quite light on, yet without lacking vitality. Preferred over the Shiraz. 92 

Tasted on: Sunday 16th April, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://highlandheritageestate.com.au

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Highland Heritage Estate Shiraz 2015

First of a pair of flagship wines for Highland Heritage Estate, marking the 70th anniversary of the d'Aquino family and their involvement in winemaking in Orange, the first such winemaking operation in the region. Heritage indeed.

Cool climate Shiraz exhibited here, ticks the right boxes and exhibits the hallmark characteristics: spice, plum, and a suggestion of cloven oak.

Substantial in form, full bodied, slick and smooth. Cherry, plum, blackcurrant. Nicely meshed and integrated oak. Classic cool climate Shiraz, done well. 91 

Tasted on: Saturday 15th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://highlandheritageestate.com.au

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