I toured this Coonawarra winery in Jan 04 and picked up a box of the 01
Cabernet, at $26 Oz each, after tasting it there. This is the first bottle
I've opened and I have to say I'm excited!
Very dark purple colour, still really vibrant. Great nose when opened,
typical Cabernet with lots of black fruit, liqourice & violets. A little
tight with first tasting but follows the nose. 1/2 an hour later has opened
up and delivers plenty of Cabernet character, cassis, lavender and spice
with fine tight tannins. This wine will improve with another 8 to 10 years
it has the fruit intensity and structural integrity to develop into
outstanding wine. I'm off to mail order a box of the 02.

On 16-Jan-2005, "Andrew Goldfinch" > wrote:

> I toured this Coonawarra winery in Jan 04 and picked up a box of the 01
> Cabernet, at $26 Oz each, after tasting it there. This is the first bottle
>
> I've opened and I have to say I'm excited!
> Very dark purple colour, still really vibrant. Great nose when opened,
> typical Cabernet with lots of black fruit, liqourice & violets. A little
> tight with first tasting but follows the nose. 1/2 an hour later has
> opened
> up and delivers plenty of Cabernet character, cassis, lavender and spice
> with fine tight tannins. This wine will improve with another 8 to 10 years
>
> it has the fruit intensity and structural integrity to develop into
> outstanding wine. I'm off to mail order a box of the 02.

Your notes sound very much like mine do.... this is a real value in a world
full of mediocre cabernet's. If you can find the Shiraz, check it out as I
find it to be even *better* than the cab!

Cheers,
Gary

On 16-Jan-2005, "Andrew Goldfinch" > wrote:

> I toured this Coonawarra winery in Jan 04 and picked up a box of the 01
> Cabernet, at $26 Oz each, after tasting it there. This is the first bottle
>
> I've opened and I have to say I'm excited!
> Very dark purple colour, still really vibrant. Great nose when opened,
> typical Cabernet with lots of black fruit, liqourice & violets. A little
> tight with first tasting but follows the nose. 1/2 an hour later has
> opened
> up and delivers plenty of Cabernet character, cassis, lavender and spice
> with fine tight tannins. This wine will improve with another 8 to 10 years
>
> it has the fruit intensity and structural integrity to develop into
> outstanding wine. I'm off to mail order a box of the 02.

Your notes sound very much like mine do.... this is a real value in a world
full of mediocre cabernet's. If you can find the Shiraz, check it out as I
find it to be even *better* than the cab!

Cheers,
Gary

Hi Gary
I was a little underwhelmed with the shiraz at the winery (I had just come
from McLaren Vale) a good wine but not a classic (to me). That Cabernet
though is looking fantastic, I picked up some Leconfield & some Parker
(mostly Terra Rossa Cabernets with a few First Growths thrown in) and I have
to say they are looking decidedly ordinary beside the Majella. The only
other Cab I have been really impressed with from that trip was the DiGorgio
Lucindale Cab Sav '01. Though I tasted & brought it at the Coonawarra Winery
it's a Limestone Coast wine from near Robe and is a super wine. Doesn't have
the structure to live as long the Majella but is drinking really well now &
for the next 4 or 5 years. Cheers
Andrew

"CabFan" > wrote in message
...
>
> On 16-Jan-2005, "Andrew Goldfinch" > wrote:
>
>> I toured this Coonawarra winery in Jan 04 and picked up a box of the 01
>> Cabernet, at $26 Oz each, after tasting it there. This is the first
>> bottle
>>
>> I've opened and I have to say I'm excited!
>> Very dark purple colour, still really vibrant. Great nose when opened,
>> typical Cabernet with lots of black fruit, liqourice & violets. A little
>> tight with first tasting but follows the nose. 1/2 an hour later has
>> opened
>> up and delivers plenty of Cabernet character, cassis, lavender and spice
>> with fine tight tannins. This wine will improve with another 8 to 10
>> years
>>
>> it has the fruit intensity and structural integrity to develop into
>> outstanding wine. I'm off to mail order a box of the 02.
>
> Your notes sound very much like mine do.... this is a real value in a
> world
> full of mediocre cabernet's. If you can find the Shiraz, check it out as
> I
> find it to be even *better* than the cab!
>
> Cheers,
> Gary

On 17-Jan-2005, "Andrew Goldfinch" > wrote:

> Hi Gary
> I was a little underwhelmed with the shiraz at the winery (I had just come
>
> from McLaren Vale) a good wine but not a classic (to me). That Cabernet
> though is looking fantastic, I picked up some Leconfield & some Parker
> (mostly Terra Rossa Cabernets with a few First Growths thrown in) and I
> have
> to say they are looking decidedly ordinary beside the Majella. The only
> other Cab I have been really impressed with from that trip was the
> DiGorgio
> Lucindale Cab Sav '01. Though I tasted & brought it at the Coonawarra
> Winery
> it's a Limestone Coast wine from near Robe and is a super wine. Doesn't
> have
> the structure to live as long the Majella but is drinking really well now
> &
> for the next 4 or 5 years. Cheers
> Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I wonder if you had a different vintage Shiraz at the winery than I got here
in the US....? I think I had 2001 or 2002, but not 100% on the vintage.

We used to get Leasingham's cabernet here, and it was quite tasty. I
haven't been able to find it now in a couple of years so don't if it still
is as good as I remember. Unfortunately, Alabama is not a big market for
Aussie cabernet although we get a good supply of Shiraz.

Cheers,
Gary

On 17-Jan-2005, "Andrew Goldfinch" > wrote:

> Hi Gary
> I was a little underwhelmed with the shiraz at the winery (I had just come
>
> from McLaren Vale) a good wine but not a classic (to me). That Cabernet
> though is looking fantastic, I picked up some Leconfield & some Parker
> (mostly Terra Rossa Cabernets with a few First Growths thrown in) and I
> have
> to say they are looking decidedly ordinary beside the Majella. The only
> other Cab I have been really impressed with from that trip was the
> DiGorgio
> Lucindale Cab Sav '01. Though I tasted & brought it at the Coonawarra
> Winery
> it's a Limestone Coast wine from near Robe and is a super wine. Doesn't
> have
> the structure to live as long the Majella but is drinking really well now
> &
> for the next 4 or 5 years. Cheers
> Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I wonder if you had a different vintage Shiraz at the winery than I got here
in the US....? I think I had 2001 or 2002, but not 100% on the vintage.

We used to get Leasingham's cabernet here, and it was quite tasty. I
haven't been able to find it now in a couple of years so don't if it still
is as good as I remember. Unfortunately, Alabama is not a big market for
Aussie cabernet although we get a good supply of Shiraz.

Cheers,
Gary