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Brash Vineyard Single Vineyard Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: March 7, 2019

Pretty blue fruit fragrances with a violet/floral lift and chocolate and cola characters over sweet black fruit flavours.

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Jacob’s Creek Barossa Signature Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: March 7, 2019

Vibrant minty dark fruit fragrances with a lovely oak backdrop. Palate has weight and structure and is brimming over with lovely pure dark fruit flavours. 5+

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Stage Door Headliner Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: March 7, 2019

An elegant, clean and very approachable cabernet. Smells of minty cassis fruit and has a long well integrated palate. A tannic finish. 5+

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Stage Door Full House Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: March 7, 2019

Raspberry-like aromas showing an olive-like edge and attractive raspberry fruit on the fleshy palate with some nice spiciness.

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Gomersal Wines Premium Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: March 7, 2019

Uncomplicated wine that is a melange of cassis fruit, black olives and chocolaty elements. 3-5

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Eden Hall Block 3 Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: March 7, 2019

Brooding rich fruit fragrances and good fruit weight on the palate with balancing tannins. 3-5

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Eden Hall Springton Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: March 7, 2019

Minty blackberry bouquet and a luscious open structured palate filled with confectionery fruit and sweet oak with grippy tannins.

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Murray Street Vineyard Red Label Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: March 7, 2019

An attractive straightforward style with youthful minty cassis characters on the nose. Some nice upfront sweet fruit flavours with toasty oak in the background.

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Yalumba The Signature Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Posted: March 7, 2019

An elegant wine that is ageing gracefully. Some lovely small berry fruits, good oak and fine tannins underlined by some subtle secondary characters.

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Kalleske Wines Merchant Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: March 7, 2019

Chocolaty blackcurrant aromas laced with toasty oak and a fuller style palate with a soft finish. 3-5

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Reillys Dry Land Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: January 12, 2019

Chocolaty cassis aromas with cough drop like notes. Complex palate, some great fruit well integrated with the oak and tight tannins. Still has plenty of years left in it yet.

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Lindsay Wine Estate Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: January 12, 2019

A wine with a massive colour, syrupy fruit, huge oak characters, attractive spiciness, bacon fat like savoury notes and big tannins.

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Haselgrove Wines First Cut McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: January 12, 2019

Lovely balance of fresh lifted leafy blackcurrant fruit, toasty oak and soft tannins with the classic crushed ant-like varietal character.

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Bendbrook Wines Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: January 12, 2019

The subtle cassis fruit bouquet is laced with toasty oak and the tightly structured palate exhibits great varietal fruit intensity and excellent ripe tannins.

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Bendbrook Wines Pound Road Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: January 12, 2019

Still amazingly fresh lifted cabernet fruit aromas with a sweet oak background and lovely palate still looking fresh and youthful with nice tannin structure. “Classy!”

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Bendbrook Wines Section 19 Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: January 12, 2019

Subtle menthol notes to the chocolaty aromas and a rich “complete” palate showing great varietal fruit expression with some lovely fine tannins. An excellent wine.

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Taylors Reserve Parcel Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: January 12, 2019

Generous blackberry bouquet with smoky/tobacco leaf characters. Good varietal flavour profile with some herbal elements.

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Taylors Jaraman Coonawarra Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: January 12, 2019

Simple cassis/cigar box nose with a lovely rich palate, lots of oak, plenty of pure varietal fruit and excellent tannins. Has years in it yet.

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Capel Vale Wines Regional Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: January 12, 2019

Smells of black truffles, blackberries and pine needles! Very classy palate with a flavoursome complexity of fruit, oak and firm tannins.

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Mollydooker The Maitre D’ McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: November 7, 2018

Lots of oak influence here but it is well matched by the sweet ripe fruit. Crowd pleaser!

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Shingleback D Block Reserve McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

Dark and inky with lovely sweet cassis-like varietal fruit, excellent oak and savoury meaty elements. Has strength and structure.

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Gomersal Wines Premium Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

A complexity and richness of attractive juicy cassis fruit well matched by the cigar box-like oak characters.

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Woolpunda South Australia Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: November 7, 2018

A big style of cabernet with simple ripe red fruit characters supported by creamy vanillin oak.

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Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

Fragrant, fresh and full-bodied, this elegant red was hand-picked from mature, 21-year-old vines in the company’s Mere Road Vineyard. Likely to be at its best from 2021 onwards, it has strong, vibrant, ripe-ripened blackcurrant and plum flavours, spicy and nutty…

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Coopers Creek Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

Still a baby, this dark, purple-flushed red has a slightly earthy bouquet, leading into a dense, structured palate. A single-vineyard wine, it is full-bodied and highly concentrated, with cassis, plum and spice flavours. Open 2021+. $60

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Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

This generous, ‘fruit-driven’ style is already drinking well. Full-coloured, with strong plum and blackcurrant flavours, a hint of herbs and a well-rounded finish, it offers fine value. $16

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Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot/ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

Delicious young, this dark, purple-flushed blend was matured for 20 months in oak barriques. Fragrant and full-bodied, it has generous, plummy flavours to the fore, hints of blackcurrants and spices, and a smooth finish. $18

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Te Awa Single Estate Gimblett Gravels Merlot/ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

This refined, generous and youthful red has full, purple-flushed colour. Fresh and full-bodied, it has concentrated plum and blackcurrant flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak and fine-grained tannins. Well worth cellaring, it should be at its best 2020+. $30

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Askerne Reserve Merlot/Cabernet Franc//Malbec Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: November 7, 2018

Well worth cellaring, this estate-grown red was matured for 18 months in barrels (50% new). Deeply coloured, it is full-bodied, with fresh, deep, plummy, spicy flavours, ripe and savoury, and a finely textured, persistent finish. Best drinking 2020+. $32

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Taylors Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: November 7, 2018

A simple wine but commercially appealing. Leafy dark berry fruit with the sweet oak kept in check.

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Kopparossa Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Posted: October 4, 2018

Aged leathery briary aromas and ageing fruit flavours with a leathery finish.

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Kopparossa Vintage Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Posted: October 4, 2018

Nose of stewed plums and Bonox! Still has good weight of sweet berry fruit on a lovely mature palate.

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Kopparossa Vintage Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Posted: October 4, 2018

Still has some fresh blackberry-like varietal fruit characters with well handled cedary oak and persistent drying tannins. Drinking well.

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Thompson Estate The Specialist Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Posted: October 4, 2018

Spicy cassis aromas and great sweet varietal fruit flavours with lingering chalky tannins.

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Shingleback Red Knot McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Posted: October 4, 2018

A lovely lift of cola, berry and lavender-like fragrances with a good depth and persistence of sweet fruit flavours edged with chocolate, mocha and cola characters.

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Saddler’s Creek Alessandro Reserve Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: October 4, 2018

Oak driven style slightly overshadowing the lifted fruit characters. Some dried herbs and nuttiness.

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Norfolk Rise Vineyard Mount Benson Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

Nice earthy notes to the dark berry nose and upfront ripe fruit flavours. Good quaffer.

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Glendale Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: October 4, 2018

Minty eucalypt bouquet with a hint of leather and an ozone-like edge. Velvety smooth palate has both richness and restraint in equal measure with great persistence of varietal flavours.

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Andrew Peace Wines Winemaker’s Choice Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: October 4, 2018

Black fruit and vanilla aromas with a hint of sea spray! Dark berry fruit flavours with some savouriness on the mid-palate. Lovely tannins.

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Andrew Peace Wines WWW Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

Confectionery black cherry bouquet which follows through to the “friendly” savoury palate.

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Leconfield The Sydney Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Posted: October 4, 2018

Still showing plenty of sweet red berry fruit with a minty lift balanced by spicy oak and slightly grippy tannins. Drinking well now.

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Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

Minty minerally and earthy nose; quite complex. Good dark fruit flavours with hints of tomato leaf and wound through with sweet tannins and savoury notes. 5+

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Koonara Wines Ambriel’s Gift Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: October 4, 2018

The nose is leathery, earthy and tarry with fruit in the cassis spectrum. Silky smooth in the mouth with powerful oak characters sitting on top of an abundance of varietal fruit. 3-5

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Jim Brand Brand & Sons Icon Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: October 4, 2018

A lovely compote of dark berry varietal fruit on both the nose and palate mixing with toasty/earthy characters on the nose and grainy tannins and fine acidity on the long palate.

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Jim Brand Silent Partner Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: October 4, 2018

Big rich style with an earthy/dark berry bouquet edged with vanillin oak. Has a “full and complete” palate. Drink soon advised the judges.

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Hollick Estates Old Vine Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

Lots of chocolaty aromas mixed with dark cherries and peppermint and a palate with layers of fruit, oak and tannins..

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Hollick Ravenswood Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Posted: October 4, 2018

Smells of red fruits, black olives and spices and tastes of blackberries with a chocolaty finish.

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Barristers Block Single Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

A big, ripe and full bodied cabernet that is “sweetly fruited” with a violet lift, cedary oak and powdery tannins.

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Andrew Peace Wines Empress Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

Simple blackcurrant aromas with good weight of ripe fruit flavours and sweet tannins on the finish.

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I Am George The Wizard Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Posted: October 4, 2018

An attractive combination of dark berry aromas with a dash of pepper and hints of eucalypt. Mouth-watering ripe berry flavours, lots of acid and tannins. 5+

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