Cabernet and Friends

Brian Croser AO poses some intellectual challenges to Australian Cabernet and Blends, such as where and why it is blended; what are the ideal partners… Australia has two distinctive advantages that we should reflect on:

1) the proximity of the Great Southern Ocean, which is a very effective heat buffer,
2) the innate ‘improvisational’ skills of Australian winemakers and viticulturalists.

A blind tasting was conducted for which there was one over-riding question: “Which of these wines are winemaker driven; which of these wines are regional or terroir driven?” Our participants tasted fine wines from across Australia, with the session providing an introduction to a range of outstanding estate and regional expressions of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.  Debate was intense among all participants, with shared perceptions of Australia’s place among the great Cabernet terroirs of the world.

The Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends (tasted blind)

1. 2008 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra
2. 2006 Zema Estate Saluti Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Coonawarra
3. 2004 Wynns John Riddoch Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
4. 2005 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Petit Verdot/Cabernet Franc, Santa Cruz Mountains (California)
5. 2008 Moss Wood Amy’s Cabernet Sauvignon/Petiti Verdot/Malbec/Merlot, Margaret River
6. 2007 Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot, Margaret River
7. 2007 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec/Petit Verdot, Margaret River
8. 2004 Hardy Wine Co. Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
9. 2005 Chateau Pichon Lalande Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot, Pauillac (Bordeaux)
10. 2004 Wirra Wirra Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale
11. 2007 Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc, Eden Valley
12. 2006 Lake Breeze Arthur’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot/Malbec, Langhorne Creek
13. 2006 Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec, Clare Valley
14. 2007 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia
15. 2007 Yarra Yering Carrodous Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Yarra Valley