Minko Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Southern Fleurieu Peninsula, SA)
$28, Screwcap

The final Minko wine from the box and by far the finest wine, if lacking in enough brilliance for a higher mark.

Deep red, inky red almost black in colour, the nose is tight, cedary and red berry laden with tomato leaf, dusty cool climate Cabernet characters. It reminds me, perhaps unsurprisingly, of Adelaide Hills Cabernet on the nose. The palate is similarly dusty and cocoa laden, finishing slightly astringent and awkward, the finished product never quite feeling completely ripe or balanced.

Whilst this impression sounds quite negative, there is a certain rustic charm here that hints at possible joy with some cellar time. 16.7+