Taylors Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Taylors Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Clare Valley & Coonawarra, SA)
Screwcap, $32, 14.5%

I’ve never been much of a fan of these Jaraman reds, so it may seem counterproductive then to keep reviewing them, purely as I’m rather unlikely to enjoy it. But every year I hold out in the hope that this wine will be the one to break the drought, particularly given how good the St Andrews Cabernet can be.

Pours full maroon red & looks very youthful. Forward, very Clare Cabernet nose with mint and a liberal dose of eucalypt & sappy edges. The fruit itself smells just a bit too ripe with a hint of caramel. Rich, minty palate promises much, with some serious impact on the front end, but falls away to nothingness on the tail. Oak tannins to finish.

It’s all pretty good considering the vintage, but the mixed messages of the stunted palate made this less than impressive overall. The more times I came back to this in the glass, the more harsh, oaky and awkward it looked. 16.0-