Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Review: Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

It always feels like you’re stepping back in time with these Zema reds, harking back to the early noughties in winemaking style. That’s not necessarily a bad thing mind you, but this Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is one wine where a ‘less is more’ modernity might be appealing. Interesting in the context of the Taylors I was banging on about yesterday too – this just misses the generosity.

Lots of tannic, minty, long and rather unyielding flavour. Not ready; but not unattractive. Less mint wouldn’t go astray, and the tannins look astringent too, oak on top, the alcohol giving a warm punch to finish too. Less would be more. Still, it’s a very substantial wine, that’s for sure, and it will live for yonks. At five years of age, it is barely settling into its skin, and on length alone, it’s a silver medal wine. But the balance isn’t there for a gold medal, and it should be a gold medal Coonawarra red.

Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016. 17.5/20, 91/100+. 14.5%, $49.99. Zema website. Would I buy it? A glass.

Andrew Graham Avatar

Andrew Graham was once voted the 23rd most trusted wine critic on the planet. A WCA Journalism Young Gun now old hack with 25yrs as a buyer, judge, journalist, marketer and too much more.

2 responses to “Review: Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016”

  1. Like most old style Coonawarra CS they need 10-15 years before they fully integrate

  2. Agreed. Important plus sign. Will it ever scale the heights though? That’s the question.

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