The tasting of the year: Voyager Estate Masterclass 2014 Each year the team from Voyager Estate do a lap of the country, putting on masterclasses involving pitting their own wines against …
Zema Estate Cluny Cabernet Merlot 2009 (Coonawarra, SA)14%, Screwcap, $24.95 This is the best Cluny I can remember in recent times - finally getting the oak and fruit weight right. Red fruit …
Clairault Cabernet Merlot 2012 (Margaret River, WA) 14%, Screwcap, $22 After a few years in the wilderness post takeover by Streicker Wines, Clairault is back (and with some brand-new livery too). This Cabernet …
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 2008 (Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France)13%, Cork, circa $300 I'm calling this is a recalibration wine, just to remind what a super second like Ducru could do in a tricky vintage …
Voyager Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot 2011 13.8%, Screwcap, $24 The Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot has been circa $24 for as long as I can remember. Yet the wine seems to …
Argiano Solengo IGT 2008 (Tuscany, Italy)Cork, $95Ah the bottle variation lottery. Every time we play the guessing game - is this a representative bottle? I certainly hope not, as this …
Logan Cabernet Merlot 2011 (Orange, NSW) 13%, Screwcap, $28 I've often wondered how much cooler Pete Logan's wines would be if they were from the Yarra Valley. Or Gippsland. The Adelaide Hills …
Salton Talento 2004 (Bento Gonçalves, Brazil) 13%, Cork, $34 Source: Tasting www.salton.br I'm rather pleased to be ticking 'have a Brazilian' off my to do list. This red is reasonably interesting too, in its …
Cape Mentelle 'Wilyabrup' Cabernet Merlot 2011 (Margaret River, WA) 13.5%, Screwcap, $49 Source: Sample www.capementelle.com.au Uncompromising. That's the best way to describe this quite dry and extractive Margaret River red, the style genuinely surprising …
Willow Bridge Dragonfly Cabernet Merlot 2011 (Geographe, WA) 13.7%, Screwcap, $17 Source: Sample www.willowbridge.com.au An easy standout in a blind lineup of similar priced WA Cabernets (from Alkoomi, Omrah etc) and indicative of the …
Parish Lane Cabernet Merlot 2009 (Great Southern, WA)14.1%, Screwcap, $25Source: Sample www.parishlanewines.com.au Sourced from a vineyard outside Albany in WA with very nice views (apparently). This looks every bit a wine from this …
Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot 2010 (Hawke's Bay, NZ)13.5%, Cork, $37Source: Wine listwww.temata.co.nz A blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 12% Cab Franc 6% Petit Verdot, built in a style …
