One of my all time favourite labels, producing distinctively regional and delectably varietal Cabernet at affordable prices for several decades now. More recent releases from the excellent vintages of 2004 and 2005 come in at around 14.5% A/V and are just too alcoholic for my taste, style and the region.
At 13% A/V, the 1998 vintage is quintessential Coonawarra. Leafy greens, damp earth, savoury oak overlay deepset blackcurrant, olive and road tar. All descriptors I regularly identify in top flight Bordeaux left bankers. The medium/full bodied palate dislpays all the requisites for an outstanding rating - elegant but most attractive earthy blackcurrrant and licorice fruit balanced with biscuity/savoury French wood, lively acidity, ripe but quite firm tannins providing terrific counterbalancing grip and a long, puckering, dry but lengthy and mouthcoating finish. A veritable tour de force of high quality large scale commercial production and testimony to the wonderful limestone and red clay loams that can produce the grapes off the old vines in this wonderful cool climate viticultural region. 92 points with a 10 year drinking window.