Tasting Notes - Yarra Valley Showcase - Cabernet

Bracket Overview
Tasted over two brackets and a random mix of vintages. Mostly these wines were austere, firmly built, old fashioned perhaps, and will cellar. Many lacked immediate appeal which may turn off the uninitiated. Straight cab sav unless noted.

Yarra Burn 2005 (Recommended)
Sourced from the valley floor. Medium blood red in colour. Zingy, nervy nose shows herbs and mint; very lively. Fresh palate, obvious ripe red berries, firming aniseed edge. Relatively soft structure for YV cab.

Roundstone Cabernet Merlot 2005
Light blood red with some noticeable lightening at the rim. Sweet berries on the nose early, marrying nicely with green pepper and spice. Faint wood and aniseed as well. Palate is seriously dry in structure with a low impact of red berries and a spicy finish.

Long Gully Irma 2004
Sourced from 24yr old vines. Euro nose; pongy barnyard (not too much), some spice and old wood. Accessible red fruits to taste, some acid, some heat and a lick of licorice. Slightly hard finish takes away from what is a pretty good wine.

Punt Road 2004
Sourced from 20yr old vines, 25% new oak, 15 months in oak, 4% merlot. Ripe blackberry on the nose; faintly pongy with good penetration. Thick cassis fruits to taste, some acid burn, relatively soft and approachable. Very good length.

Coldstream Hills Reserve 2004
19yr old vines, 41% new oak, 15 months in oak. Nose shows a lick of soft lifted confectionary aromas, red berry fruits, a hint of plum, almost shiraz-like to my thinking. Biggish palate weight and almost falls into the over-ripe bracket? Long finish with spicy tannin.

Wantirna Estate Amelia Cabernet Merlot 2004 (Recommended)
44yr old vines, small amounts of cab franc and petit verdit, 25% new oak. Wonderful nose; great combination of sweet cassis / blackberry fruits (and herbal fruits). Aromas hit you hard early. Thick sweet fruits although still very classical (to my tastes) but the ripe blackberry might be over the top for the purist.

Oakridge '864' Cabernet Merlot 2004 (Recommended)
Near identical in appearance to the Roundstone ex. the lightness at the rim. Low key aromas; old fashion red berries, very settled. More lively in the palate with zinging acid and firming tannins. Very apparent 'hole' in the mid palate. Spicy tannic finish.

Millers 2004
Appearance as per the Oakridge. Sweeter nose although fruits are still on the subdued side. Some lift from the oak. Palate is all about structure; tight, no fruit poking out at all, firm tannins on the finish. Very young.

Giant Steps Harry's Monster 2003
30% cab sav, 30% merlot, 10% cab franc, 30% petit verdot. Only 300 cases made. Colour as per the Millers and Oakridge. Cold fruits drive the flavours and aromas with a nice green fruit tinge, cut grass, really quite attractive. Firm and unyielding to taste with no accessible fruits. Drying finish. Again very young.

De Bortoli 1995 (Recommended)
The aged ring-in. Impressive stuff and looks absolutely fantastic for a 12 year old. Perhaps the most obvious cabernet of the flight; spicy herbs and green leaf. Excellent penetration. Finishes 'cold' and long, and believe it or not, needs time.