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Salil Benegal wrote:2003 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River)
Dark red in colour with a nose that shows cassis, black cherry and tobacco over a frame of spicy oak. Medium bodied in the mouth with flavours echoing the nose - more sweet dark fruits mingled with herbs, spices and oak with a smooth, round mouthfeel and soft tannins. Finishes with medium length. Unlike the Quinault, the oak here isn't excessive and blends in nicely with the other flavours. That said, while it's pleasant it's not particularly interesting especially at the price.
2004 Orlando/Jacob's Creek St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra)
The nose has a lovely forestal character with damp earth, cedar, cassis and red fruits over softer leafy and leathery notes. Medium bodied and elegant on the palate with sweet blackcurrants mingled with earth, green herbs and tobacco flavours, good acidity and chewy tannins. Finishes with medium length and no trace of the 14.5% alcohol indicated on the label. Very young, but already drinking very well right now with the structure and stuffing to go on for some time longer.
Ian Sutton
Spanna in the works
2558
Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:10 pm
Norwich, UK
Mark Kogos wrote:Whilst Leewin Estate consistantly makes Australia's best chardonnay, they really struggle to turn out a decent cab sav; a fact confirmed by their winemaker who in one review I read recently simply put it down to an inappropriate site location. The St Hugo on the other hand is from a very good vintage and should easily return good rewards if left alone for 10 years or so.
Ian Sutton wrote:Mark
I was going to make the same comment about Leeuwin, but didn't have the inside word from the winery! Interesting comment and refreshing honesty. They're not that far away from the stars on the Caves Road (just a few kms), but it does seem the best (red wine) dirt is up there.
I do wonder though, whether sharing the same designation "Art Series" seems a little wrong, where one wine (the chard) is so highly rated, yet none of the others even come close. Does it devalue the "brand" or lift the profile of the lesser wines?
regards
Ian
Salil Benegal wrote:
The St. Hugo on the other hand was a beauty, and I can only imagine how much pleasure it'll offer in several more years.
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