A. P. Birks

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec

9.334 ratings
9.417 pro ratings
South Australia, Australia
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Salami & Prosciutto, Hard Cheese
Top Notes For
Bob McDonald

Brief notes. Family dinner at my brothers house - sister and her hubby visiting from England. This selection from Mike’s Wall of Wendouree “. This was more black fruit plummy opulence than usual for Wendouree. Rich and intense which is par for the course with this producer. Consumed a little young at only 14 years of age. This is the Cabernet Malbec not the Shiraz Mataro.

Brief notes. Family dinner at my brothers house - sister and her hubby visiting from England. This selection from Mike’s Wall of Wendouree “. This was more black fruit plummy opulence than usual for Wendouree. Rich and intense which is par for the course with this producer. Consumed a little young at only 14 years of age. This is the Cabernet Malbec not the Shiraz Mataro.

Nov 5th, 2023
Simon Gilligan

Amazingly found this bottle at rustic pizza, Clare Valley at a $130. Thought this might be our only chance to drink a Wendouree so grabbed it. Beautifully fresh fruited, lovely balance, crisp acidity, medium bodied. Black/red fruited with violet highlights, spice, earth, eucalypt, silky dry tannin. The longer we sat with it the leather and tannin became quite firm, perhaps overwhelming some of the earlier fruit flavours. Drunk too young but still memorable.

Amazingly found this bottle at rustic pizza, Clare Valley at a $130. Thought this might be our only chance to drink a Wendouree so grabbed it. Beautifully fresh fruited, lovely balance, crisp acidity, medium bodied. Black/red fruited with violet highlights, spice, earth, eucalypt, silky dry tannin. The longer we sat with it the leather and tannin became quite firm, perhaps overwhelming some of the earlier fruit flavours. Drunk too young but still memorable.

Jul 19th, 2021
Bob McDonald

Saturday lunch with friends at home. Again, even though Wendouree is a vinous treasure in Australia, it can be polarising, to tasters new to the winery, as it was today. All the Cuvées have this underlying Menthol, moth balls, eucalyptus note running through. This had that and a few of the guests preferred the 06 Yalumba Signature Series. For this wine see previous notes. You should not drink a Wendouree red younger than 15 years of age. It tastes way more youthful than 19 years of age.

Saturday lunch with friends at home. Again, even though Wendouree is a vinous treasure in Australia, it can be polarising, to tasters new to the winery, as it was today. All the Cuvées have this underlying Menthol, moth balls, eucalyptus note running through. This had that and a few of the guests preferred the 06 Yalumba Signature Series. For this wine see previous notes. You should not drink a Wendouree red younger than 15 years of age. It tastes way more youthful than 19 years of age.

Jun 27th, 2021
Ceccherini Cristiano

I decanted it and it didn't look great
Quite on a decadent brownish side of the spectrum
As if the cabernet had developed fully and over the top giving away a cigar box, cola and not much more, perhaps some sesame oil sniff
The palate is surprisingly vibrant with the malbec raspberry grippy freshness that rips your mouth open and ready to have more.
However the nose gets tiring and the enjoyment is not there.

I rise a question if anybody could help:
the light yellowish printed labelled bottles are a result of bad storage or just a lot of labels that just don't look right, nonetheless still good bottling? They also miss the alcohol content mention

I had plenty of very very good bottles from this wine and this was indeed a disappointing sample

I decanted it and it didn't look great
Quite on a decadent brownish side of the spectrum
As if the cabernet had developed fully and over the top giving away a cigar box, cola and not much more, perhaps some sesame oil sniff
The palate is surprisingly vibrant with the malbec raspberry grippy freshness that rips your mouth open and ready to have more.
However the nose gets tiring and the enjoyment is not there.

I rise a question if anybody could help:
the light yellowish printed labelled bottles are a result of bad storage or just a lot of labels that just don't look right, nonetheless still good bottling? They also miss the alcohol content mention

I had plenty of very very good bottles from this wine and this was indeed a disappointing sample

Apr 5th, 2021
Ceccherini Cristiano

Potential to become like the 1990 one day
At now we wonder where is the cabernet component, i mean in terms of complexity
The malbec is so in charge, so vibrant and wild
Long finish and long life, at least 10/15years from now
5th meeting on Burgundy

Potential to become like the 1990 one day
At now we wonder where is the cabernet component, i mean in terms of complexity
The malbec is so in charge, so vibrant and wild
Long finish and long life, at least 10/15years from now
5th meeting on Burgundy

Mar 18th, 2019
Ceccherini Cristiano

The freshness
The fullness
The complexity
U couldn't name a scent it was in there
Absolutely mind blowing
Give it another 10 years easy
This wine is for rebels
Picture some well educated guy running away from a castle and knights going after him that disappear the wood
Elegance with wilderness
Visions

The freshness
The fullness
The complexity
U couldn't name a scent it was in there
Absolutely mind blowing
Give it another 10 years easy
This wine is for rebels
Picture some well educated guy running away from a castle and knights going after him that disappear the wood
Elegance with wilderness
Visions

Mar 7th, 2019
Ceccherini Cristiano

Lots of shades
Still very focused
Not at all fading
This one is just confirming my opinion on the producer
Excellent

Lots of shades
Still very focused
Not at all fading
This one is just confirming my opinion on the producer
Excellent

Feb 3rd, 2019
Scott Taddeo

Amazing wine. So complete and composed. Violets, bay leaf, plums, cassis, liquorice and perfectly judged oak nuance. Fruit feels perfectly ripe. A wall of tannin but nothing to resolute. Acidity well inter grated. Grand stuff

Amazing wine. So complete and composed. Violets, bay leaf, plums, cassis, liquorice and perfectly judged oak nuance. Fruit feels perfectly ripe. A wall of tannin but nothing to resolute. Acidity well inter grated. Grand stuff

Jan 1st, 2018
Ceccherini Cristiano

Young, little green, but altogether delicious and definitely potential to age longer. You could hardly taste the Cabernet component yet

Young, little green, but altogether delicious and definitely potential to age longer. You could hardly taste the Cabernet component yet

Jul 24th, 2017
Ceccherini Cristiano

Still young,
I hope I didn't open my last one..I don't wanna check😩

Still young,
I hope I didn't open my last one..I don't wanna check😩

Jun 4th, 2017