Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

A deep Ruby red - no hint of bricking. Coonawarra mint noticeable on the nose. Possibly drinking this a little young at 16 years of age - at least a 20 year old wine. From a warmer year showing cassis, blackcurrant, milk chocolate and a little bay leaf. Fine grained persistent tannins. Hand pruned and picked, natural yeast fermentation, matured in French oak. A gift to us from the owner and winemaker, Sue Bell. Drinking well, thanks Sue. I hope you don’t think we drank it too early.

The oldest and the best Coonawarra Cabernet we have had this week. Singing in its 16th year. Black currant, mint and capsicum. Medium bodied, fine and long. Proves again the foresight of John Riddoch being the first to plant vines in the Coonawarra all those years ago. 180 weeks later Jim Hunter brought a bottle out to have after my Chardonnay challenge on 7th September 2024. A lovely mature Coonawarra Cabernet.

See Vasse Felix note. The Bellwether being Coonawarra is more minty and less herbaceous than the Vasse Felix. Both have good cassis/black currant notes. Both have years to go. I gave it to the Bellwether by a point.

No time for notes - too many good wines but this is destined to be a classic. Black currant, bay leaf and mint. Cellaring potential of 20 years + I will be buying some.

Sue Bell’s entry level Coonawarra - unoaked and designed to be drunk young and fresh. Excellent wine.

See previous notes. Classic Coonawarra mint, black fruits, dark chocolate and cigar box. Singing at 11 years but will go for another decade at least. Barb and I are flying to Adelaide today. Hire Car tomorrow for the 4 1/2 hours drive south to Coonawarra where we will be doing vintage at Bellwether for a week. Should be illuminating, hard work and rewarding with a great tutor in Sue Bell, owner and winemaker. Sue was lucky enough to be one of 12 in the annual Len Evans Tutorial a few years ago where they taste wines most of us can only dream of including flights of DRC, Rousseau etc. Sue was the Dux of her year and is in demand around Australia as a Show Judge. Should be a great week.

Dense Ruby in colour. All the classic Cabernet descriptors - Blackberry cassis, black olive and of course Mint - textbook Coonawarra Cabernet. On the palate such purity - ground cocoa, call it dark chocolate, berry fruits, touch of cedar. This wine at 10 years of age, whilst only young, and will live at least another decade, is drinking beautifully now. Made by the talented Sue Bell who was the Dux of the 2007 Len Evans Tutorial ( a handpicked group of only 12 - outstanding winemakers, somms and other full time wine professionals. Aubert de Villaine every year generously donates a mixed dozen of DRC, such was his friendship with Len Evans and James Halliday). Needless to say Sue Bell has one of the best palates in the country. A few years ago she was a guest Judge at the Toowoomba Wine Show where I often judge. I was in awe of her knowledge and her palate. On the strength of this wine I will order her 2015 Cabernet.

Tasted the 2014 against the 2008.
Even the small batch minimal intervention gear ages well here 🔥
Big thanks to Steve Brown for the flight and hospitality.

Nice. Smooth went well with the pork belly.

Beautifully perfumed ripe plum, blueberry fruit big but silky tannin, gorgeous!