March 2015 Update
Decanter featured a fascinating tasting last year, which served up some real surprises. That Margaret River won the bake-off is no surprise, since we’ve been saying for a while now that this is where the best Aussie Cabernets come from. In this tasting, Margaret River demolished Coonawarra scoring no fewer than 8 in the top 10 wines.
Perhaps it’s also not surprising that some of these wines are no longer or not yet available down under. Sadly, the winners aren’t anywhere near our $$ sweet spot this time. The two outstanding wines (both scoring 95+ points) were
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – $60 at AusCellarDoor
- Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon “Alex” – $115 at Cracka
Number 3 is Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 on 94 points – a bit closer to our budget for $32 at Cracka. But our own Jeremy Oliver gives the wine just 85, and says: ‘Restrained and herbaceous, with an earthy, cedary and autumnal bouquet of berry, plum and prune-like fruit plus a thin, ethereal and green-edged palate whose fruit is rather elusive and fragile.’
Number 4 is Jim Barry’s First Eleven, Coonawarra 2006 on 93 points. There’s one bottle left at Wineboxwarehouse for $49. Jim Barry is a Clare Valley winemaker, so it’s a surprise to see this wine come first among the Coonawarras.
No 5 is Aravina Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 on 92 points. It isn’t released yet, but you can buy the 2011 for $42 from the winery.
No 6 is Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 also on 92 points. It’s no longer available but you can buy the 2011 for $35 at Dan M’s.
No 7 is Victory Point Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 also on 92 points. $40 at the winery.
No 8 is Flametree SRS Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 on 91 points. Gets 95 from Gary Walsh at the Winefront. $40 at North Sydney Cellars.
No 9 is the second Coonawarra Cabernet: Majella Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 also on 91 points. Gets 94 points from the Winefront. $33 at Nicks/Vintage Direct
No 10 is Night Harvest John George, Margaret River 2011, also on 91 points. Not released yet. You can buy the 2010 at the winery for $35
Notable Others
There are some fancy labels among these, with fancy prices
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, one of our favourites, scored 90+ points (highly recommended)
Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 scored 90+
Lindeman’s St George Coonawarra 2009 also scored 90+
Wynns Coonawarra John Riddoch Cabernet 2010 also scored 90+
Cherubino Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 scored 89 points
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 scored 89 points
Stella Bella Serie Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 scored 89 points
Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 scored 88 points
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 scored 86 points
The full notes are here: http://www.decanter.com/wine/labels/34486/slideshow/0/coonawarra-margaret-river-cabernet-panel-tasting-resuts