BOWEN ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

I am way behind with posts to this site. Is time really that short? I have 37 tasting notes to publish. Hopefully a concerted effort over the next few nights will see me up to date.

Another old wine.
Interestingly this wine and the previous post (Wendouree Shiraz 1992) were purchased just a few months apart. Their prices were almost identical, their quality/enjoyment level similar.

However since that time their brand value has altered drastically. Why is this so?

Still quite deep in colour, garnet purple. The wine shows a very pure rich cassis nose, recognisably Coonawarra. Cassis, liquor, gentle ripe tannins, good length still a developing wine with some improvement ahead if you were inclined to look for it.

Tasted: August '08
Source: Mailing List
Price: $15 (1994)
Drink: Now - 2013
Score: 94

BOWEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1991

The wine is still deep garnet purple in colour, it has very rich pure cassis nose, recognisably Coonawarra, the cassis follows through on the palate. Perhaps slightly one dimensional. Gentle ripe tannins, very good length and with some progression still ahead of it if you were so inclined. A delicious drink.

Drank: August 2008
Source: Mailing list
Price: $15 (1994)
Drink: now - 2013
Score: 94

http://www.bowenestate.com.au/

WYNNS JOHN RIDDOCH Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

The wine shows brown hints on the meniscious with a quite deep purple colour through the centre of the glass, the nose is full of blackcurrant, mulberry and cedar with some vegetal hints. A delicious palate with powerful blackcurrant, plum, mulberries and an attractive, complexing level of green pea. A delicious wine.

Tasted: July 2007
Source: ?
Price: $24 (1992)
Drink: Now
Score: 95

Wynns

ORLANDO ST HUGO Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Deep purple with red highlights, strong cabernet nose, blackcurrants! Palate shows juicy blackcurrant, mulberry and a meaty character that I associate with Coonawarra. The wine was a little closed when the cork was pulled. It opened up with more richness the following day. could keep for another 10 years.

Tasted: July 2008
Source: Dan Murphy
Price: $30
Drink: 2010 - 2018
Score: 91

http://www.orlandowines.com/_agev.php?ret=%2Fdefault.php%3F

WYNNS JOHN RIDDOCH Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

An old wine. It opened with a cork in very good condition, a relief. Hints of brown on the meniscious but quite deep purple in the midst of the glass, the nose shows lovely blackcurrant, mulberry and cedar also some vegetal hints, strong blackcurrant, plum, mulberry palate with just a hint of complexing green pea, delicious. Certainly one of the best wines that we have consumed this year.

Tasted: July 2008
Source: Unknown
Price: $24 (1992)
Drink: Now
Score: 95

http://www.wynns.com.au/

BALGOWNIE ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon 1989

Made by Stuart Anderson. This wine is from a vintage that was very marginal in Southern Victoria. The more tempurate Bendigo region was more successful.

Quite youthful in appearance, deep crimson with just a little brown showing. Lovely plummy nose. Full plummy, blueberry fruit quite elegant with aged complexity, solid tannins and good length. 12.5% alcohol (weren't they all once!). Will hold for some time, 5 - 7 years.

Tasted: June 2008
Source: Winery
Price:
Drink: now - 2014
Score: 92

CAPE MENTELLE Cabernet Sauvignon 1987

Opened the day before the Mount Mary Quintet. A very different proposition.

Quite purple showing some age, definitive cabernet nose plummy blackcurrant fruit with an herbal green bean edge. The palate is quite rich, with flavours that reflect the nose. The wine finishes clean with gentle drying tannins. It will probably hold for a year or three.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: ?
Price: $18 (1989)
Drink: Now - 2010
Score: 90

http://www.capementelle.com.au/

BOWEN ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc 1994

This is a feral, gamey, dirty wine, I say this in a positive way.
Its primary fruit is largely gone but it has been replaced by numerous complex characters.
A feral nose leads into a palate that shows cedar, game and hints of mulberry fruit with a chalky drying tannin structure following, drinks very well with robust food, eg. spagetti bolognese.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: Mail Order
Price: $16 in 1996
Score: 90

http://www.bowenestate.com.au/

FOX CREEK RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1999

We picked this wine up while on holiday in South Australia a number of years ago. Tasting the range at the cellar door was very pleasant, so pleasant, we nearly didn't make it to the Kangaroo Island ferry terminal in time.

Showing a deep ruby complexion with a little browning, the nose is quite closed, not much happening at all. On the palate there is some plummy ripe cabernet fruit however it lacks the generosity I had expected. Overall a disappointing wine.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $38 (2002)
Points: 88

http://www.foxcreekwines.com/