This huge blind tasting was put on by a single member of a tasting group where I have just joined this year. Going into the tasting we had no information other than we were about to be served a large number of flights of red wine. As we went along, some information did trickle out, but key details like the vintage and flight format were not revealed until later. Only a few wines were not served blind and these are noted below.
Eventually it was revealed that all the wines (except for the white and a couple of ring-ins to finish) were either straight Cabernet or a Cabernet blend from the 2000 vintage, which is considered a difficult vintage across many regions in Australia (with some exceptions obviously). Overall there were many impressive wines and it was a great experience to try this broad selection across regions.
2000 Vintage Australian Blind Tasting – (30/06/2012)
Flight 1 – White on arrival
- 1990 Petaluma Riesling – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Not served blind. Toast, wax and honey on the nose. There is some excellent acidity driving the palate. Shows good length. Not exceptionally complex but still great drinking. Reasonably consistent with a bottle tasted late last year. 91/100
Flight 2 – New South Wales Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2000 Andrew Harris Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled – Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Mudgee
Cherry, blackcurrant and some stalks on the nose. The palate is very restrained, but does show some cherry fruit and more stalky character. 86/100 - 2000 Barwang Cabernet Sauvignon – Australia, South Eastern
Tobacco and earth with some briary notes. The palate is medium bodied with good development evident through the integration of fruit and tannin. Good length and very nice drinking now. 89/100 - 2000 Grevillea Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Wetlands – Australia, New South Wales, South Coast, Southern Highlands
Some floral notes initially that got overtaken by stalks and some funky brett/barnyard character with time. The palate is developed and resolved but doesn’t show much depth. Personally for me the brett wasn’t overwhelming but there wasn’t a lot of character otherwise. 85/100
Flight 3 – New South Wales Cabernet blend
- 2000 Clonakilla Cabernet-Merlot – Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Fading ruby-red coloured. Redcurrant, cinnamon and some earthy notes on the nose. The palate was well balanced and had good length, along with complexity and depth to round out the package. Not falling over but I think it is in a very good spot right now. For me, significantly better than the two times I’ve tried the flagship Shiraz Viognier from the 2000 vintage. 90/100
Flight 4 – Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon – Western Australia
- 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Fresh nose of raspberry, blackcurrant and graphite. Palate has some intensity to it, with fruit flavours being the main driving force. Tannins and oak are still present and play a supporting role. There isn’t much complexity here but it is a good wine. 88/100 - 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Museum Release – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
Black fruits on the nose along with a background hint of sultanas. The palate is medium bodied but peters out early and isn’t really interesting enough overall. 86/100 - 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Reserve – Australia, Western Australia, Greater Perth, Swan Valley
Secondary nose of leather, dust and tar, with some cedar coming through as well. Quite full bodied compared to the other wines in the same flight, there is more complexity and interest through some spice notes here as well. 88/100
Flight 5 – Houghton Cabernet blends – Western Australia
- 2000 Houghton Crofters Cabernet Merlot – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
There is some interesting complexity on the nose with small goods, liquorice and a dusty character. Balanced and savoury on the palate with good length. Well integrated tannins and drinking close to its peak. 89/100 - 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Jack Mann – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
Muscular on the nose and palate. Cedar, cassis, blackcurrant and dark chocolate aromas. A step up in depth over many of the previous wines. Still youthful, there is impressive balance here and I think that it will continue to improve over the next 5-6 years. 91/100
Flight 6 – Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2000 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Violets, raspberry, blackberry and some cedar aromas. Balanced on the palate, with nice length but not enough depth to step from very good to great. 88/100 - 2000 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
The nose is dominated by VA and boot polish with some graphite and tobacco struggling through. The palate is somewhat better than the nose but slightly astringent and without much flesh to it. 84/100
Flight 7 – Margaret River “Flagship” Cabernet blends
- 2000 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
The nose shows pepper, blackcurrant, aniseed and some vanilla cola tinged oak. Palate is quite good, tannins have started to soften and there is a fresh lift to the fruit that makes it quite appealing to drink. It doesn’t have the depth or class of the other wine tasted in this bracket but should continue to develop over the next 5 years. 89/100 - 2000 Vasse Felix Heytesbury – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Aromas of blackberry, pencil shavings, graphite and black cherry. The palate is driven by dark fruit, but there are textured layers of complexity and depth. Starting to develop and there is room to improve further over the medium term. A classy, interesting wine that was a clear level above the Cullen Diana Madeline 2000 served by its side.Tasted blind twice from the same magnum at different times during the evening, with the same score both times and consistent positive opinion from the tasting group. Note is a combination of the two glasses. 92/100
Flight 8 – Victorian Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2000 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon – Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes
An appealing nose of bacon, red cherry, truffle and liquorice. Medium bodied palate with savoury fruit and well composed tannins providing structure. 89/100
Flight 9 – Victorian Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2000 Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon Moonambel Pyrenees – Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees
Cloudy colour. Cherry, mint and briar on the nose. The palate is ungenerous and structurally unsound with a short finish. Not having had this wine before I’m unsure if it was just a poor bottle, but will mark it as flawed. Would score in the low-mid 70s if it is representative. Not Rated - 2000 Epis & Williams Cabernet Sauvignon – Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges
The nose is the highlight – blackcurrant, vanilla and cedar with some earthy complexity swirling in the background. The palate is not as interesting, there is good length but it is comprised of superficial fruit. That said, there is structure and it is still ticking along nicely, so it may develop further over the next 4-5 years. 88/100
Flight 10 – Victoria
- 2000 Coldstream Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Nose took some time in the glass to open up but it got better with air – some tobacco, cherry and floral notes. The palate shows excellent class, there is restraint but plenty of texture and interest. Fantastic length and structure, there is plenty of time for this to develop further. There was some discussion about the identity of this wine, but looking at my previous note from a bottle late last year, it matches up very well. 91/100 - 2000 Mount Mary Quintet – Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
A smoky, earthy and blackberry driven nose. Medium bodied, with some sweet fruit poking out a bit, taking the focus. There is some structure there but only medium length. A good wine, but a let down compared to a superb and seamless bottle tried late last year. 89/100
Flight 11
- 2000 Rosemount Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Show Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
A nose of cassis, liquorice, redcurrant and oak coming through. Attractive on the palate with some rich fruit playing off against the still evident oak. Drinking well now and should continue to do so over the next few years while the fruit holds. 89/100 - 2000 Vasse Felix Heytesbury – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
See note from Flight 7. A sneaky second blind serving of this wine from the same magnum, thankfully (for our egos) we all loved it the second time around as well.
Flight 12 – Coonawarra Cabernet blends
- 2000 Petaluma Cabernet-Merlot Coonawarra – Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
A reticent nose, with some pepper, cassis and spice. The palate is shut down tightly as well, giving off little character now. Despite this there still seems to be potential as it is structurally good, with fine but unresolved tannins, I’m just not certain what will happen on the other side when it emerges. 89/100 - 2000 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth – Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Dark blackberry fruit, with tobacco, graphite and some lifted perfume. The palate is well structured and displays fine balance, leading into a long finish. I would be very interested to see this in 5 years time as I think it has some upwards room to move. 90/100
Flight 13 – McLaren Vale and a ring-in
- 2000 d’Arenberg Cabernet Sauvignon The Coppermine Road – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
A nose of sawdust, coconut, blackcurrant and cherry. Medium bodied, quite savoury, with oak and tannin still present and supporting. There isn’t much depth to it right now and I can’t see it significantly improving in that aspect. I think this will be at its best over the next 2-3 years. 88/100 - 2006 Wild Duck Creek Shiraz Reserve – Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
Not served blind. Blackberry, chocolate, liquorice, vanilla and plum aromas comprise the nose. Extra-rich fruit on the palate, it really kicks things up a gear or two from the prior wines. This is a big, thick, rich wine that needs some more time to settle, I think it has the structure and the fruit to do so over the next 10 or more years. 90/100
Flight 14 – Fortified
- NV Campbells Rutherglen Topaque – Australia, Victoria, North East, Rutherglen
Not served blind. Honey, toffee and apricot aromas. Quite rich on the palate, reigned in by good acidity. Finishes a touch spirity, but overall this is very good. Consistent with a bottle tasted late last year. 90/100