THE number of high-quality cabernet labels from WA, already significant, is increasing.
At a recent Oenophiles Wine Group tasting, which was made up of a carefully selected 16 of this state’s finest 2008 cabernets, I gave 10 gold medal points and the remaining six wines were all at least of silver medal standard.
My previous notes on other 2008 WA cabernet sauvignons – not tasted in this line up – indicated that at least three more wines (the Woodlands, Flametree and Deep Woods Reserve releases) are also worthy of gold medal points.
The eastern states’ finest cabernet regions (and that includes Coonawarra, the Clare, Barossa and Yarra Valleys and McLaren Vale), while producing great cabernet fruit, cannot provide so many good wines from so many producers as the west – either consistently or from a single year.
The dozen or so of the Oenophile group’s members attending individually nominated their top five wines in no particular order, and on this basis Cape Mentelle topped the tasting.
On equal second were the Thompson Estate, Howard Park’s “Abercrombie” and Fraser Gallop cabernet sauvignons, which were then followed by the Houghton Jack Mann in fifth place.
My own card placed Cape Mentelle first (not released, 18.8 points and $85) followed by the Howard Park Abercrombie and the Cullen Diana Madeline on equal second (both available and both marvellous right now, 18.7 points each and $85 and $105 respectively).
On equal fourth were the multiple trophy-winning Higher Plane (just released, 18.5 points and $44) and the Sandalford Prendiville cabernet sauvignons (which are yet to be released, 18.5 points and $90).