Points mean something but not everything the simple table below shows the price of the wine and the points I have given it. Without consulting the words just looking at the price/points ratio it makes sense to assume the best value wine is the Wykari only $26 yet 93 points. Seemingly the poor value wine is the Thompson at $90 for 95 points.
But read just some of the scrip accompanying each wine
Wykari: Oak on the nose and oak on the palate not loads but enough to make its presence known
Thompson: Mystery and seduction on one level with a solid calculating core backing it.
There is also quite a difference between each point in the 90 to 100 sector, I’ve explained it all before so will spare you this week. It’s also an argument that has been ongoing since the 80s when points first came to prominence and will continue. The lesson is don’t just look at the points read the commentary.
As to the great noble cabernet sauvignon its an offspring of an assignation between the fair maiden sauvignon blanc and the old wild man of the mountains cabernet franc. Some reports put Franc’s origin more Franco placing him in the Spanish Basque Country.
Cabernet sauvignon many not be as noble as it liked to think itself all the legend of Roman even Greek heritage being blown away by DNA profiling but it’s still a smart grape producing some very fine wine.
Enough chatter, to the wines. Three brackets of three wines each divided into years 2013-2016. All wines proclaiming cabernet sauvignon on the front label with no reference of any other grape blended in, such as merlot, shiraz, petit verdot or other.
Good drinking and good karma
Tony
This week’s players are
Triple thirteens
Triple fourteens
Triple fifteens
Highland Heritage ‘Orange Region’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2015: Pure blackcurrant on the nose and very slender on the palate it’s a wine that needs attention, don’t give it and the beauty could be missed. Its elegant and demands concentration 95 points pushing price at $55, as I think it needs to garner some reputation first but I admire the boldness of, ‘going for it’
Parker ‘Estate’ Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015: Clean cabernet nose of blackcurrant and slight green leaf, flows across the palate in a measured way but not missing any pleasure points on the journey. The finish is just a tad short but no issue, its good Coonawarra cabernet and a remarkable price $24, 94 points
Pertaringa ‘Rifle & Hunt’ Adelaide Cabernet Sauvignon 2015: Vibrant on the nose, a lot going on and all smells enjoyable. Cool across the palate but an intriguing aftertaste, it left me wondering, I went back to it several times and I can’t find fault so its style. One I didn’t go for but not one I can criticise its well-made and acid/tannin/fruit are in balance so 94 points but that aftertaste wouldn’t best please me after paying $40, there again it may be just the taste others really enjoy.