Grape Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Growing Region: Coonawarra Region

Chief Winemaker: Wayne Stehbens

TASTING NOTE:
This is quintessential Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. As with many wines from around the world, as soon as you pour the wine and bring the glass to your nose, you start to recognize the familiar and unique influences a region has on a grape. Wayne said that the 2006 season started with an average spring and near perfect flowering. Cool and dry conditions in summer contributed to one of the latest harvests on record at Katnook Estate. The fruit was ultimately picked with excellent varietal flavour, acidity and balance. This wine was matured in predominantly aged American oak barrels (25% of which were new) and small amount of French oak barrels for 12 months.

The nose has hints of regional mint and violets before rich blackcurrant, cedar and sweet oak flavours start to lift and fill out the aroma. This is a smooth, medium bodied wine with ripe fruit, dark berries and classic regional blackcurrant on the mid palate and seductive vanilla and chocolate oak tones round out the wine. A well proportioned wine with generous fruit and a persistent finish.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:

Drinking now, yet will mature in the cellar for another 5-6 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:

This wine pairs well with pasta, red meats, quail and dishes with rich flavours.

90 points - Campbell Mattinson.