A few good cabernets; Wantirna Estate 2012, Lake’s Folly Cabernets 2014 and Les Tourelles de Longueville 1996

Each of these cabernets are in a style that I enjoy drinking and it was a joy to taste them together.  Wantirna Estate’s “Amelia” cabernet sauvignon merlot is a very good release from this tiny but highly regarded estate in the Yarra Valley.  The 2012 is classic in expression, with medium bodied notes of blackcurrants and cedar.  It will benefit from a few years in bottle, but is quite approachable now.  Left bank Bordeaux like, this is a reminder of what Yarra Valley cabernet can be.  (Alc: 12.5%, Region: Yarra Valley, Rating: Very Good, Drink: now to 2027, Tasted: Feb, 2017)

Lake’s Folly is a wine, a cabernet from the Hunter Valley, that shouldn’t really even work.  Yet it is utterly delicious and Bordeaux like.  The 2014 vintage is a blend of 61% cabernet sauvignon, 18% shiraz, 11% merlot and 10% petit verdot.  It has more game and leather characters than the Wantirna Estate wine, as well as a little more structure through the palate.  But it retains a medium body and cabernet expression that defies climatic generalisations; both wines weigh in at a modest 12.5% and both could be quite honourably mistaken for Bordeaux.  Delicious drinking.  (Alc: 12.5%, Region: Hunter Valley, Rating: Very Good, Drink: now to 2032, Tasted: Feb, 2017)

The final wine was a look in on the 1996 vintage of Les Tourelles de Longueville.  Last tasted in 2013, my notes from then largely still stand (see the link below).  An earlier bottle was horribly corked, but this wine continues to present enjoyment as a fully mature left bank wine.  (Alc: 13%, Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux, Rating: Good to Very Good, Drink: now, Tasted: Feb, 2017)

Read more:
www.lakesfolly.com.au
www.pichonbaron.com/en/
www.wantirnaestate.com.au

Other vintages reviewed: