Dalwhinnie, Moonambel Cabernet, Pyrenees

Definitely a mature wine now. Dusty, leather, compost, tannins resolved, reasonable finish.

2004 vintage

I will repeat a previous note and amend where necessary. Luminous colour, and the nose of black currant, eucalyptus and mint hits you before you have poured a glass. Eccentric, like a favourite uncle, but retains an elegant palate with cigar box/cedar, blackberry jubes, mint, eucalyptus and smokey cabernet fruit. Dry powdery tannins at the finish, and not excessively ripe. Needs more time to show its best 18+

2006 vintage

I’ve had enough of these to be sure I’m not a fan! Green, mint, earthy nose now. Big. Just not me.

2004 vintage

Strong menthol on the nose. Mint, cassis, herbs. As per my other notes- not sure this is for me.

2004 vintage

Appearance: medium ruby with garnet at the rim Nose: medium plus intensity, aromas of dark plum, prune, tobacco, dark chocolate, violet, toast, fennel leaf, licorice. It’s developing. Palate: dry, high acidity, high tannins (powdery), medium alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus flavour intensity. The finish is medium plus as well. Overall, it’s a very good wine. Can drink now, but has potential for further ageing. In the first 30min, I almost mistakenly think it is Shiraz, because of the ripe …

2004 vintage

Heavy in sediment and earthy notes, this bottle felt over the hill. Other bottles haven’t been like this.

2004 vintage

Cork. Still quite dark. Black fruits, sweet spice. Palate is rich and flavoursome, with plush tannins to give it a medium to full feel in the mouth. This bottle seemed pretty youthful. Delicious, but probably pipped by the ‘99 Moss Wood served alongside.

2004 vintage

First bottle of four purchased from a good cellar. Luminous colour, and the nose of black currant, eucalyptus and mint hits you before you have poured a glass. Elegant palate with some cigar box/cedar, blackberry and smokey cabernet fruit. Not extractive at all, and "coolish" at the finish. Less monolithic than is usual for this wine and better for it. I am clearly out of step with the other reviews.

2006 vintage

Dense black red. Cedar, blackberries, graphite and a hint of mint overlay still primary Cabernet fruit. Oak is all swallowed up and tannins are chewy without being dominant, but the wine is evolving painfully slowly. Terrific quality, great potential and more open on day 2, just needs more time. Try again at age 20. Wow just realised I placed a note on this 3 months ago. Re reading it now it's identical.

2004 vintage

So youthful. Dense colour, nose of cassis, eucalyptus (wood not oil), cedar and St J capsicum. With air I get the graphite thing others mention as well. Palate is a little monolithic after all the promise that precedes it. Maybe just way too early to open this wine? Keep until 2024, or enjoy with protein now.

2004 vintage

Fine sediment decanted off and poured immediately. Tinge of amber only. Has an alluring quality to the nose - nothing really sticks out, more of an amalgam of many scents. There is some dark fruit there, menthol, graphite, roasted capsicum, sweet spices. The palate is medium bodied, and the tannins all but resolved now. There's a pleasant mouthfeel, leading to a decent finish with almost a touch of that sweetness again. It's quite nice with food that has a spicy …

2004 vintage

Emerging from its lumber. Dark fruit and gentle tannins. Classic cool climate Victorian terroir, pencil shavings and cassis flavours. Years ahead of it. Limited tertiary flavours starting to develop.

2004 vintage

A very good example of a Yarra and cabernet combination. An elegant blend of blackberry and cassis with some graphite and earthy tones. In a good window at present, though probably only 3-5 years left of good drinking.

2004 vintage

Same sweetness in abundance and fruit has lost some of its polish. It was OK but nothing exciting. There are much better Cabernets for the money that I think age a bit better as well.

2004 vintage

Spices on the nose, black fruits, menthol. Tannins and acidity are secondary and well balanced - its a very drinkable wine at 11 years of age. Balanced. Indeed, it probably still has a few more years until its peak. Black fruits - blackcurrant - on the palate. Had with BBQ Lamb.

2004 vintage

Drying out. Flat, one-dimensional, little semblance of fruit or flavour, replaced by drying acidity and faint tannins.

2006 vintage

No notes taken.

2004 vintage

Lead pencil on the nose with current and hints of euclapyt. Medium bodied, integrating tannins yet somewhat pronounced acidity. Llight mid palate with a average finish. Overall impression: Enjoyable cab sav, yet lacking in wow factor. This is my second bottle out of 6 and I'm not convinced that it will develop much beyond this point.

2006 vintage

{cork, 13.5%} Totally forgot I'd had this last November until I saw the note on CT. And this bottle is very consistent with the November note. Dry, leafy - not unripe - wine. Very cabernet. Black fruits and subtle french oak. Earth. Medium, strongly dusty tannins. There's almost a musty aspect to this, it's so dry. These mid-decade vintages were hot, drought-infused years in the Pyrenees. And the wine gives the impression of being heat-stressed, even if it does manage …

2006 vintage

{cork, 13.5%} Youthful, malty aromas of currants and black fruits. Not a hugely expressive or extrovert nose, but very intense and focussed. There's a touch of eucalypt flavour on the palate I didn't see on the nose; otherwise it's black fruit all the way. Still seems quite tight; it's front and centre on the palate; not green or unripe, but then acks a little in concentration and generosity. Medium-bodied, with fine powdery tannins; yet there's an overwhelming impression of the …

2006 vintage

Little bit disappointed with this, I'm hoping it's just in a difficult place at the moment. Decanted for 2+ hours. Showing typical blackcurrant with a burnt caramel edge. It's a bit light mid palate though, lacking depth of flavour. Plenty of powdery tannins give structure, but it doesn't have much to support at the moment.

2006 vintage

Much sweeter than I remember but not overly so. Deep dark fruit, rich floral nose and a palate soaked with olives, blackberries, and bitter chocolate. Fine, powdery tannins, well judged oak and a solid finish. Not brilliant but a very solid wine and paired well with out ham, mushroom and truffle oil pizza.

2004 vintage

Quite a brute at the moment, despite 5 years of age, but the first whiff gives the feeling that this will be quite a wine in 10-15 years time. Quite plummy and rich at the moment, but there is no heat here and quite a serious depth of fruit with a tangy Asian spice element. Very alluring and extrapolation the life of the wine you can see this could be quite feminine in a few years. Despite being quite big …

2006 vintage

Beautiful nose, colour and taste.

2004 vintage

Pyrenees Wineries' Visit (Pyrenees, Vic) : {cork, 13.5%, A$48} Deep pure cabernet fruit, with a ferric component to the aromatics. Big yet focussed on the palate; a mass of powdery tannins carry intense cassis fruit right to the end of the tongue, and the ripe flavours linger right to the last. Far too young still, but this is a real sleeper. Wait, then enjoy.

2004 vintage

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Dalwhinnie, Moonambel Cabernet, Pyrenees

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