Clare Valley 14.5% Cork $50 Source: Sample
“Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last…”
Sorry to remind you all of that Vannesa Williams song. In no way is this wine as saccharine or insipid as it and its gawd awful lyrics. But this is the last of the Cardinham Estate wines I looked at and it is, indeed, the best. It just shades the Stradbrooke Shiraz of the same vintage.
A sweet and heady perfume of cassis, tomato bush, florals, eucalypt and malted chocolate (think Maltesers). The palate follows in due course, tremendously balanced and poised with superb tannins extending to a climax so satisfying I almost reached for a cigarette.
Having said that, I wouldn’t have had time. This wine just didn’t let up over three days of tasting, integrating but never losing any of its potency. Increasingly smooth and supple on entry but with a firmness of structure which could not be dismissed lightly.
Years and years ahead of it. Super wine.
Winery Website- http://www.cardinham.com/
Cool review, not sure about the begining but you certainly got it back on track….as always. Cheers, Shane.
Thanks Shane. It's always fun to start off wobbly and work it from there
cheers
j