2001 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasmania, Coal River Valley 14.5% Cork $? Source: Cellar

True elegance at 14.5%? You bet. Ripe tannins from Tasmanian Cabernet? Absolutely. This wine was a bit of a revelation to me. I don’t expect Domaine A to be at Tasmania Unbottled this year, but I know Holm Oak make a Cab Merlot and a straight Cabernet so I’ll be checking them out. Quite simply, this wine made a brilliant case for the variety on an Island that is generally referred to in terms of its Sparkling, Pinot, Chardonnay & Riesling.

The website informs me that the wine has some Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc in the mix too. It tastes and smells of essence of blackberry, mulberry, wilting violets, sweet earthy truffles, cigar leaf, capsicum and mint. A little mocha lurks in the wings along with coal for complexity. It’s quite supple and even a touch creamy but those Cabernet tannins are still strong, providing great form and definition.

At 9 years of age, the truffle and leather are just starting to play a part but this one is nowhere near having run its race…though it is certainly drinking very well already. Smooth, flowing and long leaving a touch of graphite at the very end of proceedings. Domaine A wines ain’t cheap, but on the basis of this, they may well be more than worth the price.

Winery Website- http://www.domaine-a.com.au/