2002 Barnadown Run Cabernet Sauvignon drinking beautifully - great 6 bottle deal

Tasting Notes

10/4/07
The Heathcote region of central Victoria is regarded as one of Australia’s premium red wine producing regions. Almost everything produced there is of the highest quality, but the one major drawback is most wines carry a premium price tag as the majority of producers are very boutique with extremely small productions of their wines. Couple that with the small natural yields, there is not much water, from irrigation or rain fall, so economies of scale dictate higher prices, but justifiably so as the quality level is on par with the pricing dynamics. When taken in the context of Australia’s finest reds the wines from this region can compete at every level.
Even with close to 5 years under its belt this shows deep, dark fruit that is just now starting to show a slight shade of reddish brown on the robe. The nose is initially very soil dominated giving excellent expression of place, then giving way to dried tobacco, dried herbs, subtle hints of licorice and dusty red currant fruit with an ever so slight suggestion of mineral notes underneath aromatically. Medium fuller bodied the palate has taken on that wonderful texture that comes with bottle age, where the tannins have started to fall out and harmonize with the fruit and the fruit still has a sweetness and vibrancy to its core. Fine grained, riper tannins, and a lingering dry finish, calls for something with moderate fat content. This still has at least 4-5 years of delightful drinking under its belt.
Winemaker's Tasting Notes: The 2002 Cabernet offers classic aromas of cassis, tobacco leaf, licorice and a toasty oak (about 85% French and 15% American is used). This attractive medium to full bodied 2002 exhibits excellent depth as well as a pure blackcurrant character with a layered texture. Drink it over the next six to eight years.

Awards, Reviews and other Notes

89-91pts, Robert Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate #148 Another impressive example of the vintage is the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. A barrel sample revealed tremendous quantities of creme de cassis fruit, medium to full body, outstanding purity, and a long, textured, impressive finish. Although some austerity is present, this cuvee represents a hypothetical blend of a Bordeaux and New World Cabernet.

91 pts James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2006
Fully ripe, luscious, sweet blackcurrant fruit; fine, ripe tannins; oak a purely support role. High-quality cork.
89 pts Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Sept/Oct 2005
Deep red. Soil-driven scents of redcurrant, tobacco, licorice and mint. Juicy and gripping, with flavors of spicy red berries and dusty minerality. Fresh and tangy cabernet, finishing with complicating notes of rose and violet.
89pts, Robert Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate #155 The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon offers classic aromas of cassis, tobacco leaf, licorice, and toasty oak (about 85% French and 15% American is used).This attractive, medium to full-bodied 2002 exhibits excellent depth as well as a pure black currant character with a layered texture. Drink it over the next 6-8 years.

Winemaker Notes

Viticultural practices: Dryland fruit from a 5 km radius of the winery. A combination of low and high trellis, 10 year, 15 year and 30 year old vines. Clones LC10 AND G9 V3.
Soils: 50% Terra Rossa and 50% Buckshot
Yields per acre: 1 Ton
Number of cases per item produced: 450 cases
Appellation: Heathcote
Filtration & fining: Racking only
Varietal composition: 85% Cabernet; 7% Merlot; 7% Malbec
Wood treatment: Mostly French Oak – Nevers, Allier and Troncais; About 15-20% American Oak
Length of barrel maturation: Approx 15 months
Winemaker's notes: Yeast Bordeaux, 1056 and Wild. Basket pressed, maturated on skins 3-4 weeks, all cool ferments, Ph at end of primary ferment 3.35

Chemical Analysis

6 Bottle price

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Varietal

Alcohol: 14.7%
pH: 3.40
Total Acid: 7.48 g/l
Residual Sugar: 0.92 g/l
Free/Total Sulfur: 10 mg/l and 32 mg/l

$9.99

$14.99

5091

Cabernet Sauvignon