1998 Katnook Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING COONAWARRA CABERNET. We first tasted this wine as a barrel sample at the 1999 Coonawarra Cabernet Barrel Auction and rated the wine 96/100, the highest pointed wine of the Auction. The wine has just been released and after re-tasting it scored 97/100. It’s getting better by the month. The wine investment news was that at auction the barrel went for $20, 000 - that’s for 20 finished cases of the wine, which makes it an equivalent of $1000 per case or $83.30 per bottle. Admittedly, the Auction is in part a publicity drive by Coonawarra Cabernet producers, none the less the price was still below the 1998 Mildara barrel price of $31,000 or $1550 per case ($129.16 per bottle). Even after allowing for an inflated Auction price due to an over enthusiastic audience and the PR factor, the 1998 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolute bargain, as well as being a great investment piece.

The wine was matured for approximately 20 months in 225 litre oak barrels, of which 41% were new. The barrels were predominantly French oak, with a small proportion (less than 5%) being American oak. Totally opaque, crimson, black colour. Superb nose, almost perfumed, with aroma of violets, cedar, blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Tight knit palate structure, yet packed with an abundance of blackcurrant, mint, chocolate and mocca flavours. Excellent length and concentration of flavour. Fine grained dry tannins, perfect balance, with exceptionally long aftertaste of blackcurrant, cedar, plum and spice.

RATING: 97/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5