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2002 Reschke Bos Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the aristocrat of red wines, being the backbone of the great wines of Bordeaux. Its tannin, alcohol and acid balance make it capable of developing in the bottle over several decades. In Australia, the great examples of Cabernet have frequently challenged the supremecy of their French counterparts with wines such as CULLEN, MOUNT MARY & MOSSWOOD now international wine icons. However, few vineyards have emulated their success with the variety. Low yielding, balanced, fully ripened fruit is vital if one wishes to avoid the green, vegetal character of overcropped under-ripe Cabernet. Cabernet tends to reach optimum maturity just after mid season, usually into autumn, which enhances the flavour profile. The Cabernet vinegrows with extraordinary vigour in the right conditions, yet its yields are restrained until the vigneron learns to match wits against this natural tendency.
PETER DOUGLAS [pictured left] has to be Coonawarra’s master of Cabernet. His reputation is formidable, with more than twenty vintages behind him, Australian winelovers will remember him as the winemaker behind the Wynns Coonawarra collection including John Riddoch & Michael. In the 1980’s he worked at Chateau Leoville Barton in Bordeaux and participated in the 1998 vintage in the Napa Valley. His love of Cabernet is matched by Reschke’s commitment to produce exceptional grapes. The Reschke’s were not the first family to establish a foothold in Coonawarra. Their involvement with the district started in 1906, some twenty years after JOHN RIDDOCH established the Coonawarra fruit colony. The family’s principal activity has been the production of stud Hereford cattle (‘Bos’ is Latin for Bull), however in 1989 the decision was made to establish a vineyard on the family’s 3000 acre property. Today some 360 acres are planted to vines, consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Shiraz. The Terra Rossa soils of Coonawarra have long been regarded as the best site for growingCabernet and the narrow cigar shaped strip either side of the main road is the marketing edge that Coonawarra growers need in order to differentiate themselves. However, the viticulturists who have dirty fingernails will tell you that the quality factor is not just about the Terra Rossa, but more to do with yield and vineyard balance. Too many growers have been pushing their vineyards into overdrive with crops of 6.8 tonnes per acre! At that level the undesirable vegetal characteristics of Cabernet manifest themselves. Peter Douglas, together with viticulturalist, Mary Kennedy have avoided this pitfall producing a new benchmark for Coonawarra.
RESCHKE’S PURSUIT OF QUALITY FRUIT COUPLED WITH PETER DOUGLAS’ WINEMAKING ABILITY ARE SET TO CREATE A NEW COONAWARRA BENCHMARK
TASTING NOTE: A magnificently structured Cabernet with the potential to evolve into a Coonawarra Classic. Opaque black crimson colour with purple black hue. The nose displays that special quality that is referred to as ‘breed’ offering a sophisticated sniff. This is not your fruity in the face Cabernet, but rather a wine of great structure. The fruit and tannins are ripe and perfectly balanced, with the dry fine grained tannins forming the backbone of this wine, thus giving it the ability to age superbly. This is the sort of ripe Cabernet flavour profile that would be the envy of many Bordeaux Chateau. Tight knit, with flavours of blackcurrant, cedar and spice followed by a hint of dark chocolate. Very long lingering aftertaste of cedar, spice and ripe blackcurrant.
Cellar 5-8 years (2009-2012)
Alc/Vol: 13.4%