Wine note
Wine with food or on its own? This bottle needs company.
If you drink it by itself, the overwhelming sensation is of tannin and acidity. If you add food, it is transformed. It reveals an intense fruit character.
That’s the Cabernet sauvignon grape for you. Leave the wine for a few years and that tannin and acid will tone down … but why wait? It’s perfect with any chicken or beef dish right now.
This example is from Coonawarra in South Australia, famous for its narrow strip of Terra Rossa soil. The producer, Wynns, was founded by John Riddoch, who emigrated from Scotland in 1851, made money in the Victoria goldfields and so was able to buy vast tracts of land in South Australia. Producing wine in this remote region was straightforward but getting it to market was not. The key to the development of the area was the arrival of the railway in 1898 – ‘The Siding’.
There’s blackcurrant and oak on the nose. On the palate, rich dark fruits are balanced by refreshing acidity – it’s all you hope for from an Aussie red.
Tesco’s ‘normal’ price is £16 but get yourself a Club card and the price magically reduces to just £12.50.
In Australia they’ll be thinking about opening a bottle to accompany a barbie. We’ll just have to stay indoors and drink to warm days to come. Cheers mate!
John Freeland (u3a Wine Tasting Group)
Kibworth Community Hub
