The timing of International Cabernet Day on the last Thursday of August each year is just about perfect for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere as we battle the last of the winter westerlies and prepare our palates for the return of lighter styles in Spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And with time of our side to prepare for this year\u2019s edition of the globally recognised event, there\u2019s no excuses for not having the cellar stocked with ample offerings from our best producers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the varietal originated in France in the 1700s through a chance crossing of sauvignon blanc and cabernet franc, it has made a second home for itself here in Australia where we make, what I would argue, are some of the best cabernet in the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s often referred to as the \u201cKing of Reds\u201d<\/em>, and in Australia it is undoubtedly the King in regions like Margaret River, Coonawarra and the Clare Valley where is does exceptionally well. And our winemakers aren\u2019t afraid to price their premium cabernet accordingly with examples like the Greenock Creek Vineyards <\/a>Roennfeldt Road Cabernet <\/a>(Barossa Valley), Cloudburst Cabernet<\/a> (Margaret River) and Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet<\/a> (Coonawarra) all selling at well above the $200 price point!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But unlike European (and even American) wine lovers, we are blessed with the privilege of being able to buy exceptionally good cabernet without having to spend the GDP of a small African nation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personally, I prefer to stock my cellar with styles that will benefit from a few years laying on their side; like the Juniper Estate cabernet<\/a> from the Margaret River, Balnaves<\/a> from the Coonawarra and both Kilikanoon<\/a> and Sevenhill<\/a> from The Clare Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if there\u2019s a crowd favourite across the dining rooms of Australia, I\u2019m guessing that it\u2019s the Taylors Estate label Cabernet Sauvignon<\/a> from South Australia\u2019s Clare Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was introduced to it over 20 years ago by a friend who swore it was the world\u2019s best wine, and to this day it\u2019s still a remarkably good value drop. On the nose there are ribena and tomato leaf aromas, though once on the palate, blackcurrant and cassis flavours emerge and navigate a course through waves of cedar, spice and eucalypt. And it\u2019s nicely balanced too, with fine tannins and a French oak complexity through the finale. Given that it sells at a $15 \u2013 20 a bottle price point, it\u2019s no surprise that it\u2019s more popular than a Kim Kardashian selfie!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Taylors story began in 1969 as a family owned winery in the Clare Valley. And to this day they are a family owned operation who say that they \u201crest on the principle that the finest wines are those made with the greatest dedication and care\u201d and \u201cabove all, our imperative is to respect the fruit\u201d. And to their credit, when the 2011 vintage was sub-optimal, they held true to their beliefs and refused to make any premium wines despite the financial cost to the organisation. You\u2019ve got to respect that kind of nerve!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In more recent years, the Taylors team have introduced the Jaraman<\/a> range which sits between their Estate and St Andrews ranges. You\u2019ll find it on the shelves at an ask of between $25 and $30 for the 2016 release. It\u2019s a blend of Coonawarra and Clare fruit and had already taken out gold and silver medals at international wine shows. With a Coonawarrra dominance (73%) to the blend, the white pepper and eucalypt aromas on the nose are unsurprising, but the richness of the chocolate and blackberry fruit does take you a little by surprise! There\u2019s oodles of luscious red fruits through the middle and some delightful cedar and brambly traits through the conclusion. It\u2019s a full-bodied wine that is perhaps more elegant than bold, and with good tannin structure, would be the perfect partner for Mum\u2019s rosemary encrusted lamb roast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n By area under vine, cabernet is the world\u2019s most widely planted grape varietal \u2013 and for good reason; it\u2019s reliable, attractive and versatile. As a blending partner, it\u2019s a musician. As a single varietal, it\u2019s a rock star! So this year, make International Cabernet Day something special and take advantage of the incredible good value that our Aussie cabernet has to offer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The timing of International Cabernet Day on the last Thursday of August each year is just about perfect for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere as we battle the last of the winter westerlies and prepare our palates for the return of lighter styles in Spring. And with time of our side to prepare…
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