Wine Reviews

Langanook Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Franc 2002

02 April 2005

This Bendigo wine won the people’s choice award the other night when I opened the bottles at the monthly tasting I have to taste all the samples I get sent (yeh – tough isn't it!). What surprised me was that this is a Cabernet Sauvignon red blend and they ain't sexy at the moment. Tell them it’s Bendigo Shiraz and they hog the bottle to themselves, but mention Cabernet Sauvignon and they seem indifferent and don’t appear too excited. This is mainly due to Shiraz being king in popularity and that Cabernet suffers a bit of an image problem as well as the fact that most Cabernet blends don’t drink well without some cellaring to soften them up. This was until I coaxed into tasting this stunning wine. Stunning not just in the gorgeous purple black vibrant colour it has but also the intense spicy ripe blackberry fruitcake aromas. Once the nose hooked them in, that was it, they were all gone. Smooth, velvety yet ample bodied with a lingering finish.

Drinking seamlessly now it should hold for up to 5-7 years. Someone said drink it with ox cheek (huh?), another with duck breast, another with kangaroo fillet. Personally I think they must have been a bit overwhelmed by the wine at this point, but regardless this is a top drop and priced in the early twenties, I take my hat off to the winemaker, Matthew Hunter. Try to get it around town or else email mhunter@netcon.net.au

Paul Ippolito Talks Wine
E-Newsletter – April 2005