In the 1990’s, Majella emerged as a Coonawarra producer to be reckoned with. Show success brought the name Majella to the attention of wine-lovers throughout Australia.
The Majella house style veers towards the riper end of the Coonawarra spectrum, and favours a generous use of oak. A recent tasting of several Majella wines from different vintages showed that the Cabernet Sauvignon’s from better vintages (1998 and 2001) had held up very well. Indeed, the 1998 was in the prime of its life; rich, flamboyantly oaked and serving up plenty of pleasure.
2000 was a somewhat tricky year in Coonawarra. Although 2000 The Malleea has held up well, it delivers moderate interest for a super-premium bottling. Astute buyers would perhaps best be served to stick to the standard Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in stand out years.
For those that like their wines with plenty of personality and a decent dollop of high quality oak, Majella is an estate worth buying from, especially in good vintages. For terroiristes, the good news is that the flashy oak doesn't drown out regional typicity. The standard Cabernet Sauvignon is without a doubt one of the region’s best and holds up extremely well in the current market in terms of value for money.
1998 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Producer: Majella
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon et al
Vintage: 1998
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
ABV: 14%
Closure: Cork
Format: 750ml
Date tasted: 2 October 2011
Tasting Note:
Bold nose of liqueur cherries and plums intermingled with charry oak/smouldering coals. Quite flamboyant in style – clearly picked very ripe and extravagantly oaked (the nose suggests both French and American), but well balanced. The tannins are fully resolved, but this wine has plenty of stuffing and should hold for a few years yet, perhaps even as long as 10.
Score: 17.5/20
2000 MALLEEA
Producer: Majella
Variety: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2000
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Format: 750ml
Date tasted: 16 October 2011
Tasting Note:
Lively nose of cedarwood, redcurrants and raspberries. Medium bodied, a bit hollow on the palate, lacks the stuffing that a ‘luxury cuvee’ of this nature demands. Better with food, but slightly lacking in intensity and complexity on the palate. There’s nothing wrong with it, but there’s nothing particularly exciting about it either. A subsequent bottle showed better, and the score is based on the second bottle.
Score: 15.5/20
The Majella house style veers towards the riper end of the Coonawarra spectrum, and favours a generous use of oak. A recent tasting of several Majella wines from different vintages showed that the Cabernet Sauvignon’s from better vintages (1998 and 2001) had held up very well. Indeed, the 1998 was in the prime of its life; rich, flamboyantly oaked and serving up plenty of pleasure.
2000 was a somewhat tricky year in Coonawarra. Although 2000 The Malleea has held up well, it delivers moderate interest for a super-premium bottling. Astute buyers would perhaps best be served to stick to the standard Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in stand out years.
For those that like their wines with plenty of personality and a decent dollop of high quality oak, Majella is an estate worth buying from, especially in good vintages. For terroiristes, the good news is that the flashy oak doesn't drown out regional typicity. The standard Cabernet Sauvignon is without a doubt one of the region’s best and holds up extremely well in the current market in terms of value for money.
1998 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Producer: Majella
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon et al
Vintage: 1998
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
ABV: 14%
Closure: Cork
Format: 750ml
Date tasted: 2 October 2011
Tasting Note:
Bold nose of liqueur cherries and plums intermingled with charry oak/smouldering coals. Quite flamboyant in style – clearly picked very ripe and extravagantly oaked (the nose suggests both French and American), but well balanced. The tannins are fully resolved, but this wine has plenty of stuffing and should hold for a few years yet, perhaps even as long as 10.
Score: 17.5/20
2000 MALLEEAProducer: Majella
Variety: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2000
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Format: 750ml
Date tasted: 16 October 2011
Tasting Note:
Lively nose of cedarwood, redcurrants and raspberries. Medium bodied, a bit hollow on the palate, lacks the stuffing that a ‘luxury cuvee’ of this nature demands. Better with food, but slightly lacking in intensity and complexity on the palate. There’s nothing wrong with it, but there’s nothing particularly exciting about it either. A subsequent bottle showed better, and the score is based on the second bottle.
Score: 15.5/20
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