Coonawarra producer Zema Estate has three flagship wines; a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon designated ‘Family Selection’ status and ‘Saluti’, a traditional Australian blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
The ‘Family Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon, is made from the estate’s best fruit, sees two years in small format French oak barrels. 11 years on from vintage, the 2001 ‘Family Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon is showing some signs of development. Although still relatively deep in colour, the nose is quite earthy, intertwined with mulberry and cherries. It is a prototypical Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon nose, at one complex and with a sense of place.
At this point in time, the promise of the nose doesn’t quite flow through to the palate, which is rather one dimensional, with prominent acidity and drying tannins on the finish. It is most definitely a wine for food.
By comparison to the estate’s standard 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, the ‘Family Selection’ doesn’t quite live up to its billing. It may well just need more time in bottle, but this taster wonders if there is enough depth of fruit to carry it for another 5+ years.
2001 FAMILY SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Producer: Zema Estate
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon et al
Vintage: 2001
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 8 April 2012
Tasting Note:
Deep ruby red. Serious nose, quite earthy, mulberry, cherry, redcurrant and charcoal. Dry, medium bodied and savoury palate, moderate intensity, no lack of acidity, slightly sour fruit carries the finish, which is rather drying. Although quite open and complex on the nose, the palate seems reserved and shy. It might improve with further bottle age, but one wonders whether it has the stuffing to do so.
Score: 15+/20
The ‘Family Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon, is made from the estate’s best fruit, sees two years in small format French oak barrels. 11 years on from vintage, the 2001 ‘Family Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon is showing some signs of development. Although still relatively deep in colour, the nose is quite earthy, intertwined with mulberry and cherries. It is a prototypical Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon nose, at one complex and with a sense of place.
At this point in time, the promise of the nose doesn’t quite flow through to the palate, which is rather one dimensional, with prominent acidity and drying tannins on the finish. It is most definitely a wine for food.
By comparison to the estate’s standard 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, the ‘Family Selection’ doesn’t quite live up to its billing. It may well just need more time in bottle, but this taster wonders if there is enough depth of fruit to carry it for another 5+ years.
Producer: Zema Estate
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon et al
Vintage: 2001
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 8 April 2012
Tasting Note:
Deep ruby red. Serious nose, quite earthy, mulberry, cherry, redcurrant and charcoal. Dry, medium bodied and savoury palate, moderate intensity, no lack of acidity, slightly sour fruit carries the finish, which is rather drying. Although quite open and complex on the nose, the palate seems reserved and shy. It might improve with further bottle age, but one wonders whether it has the stuffing to do so.
Score: 15+/20
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