Eling Forrest 2002 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - April 2003

As one who is normally not impressed with the red wines from the Southern Highlands of NSW it was with trepidation that I accepted a lunch invitation to Eling Forest Winery with friends.

The host ordered and although I knew it was the Reserve Cabernet I had no idea on the vintage and didn’t get to see the bottle until it was empty. The colour was unbelievable, looked just like a barrel sample, bright vivid purple. The aromas were all black fruit, anissed and mint.

The structure of the wine shows it’s been well made with ultra fine tannins, well judged unobtrusive acid, deftly managed oak and muscular fruit weight without any signs of extraction. On the palate the flavours were savoury blackcurrant, blackberry, spice, aniseed and a fair bit of spearmint. At one stage I thought I detected a touch of green to the tannin but that may have been an aberration.

When I did see the bottle it stated it was a 2002 which explains the colour but the label also stated it had spent 12 months in oak which is ‘interesting.’ All in all an enjoyable wine that is more than drinkable (any takers on 14.9% fruit from a warm climate) and rated as Recommended, the one criticism is the finish is a little short.

This wine was almost enough to make me go and try more wineries in my local area (again.)