Tasting Note

                 Sydney Time

           Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008

Classic McLaren 2001 La Testa Cabernet Sauvignon March 06

A ripe, complex bouquet with all sorts of good things; blackberry, blackcurrant, cedar, sweet and spicy nuances; the coffee essence oak influence was very noticeable. Intensely savoury, initially cherry dominates the palate with jubes in the middle, with pepper and herbs; and loads of coffee oak showing through on a long and persistent finish: but as the wine opened the oak became more pronounced; the wine is possibly in a hole. Muscular-weight with fresh acid and very fine, tight tannins the wine needs time for the buried fruit to surface. It has a lovely structure and is a quality drop, but this bottle was definitely not as good as the last one I had tried and I suspect a small amount of random oxidisation. Rated as Highly Recommended with *** for value, the rating is not indicative of past experiences.