As 97 was regarded as a very ordinary vintage in OZ  I have been trying a few to see how they are progressing and so far most of my choices are doing well and this was no exception, the 1997 Fox Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a big brooding wine that started to show some real sawdust oaky notes as the wine opened which came over the top of the plums, mushroom and cassis. Initially it was more like as shiraz but as it opened the cabernet characters came to the fore.

A Jackie Gleeson sized wine (for those old enough to know what that means) with trailer loads of drying powdery tannins, zesty acid that’s slowly starting to soften and a good wallop of solid fruit to complete the package.

Slightly sweet on the uptake, the wine quickly moves into the savoury spectrum and finishes very long with a credible level of complexity. All it needs is more time, I will try my next bottle in two years and it should be getting closer to its peak by then. Rated as Highly Recommended the next one should be Excellent.

Cheers

Ric