Orlando 1996 Jacaranda Ridge Aug 05

 

My first bottle from a six pack and what a pleasant surprise this quintessential Coonawarra Cabernet turned out to be! Initially, the bouquet was dusty with sweet perfumed, cassis fruit, composted earth and blackcurrant. From the first sip, it was obvious this was a high-quality wine and there was some very clever winemaking in play. It’s perfectly poised and although the tannins have softened and provide a supple mouth feel, they equally provide a rock-solid backbone. A deceptively full-bodied drop that shows some real elegance, it glides down too easily and finishes with respectable length. As it opened up, ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, aniseed and hint of mint evolved; complexity is more than acceptable and will only get better as the wine ages. Rated as Excellent, this wine is a big future.