Warrabilla 2003 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Nov 04

This is not exactly subtle but then that is not unexpected. Lots of everything here, but not too much providing you like are not into "elegance"; a big brooding nose showing sweet vanillin oak, blackcurrant, mint and mushroom French oak characters. A full-bodied wine with dusty tannins and enough fruit to balance the package. Blackcurrant, blackberry, chocolate, plum, aniseed and mint moorishly combine to cram the mouth with loads of flavour that finishes dry with respectable length and persistence.

I must say, from the first sip I preferred the Cabernet to the Shiraz as it seems to be better balanced, the fruit is more deeply seated and Cabernet shows more complexity than the Shiraz. It should improve as the wine enters its peak drinking window about 2007. Rated as Recommended with **** for value. I was fortunate enough to be able to look at this wine over the space of most of a day and by the end of it, the wine was softening and showing its true colours. It was just perfect with a BBQ steak and salad.