This barrel selected by "Menzies" Winemaker, Peter Gambetta, is the best barrel of the "Menzies make" from the 2003 vintage grown on the Menzies Vineyard, Coonawarra. Peter shares that "in keeping with our established Menzies style, this wine is a long-term keeper and will develop a powerful, savoury richness as it ages". Colour: Deep, limpid crimson red. Bouquet: The wine has a powerful bouquet of forest fruits, cassis with a tang of sea-spray underpinned by stylish French oak vanillin. Palate: The palate is medium bodied and supple; it opens with ripe berry fruits and the sweetness of oak, builds to chocolate and cedar and is carried through to a long finish by velvety tannins. Winemaker: Peter Gambetta
"Deep purple red colour. A very striking fragrance of violets adds perfume to the rich blackberry fruit. New oak adds further complexity. The palate is stylish and well balanced, yet has generous, ripe flavour and quite firm astringency. The tannins will need several years to soften, during which time the nose will develop cedary characters to add to its fragrance. Very good potential." Nick Bulleid, Master of Wine
Yalumba Wine Company BARREL SERIES 8 cabernet sauvignon 2003: Ashen, lean, sandy and gravelly, with surprising fruit-force on the finish. Easy to dismiss due to its weedy palate, it looks poor now but could easily age well. Lots of tannin and acidity, and while there’s more than a suggestion of ashen/ briary flavour, the finish does seem ripe and balanced. Drink: 2008-2016. 91 points. Campbell Mattinson, Winefront Monthly Sept/Oct 2004
