Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2008

Appearance: Medium red.
Aroma: Faint red fruits, peppercorns.
Flavour: Traditional Australian blend showing cooked fruit and spice characters on top of strong oak and persistent tannins.
Plum, blackcurrant and woody spices.

Wine Name: Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2008

Producer: Orlando Wines (Pernod Ricard)

Grape/Blend: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13.5%

Country: Australia (South Eastern Australia)

Bought at: Co-Op

Price: ~ £5

Value for money: ♦♦♦ Good
Over all rating: ♦♦♦ Good

Kumala Western Cape Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2010

Appearance: Murky black-red 
Aroma: Black fruits. 
Flavour: Throat-catching and acrid. Lingering numbing finish.
Aluminium foil, bark chips and burnt pans.

Despite being under screw cap, this wine tasted out of condition and oxidised. Not great. 
 

Wine Name: Western Cape Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Producer: Kumala

Grape/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13.5%

Country: South Africa

Bought at: Sainsbury's

Price: £4.00 (3 for £12.00)

Value for money: ♦♦ Average
Over all rating: ♦ Poor

Viña Maipo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Appearance: Scarlet.
Aroma: Fruity candy and tobacco.
Flavour: Bitter, underripe berries. Soapy off-dry finish. Not very nice.
 

Wine Name: Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Producer: Viña Maipo Reserva

Grape/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 12.5%

Country: Chile

Bought at: Sainsbury's

Price: £3.99 was £8.99...

Value for money: ♦♦ Average
Over all rating: ♦♦ Average

Château du Gazin Canon Fronsac 2007

Appearance: Hazy brick-red.
Aroma: Leather and Autumn leaves.
Flavour: This is a nice, big Bordeaux. Although the tannins are at first aggresive, it smooths out to nice round mellow oak and delicious, poached fruit characters.
Cooked fruit; figs and blackberries.

A great buy!

Wine Name: Canon-Fronsac

Producer: Château du Gazin

Grape/Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec

Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13%

Country: France

Bought at: Waitrose

Price: £7.79 was £10.49

Value for money: ♦♦♦♦ Very Good
Over all rating: ♦♦♦♦ Very Good

Sainsbury's House Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Appearance: Light red.
Aroma: Black fruits.
Flavour: Young, green taste, low tannin with a pleasant savoury and dry finish.
Blackcurrant, dried spices and violets.

Light to medium-bodied rounded wine. Nothing to fault at this phenomenally low price.
 

Wine Name: House Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: Sainsbury's

Grape/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: Non-vintage 
Alcohol: 13%

Country: Spain

Bought at: Sainsbury's

Price: £3.99

Value for money: ♦♦♦♦♦ Outstanding
Over all rating: ♦♦♦ Good

Hardy's Crest Cabernet-Shiraz-Merlot 2009

Appearance: Bright crimson.
Aroma: Tarry oak, ripe berries and pepper.
Flavour: Sharp fruit and oak take centre stage, supported by plummy sweetness with a herbal twist. Feisty mouthfeel, fresh finish. Juicy!
Fruits of the forest, mint and fennel.


This blend is focused on what Australians do best: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz and has the effect of softening the wine and filling out the body. Here however, it doesn't really achieve this and is dominated by the other two grapes. The wine is also a little too sweet, though this probably isn't noticed when it's gulped down with a big meal.

Whilst it's not the best buy at the full price of £9.99, I really recommend buying this when it's on offer. It's young, vibrant and juicy and at the same time pretty powerful and serious - qualities which will make this wine appealing to a broad range of people. There's plenty of weight on the palate and it packs a powerful alcohol punch so it's best to enjoy it with a fat-laden meaty dinner. This bottle is a safe gift for a dinner host!

Wine Name: Crest Cabernet-Shiraz-Merlot

Producer: Hardy's

Grape/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot

Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 14%

Country: Australia

Bought at: Sainsbury's

Price: £4.99 (50% off 9.99 SRP)

Value for money:♦♦♦♦ Very Good
Over all rating: ♦♦♦ Good