Winetastic

For some reason it has taken me around three years to even try a Cabernet based wine from Margaret River. I will atone for my sins and swiftly include several of these wines in my cellar, starting with the Sandalford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.

Sweet blackcurrant and blackberry aromas draw you into glass, on the front palate it’s all juicy, velvety and mouthfilling followed by a long and drying finish with plenty of chalky tannin and a little oak.

The finish is a touch warming, a trait I have noticed with other Margaret River Cabernets and feel is best described as a dash of white pepper. Overall a very good package, enjoyable now (after a serious decant) however should be much better after some time in the cellar.

Score: 92/100
Price: $28
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Other Opinions: Sandalford, The Wine Front
Would I buy this wine again?
Yes, I feel the wine is priced reasonably.

Maybe it was simply outclassed the night we had this little drop from the Margaret River, but I was a bit disappointed with this wine after it received a promising recommendation from folks up at our local Uncle Dan’s.

I found this wine a bit lacking of character - it was good, but the wine just didn’t have much length to it or interesting complex flavours moving about your palette as, say, the Rosemont Estate 2002 ‘Show Reserve’ Shiraz. Quite a warm, earthy, sharp shiraz with a good wallop of spice - it made me think of the harsh Australian climate of inner Australia.

Would I buy this wine again? Non. For my $20 there are better value wines out there as drink-now wines. That said I’m going to keep an eye on Stella Bella wines, I’ve certainly heard some high praises… and I like the logo.