It was a rather informal gathering friends and business associates that led us to the Thorn Clarke 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Not being familiar with the wine, but familiar with the Barossa Valley in Australia, I was interested to see what the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon had to offer.
The wine is produced by the Thorn Clarke family vineyards, and the family has had six generations of wine making in the Valley. The Terra Barossa label is the mid-quality wine (but highly drinkable in the lineup from Thorne Clarke. (Others in the line are their premium William Randall wines, the Shotfire, which has a range over quality reds and whites, the mentioned Terra Barossa line which has 8 bottlings in the current selections, the Sandpiper line - which is the domestically sold Terra Barossa line under the Sandpiper label and the Innovative line, which are from imported Italian vines and are comprised of a Nebbiolo and a blended Rose.)
Being a mid line wine, I expected the Cab to be a modest Red and got exactly what I thought it to be. Ratings on the wine are in the 87-89 range and the wine I tasted reflected, I thought, that rating.
The nose reflects a berry character, along with a spicy background. Not overly powerful, but pleasant enough to give an anticipation to the taste.
On the palate, there is an initial hint of strong tannins, which seemed to abate after the initial taste. The finish is not overly long, but is pleasant enough to extend the enjoyment of the wine. I had an initial hint of licorice, which I did not find on the finish, and not being a fan of licorice, I did not miss it. There was a touch of light blueberry at the end.
The wines were oak contained and a trace - not overpowering - shows during the tasting and drinking of the wine.
To try this wine visit most supermarkets or specialty wine stores. Locally at Ralph's in the Australian wine section. Expect to pay about $17 - $20 for this wine at retail prices.
While it will not be the best Cab at this price, it is certainly acceptable and will make a nice addition to any wine tasting/drinking activity.
Have a winederful day!
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