Saturday, July 11, 2015

Wantirna Amelia Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

Wantirna is one of the best wineries in the Yarra Valley, yet it flies under the radar. Maybe this is because it is now engulfed by Melbourne housing rather than the Yarra. However, it still makes excellent wine. The 2010 Wantirna Amelia is proof.

This wine is medium bodied with 13.5% alcohol, yet the fruit is fully ripe. There is an excellent purity in the redcurrant and red plum flavours. This wine is an excellent example how Merlot can complement Cabernet Sauvignon. There is no hole in the mid palate. This wine is seamless from beginning to finish, when finely grained tannins complete the taste.

This wine is super pretty, and I don't want to hold this against it! The Yarra can produce terrific Bordeaux style wines.

Score: 95/+++

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Thomas,

How would you see this wine improving with cellaring, or would it be more so that it would change not improve.
It sounds as if it is at its almost at its peak right now?

Thanks
Colin R

Sean Mitchell said...

A fine reminder that I need to buy more from this estate. Always intending to, never quite do.

Alontin said...

Nice to hear from you, Sean. Yes, it is a great estate in my humble opinion.

Colin, this boils down to personal preference. In a lighter bodied wine I like to see the fruit shine through. Secondary characteristics and tannins are not strong enough for me to make the wine more interesting in, say, 5 years. On the other hand, lighter wines can have a long future ahead. I have some 2000 Mount Mary in my cellar and am looking forward to tasting it soon.