Perched in a prime, Riddoch Highway location, Highbank has always been a bastion of quality and pride. This is a sweet, complex-smelling Merlot, really lifted purple florals, ripe mulberry and plums. Some smooth tannins tube around ripe plum fruit flavour; even, elegant and neatly balanced. Already building mature character.

Price: $59.00

Quality: ****

Alc/Vol: 13.5%

Drink: Now

Closure: Cork

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and Cabernet Franc 5%.

The nose is still quite tight with soft red-berried fruit: raspberry coulis, wild strawberry and touch of spice, with mulberry developing with aeration.

The palate is medium-bodied, grainy tannins, a succulent core of raspberry and cherry with a nice citrus finish. Just lacking a little backbone but otherwise this is very agreeable.

Drink now-2012.

Tasted October 2007.

Highbank is an organic vineyard and perhaps not as well known as some of the bigger players. If you happened to taste their 2001 releases then you would be very aware of them. Cracking wines.

Aromas of rich dark fruit, smoke, earth, pepper, dark chocolate and pencil shavings oak. Slightly animal but very attractive.

On the full bodied palate there are flavours of blackberry, raspberry and blackcurrant - concentrated and intense - along with more savoury bitter chocolate, earth and tobacco flavours. All very adult. Firm fine grained tannins and crisp acidity. Quite tight.

It has a typical and very classic linear cabernet profile that runs through the length of the palate. Looks a lot like left bank Bordeaux and I like it a lot. I think I will give it 94 points.

Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Apr07
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $40
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010 - 2017
Source : Winery Sample

The Coonawarra 2004 feature is not over just yet. I have a few more up my sleeve don’t you worry about that. I have just been tardy. This came with the cabernet from the same vintage and from what I can gather is a very small make of around 100 cases.

I do like merlot. I am a Merlotiste and being of a generally optimistic nature I always open a bottle looking to be delighted. No crestfallen little face this time though because this is an excellent example of the noble grape.

Pre-release sample. A complex earthy smelling wine offering up plum, blackcurrant, mint, tobacco, licorice and high quality cedar oak.

On the palate medium bodied with blackcurrant and red fruit, tobacco and other pleasantly varietal herbal flavours. Firm dry tannins and clean acidity further the impression of freshness and vitality. Long dry savoury finish.

Not a blockbuster by any means. This is a wine of considerable charm and poise and one that needs more time in the cellar to show its best.

Rated : 92+ Points
Tasted : Mar07
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $40
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010 - 2016
Source : Winery Sample

Lightly spicy oak, excellent floral and briar rose lift and more ripe raspberry aroma than plum.

“Superb balance” on the palate, finishing a touch warm with tight tannins.

13.5% v/v - cork

RRP (contact Cellar Door for pricing)

Wine Industry Journal, Vol 24 No 2, March/April 2009

An unusual wine with a vinous nose, green-edged with hints of asparagus, plum and marzipan.

A lighter style palate with good balance of fl avours, “acceptable in many instances as a very different Merlot”.

13.5% v/v - cork

RRP AU$50 (no longer available for sale)

Wine Industry Journal, Vol 24 No 2, March/April 2009

"Medium-deep bright red. Fragrant cedary perfume of violet, cassis and mulberry, with hints of herbs and forest floor. Fine and harmonious on the palate, with lively red and blackberry flavors and lightly smoky vanillin oak wrapped in tight, fine tannins. Finished with lingering sweet fruit flavors and suggestions of truffle and undergrowth."

Enjoy this wine over the next 8 years.

Stephen Tanzer
IWC

WINE ARK FOR COLLECTORS OF FINE WINE

Tasting - Australian National Museum, Sydney

THREE CORKS OUR TOP RATING

By far the most popular wine of the night. Highbank Coonawarra 2002 Proprietary Blend

Sharon Wild writes:
“A bordelaise influenced nose with mellowed red berry fruit, spices and hints of tar, eucalypt and earth. A medium bodied palate yet packed full of spicy fruit flavours supported by supple, finely textured tannins.

This wine has the vibrancy and balance to support long term ageing Strict organic practices & declassification of all but the best fruit, means this wine is always produced in very small quantities.”

The single rose on the label is most evocative, which is probably why I thought the wine smelled of roses too. In truth, it has the smell and colour of Valentine's Day. No chemical herbicides or pesticides.

Max Crus, Grape Expectations, Cuisine

56 degrees - Wine Shop in New Jersery owned by Master of Wine Mr. Christopher Cree

His comments to his customers:

We love this wine because it is very true to it's soil. From iron rich, Terra Rossa soils, this basket-pressed wine is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Aromatically vibrant, this wine delivers sweet red fruit and cassis. With great fruit purity and intense, plum, iodine and bittersweet chocolate notes, enjoy this wine over the next 8 years. $44.00 USD - $39.60 USD when
purchased with any 12 bottles.

Christopher Cree MW