
| Gold Medals | 1 |
| Silver Medals | 12 |
| Bronze Medals | 32 |
| Trophies | 1 |
{Tasting Notes}
Vineyard Range Cameron Vale Cabernet Sauvignon
{THE FRUIT}
The grapes for this wine were picked from Grant's Cammeron Vale vineyard, which was planted between 1971 and 1975, in a fertile area between Lyndoch and Williamstown, which a portion sourced from the cool Eden Valley. The maturity of the vines is clearly evident in the intensity and full flavour of the wine. The 2008 vintage began earlier than expected due to an early heat wave, however the aspect of the vineyard protected the fruit allowing it to display varietal character, concentration and flavour.
{THE WINEMAKING}
After crushing and de-stemming, the juice was fermented on skins for seven days, with temperatures peaking at 26ºC early in the fermentation, then brought down to 22ºC. To add structure and colour, a quarter of
the blend was left on skins for 30 days. At the end of fermentation and extended maceration, parcels of the wine were transferred to new French oak and some new American oak to completion malolactic fermentation.
The entire blend was then transferred to oak to mature for 20 months.
{THE COMMENTS}
The 2008 Cameron Vale Cabernet is inky black in colour with vibrant purple hues. The wine presents distinct varietal aromas of blackcurrant, plums and menthol with a hint of savoury spice courtesy of the French oak. The palate is generous with dark fruits, ripe plums, mint and chocolate supported by ne, silken tannins and integrated oak characters. The balance of this wine ensures a long and rewarding nish.
The intense and complex characters of this wine would be a delicious match to aged beef or roasted kangaroo fillets with a sautéed mushroom sauce and a side of steamed green beans and broccoli.
{THE REVIEWS}
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Vintage: 2008
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Ray Jordan — June 2010
Ray Jordan — June 2010
“
Displays good varietal fruit with its blackcurrent and earthy black olive characters. A slick and stylish cabernet packing some firepower.
”
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Vintage: 2007
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Vintage: 2006
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Winestate — January 2009
Winestate — January 2009
“
3 stars
Tarry and earthy on the nose, some sweet fruit lurking. Oak-driven palate with lovely flavour profile
”
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Winestate June 2009
Winestate June 2009
“
3 Stars
Smells like sour cherries with hints of tomato leaf. Very earthy/savoury palate with peaty/ tarry flavours.
”
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2010 Australian Wine Companion — James Halliday
2010 Australian Wine Companion — James Halliday
“
89 POINTS
Clear red-purple; has attractive juicy cassis/blackcurrant fruit on themid-palate, but doesn't kick on through to the finish
”
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Vintage: 2005
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James Halliday- 2009 Australian Wine Companion
James Halliday- 2009 Australian Wine Companion
“
Some herbal overlays to aromas; medium-full bodied; strides confidently towards serious blackcurrant fruit and fine tannins.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rating 93 points
Drink 2020
”
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2009 The Australian Wine Annual — Jeremy Oliver
2009 The Australian Wine Annual — Jeremy Oliver
“
Best Australian Wines $20 and Under
90 Points
Sumptuously ripened, vibrant, and evenly balanced, this slightly minty Barossa Cabernet delivers a confiture-like expression of sweet red berries, plums, cherries and cassis with restrained oak influences and fine chassis of drying tannin. It's rich, juicy and very approachable, finishing with plenty of length and a suggestion of menthol.
”
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WineStar Journal 26.11.08
WineStar Journal 26.11.08
“
The Grant Burge Cameron Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 version is a beauty and has a number of plus marks. It shares similarities with the 2004 in that it is a pure Cabernet with luscious dark fruits and the merest hint of leaf – perfect in fact – particularly for my palate which tends to reject anything remotely under ripe. If anything this vintage is more attractive in its youth with luscious sweet fruit characters, a hallmark of a quality Barossa vintage. Again very well balanced it will drink well throughout the next decade and that is being conservative. I am more than happy to drink it now while most of my Coonawarra Cabs are resting.
Once again, it falls easily into the ‘Excellent’ zone.
Now-2018;
Quality: Excellent BW
WineStar© April 2008
”
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2009 Australian Wine Companion- James Halliday
2009 Australian Wine Companion- James Halliday
“
93 points
Some herbal overlays to aromas; medium- to full-bodied; strides confidently off towards serious blackcurrant fruit and fine tannins. Screwcap. Rating 93 Drink 2020 $24 Date Tasted Mar
”
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Winewise — April 2009
Winewise — April 2009
“
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
A fresh, ripe, substaintial red, but it still shows cabernet varietal character. It's about as big as cabernet can be allowed to get before it looses varietal chracter. The firm but fine tannins match the fruit well.
Excellent Value
”
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Vintage: 2004
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2008 Australian Wine Annual Jeremy Oliver; July 2007
2008 Australian Wine Annual Jeremy Oliver; July 2007
“
90 points
‘A deep palate-staining cabernet whose fresh, minty aromas of cassis, dark plums, violets and cedar/vanilla oak precede a juicy but still rather closed and youthful palate that just hints at its latent depth of vibrant, dark-fruited flavour. Finely balanced and framed by firm-ish, drying tannin; it’s surprisingly elegant and measured…’
”
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James Halliday- 2008 Australian Wine Companion
James Halliday- 2008 Australian Wine Companion
“
Exceptional colour; delicious but serious cabernet, blackcurrant and cassis offset by savoury tannins and quality French oak. Admiral control of alcohol.
OUTSTANDING
Rating 95 points
Drink 2014
”
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Winies Wine Magazine -SOUTH KOREA — April 2009
Winies Wine Magazine -SOUTH KOREA — April 2009
“
2nd Place
Best Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia & Victoria — 4 judges chose this wine as their best, with highly concentrated red fruit flavours, silky tannins- excellent structure and balance
”
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Vintage: 2002
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Wine Enthusiast 2006
Wine Enthusiast 2006
“
88 points
Grant Burge 2002 Cameron Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Has aromas of crisp fruit, cola and bramble. On the palate the wine's plum and earth flavors are more restrained than rambunctious. An elegant tyle with fine, tea-like tannins on the finish.
April 2006
”
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James Halliday, Wine Companion 2006
James Halliday, Wine Companion 2006
“
Clean, sweet cassis and black fruits with neatly juxtaposed fruit, oak and tannins; medium-bodied, good length Rating 91
”
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Vintage: 2001
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Robert Mayne, The Canberra Times, April 2003
Robert Mayne, The Canberra Times, April 2003
“
This is a red wine with plenty of fruit, nice oak and tannins which could be cellared for up to 10 years.
”
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Mike Burnett, The Examiner, 16 April 2003
Mike Burnett, The Examiner, 16 April 2003
“
The small amount (petit verdot) adds a terrific black-purple center to the wine, fills out the palate and tightens up the structure without losing the cabernet’s softness and approachability.
Getting down to the palate, there are generous berry fruit flavours that are enhanced by mint and chocolate hints. Cherry oak provides support to the fruit.
”
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Vintage: 2000
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Winestate Magazine, March 2002
Winestate Magazine, March 2002
“
“A good cabernet nose of plum fruit with a sweet pencil oak lift. Lovely density to the seamless palate. Gentle tannins carry the fruit underneath. Nice and long with good mouthfeel.” 4 ½ stars
”
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Graeme Phillips, Sunday Tasmanian, 13/03/02
Graeme Phillips, Sunday Tasmanian, 13/03/02
“
“Barossan fruit, a passionate Barossan winemaker and a typically rich, sweet, warm and full-bodied Barossan cabernet but this one with a lot more tannin grip and better structured and balanced than most. Put it a way for a few years and it’ll be even better.”
”
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Winestate Magazine, May/June 2002
Winestate Magazine, May/June 2002
“
Rich oak dominates the nose, but there are some high quality blackcurrant and herbal notes coming through. The palate has good depth of flavour and is balanced by fine-grained tannins. Again the oak is upfront, but this will develop into an integrated and complex wine. 4 stars.
”