Red Wine

Bordeaux Blend

There are 5 permissible varieties in Red Bordeaux, making what is called the Bordeaux blend.

They vary considerably in their flavours, tannin profiles, and, most significantly the order in which they ripen. As a generalisation, the Left Bank, including the Medoc and Pessac-Léognan / Graves tend to use Cabernet as their backbone. The right bank, including, Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, Merlot as there backbone.

The below commentary on the varieties is a generalisation. Each of the varieties will express a little differently in each appellation, and, individual vineyards in the hands of mother nature, and, the vignerons and winemakers of the Château.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The backbone of the warmer left bank, the later ripening Cabernet Sauvignon has long linear tannins that run the length of your palate. It is responsible for those blackcurrant / cassis fruits, and, is the only variety that produces methoxypyrazines responsible for the herbaceous, vegetal, grassy, capsicum aroma. Sauvignon Blanc is the other notable variety to produce methoxypyrazines. These flavours and aromas decrease through the exposure of the fruit to heat and sun.

Extended post-fermentation maceration is near universal for the variety in Bordeaux. The process where the wine is left in contact with the skins following the completion of the alcoholic fermentation. This allows the slow introduction of oxygen and it’s interaction with the soup of tannins in the wine. It softens and lengthens tannins, develops the fruit characteristics, and, introduces a second layer of aromas and flavours, flowers, violets, earthiness and beyond.

At Yarra Yering we’d look for flowers, and, a pencil shaving character to indicate the best time to press the wine. The pencil shaving character was short-lived, a sign of early oxidation and the wine would immediately freshen on pressing. The feel of the cap of skins would also be a helpful indicator that the post-fermentation maceration was almost at its end. Texture being the obvious final factor.

Merlot

The backbone of the cooler right bank wine, the earlier ripening Merlot, has softer, more supple tannins, less overt fruit characters than Cabernet Sauvignon, showing more restraint. Again, it benefits from extended post-fermentation maceration.

In Australia, large plantings of Merlot were actually incorrectly identified Cabernet Franc!

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc in Australia is often referred to as a weed! It tends to make insipid wines lacking depth and importance. In Bordeaux it can be something special, anyone who’s had a good bottle of Cheval Blanc will know what I’m talking about. Earlier ripening, it tends to have softer suppler tannins like Merlot, and, be framed with slightly rawer tannins.

Malbec

Malbec is perhaps the broadest in fruit characters, richness, and, generosity, adding, a lovely spice to the wines.

Petit Verdot

The little green one is the last to ripen and is typically a very small component in any Bordeaux blend. As the name suggests it is known for its acidity. Again extended post-fermentation maceration is key to releasing a lovely perfume and softening the tannins.


2019 TeMata Coleraine!


Perfumed Refined Goodness!

Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2019

Bordeaux Blend | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

Perfumed Refined Goodness! TeMate make a Cracking Cabernet blend. Demonstrating the immense potential of Cabernet in Hawke’s Bay. It’s more Bordeaux like than most Aussie Cabernet. The texture, balance and core of fruit combine to delivery a wine of great finesse. Post fermentation and quality fruit result in long fine tannins and persistence of delicious fresh fruit flavours. 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot Wonderful perfume, savoury tobacco-laced and floral at once, cocoa, blue,
$146
$141ea in any 3+
$136ea in any 6+

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The term "Rosso Toscano" usually indicates an inexpensive wine made for everyday drinking. But in this case, the wine is essentially a Super Tuscan, made from a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Not a drop of Sangiovese, but it's unmistakably Tuscan — intense and concentrated, with a seductive tonal palate and enough body and tannic grip to age and evolve. The second label of Tenuta di Trinoro, Le Cupole was first produced in 1995. It is a blend of Cabern
$70
$67ea in any 3+
$64ea in any 6+

Yeringberg Cabernets 2019

Bordeaux Blend | Yarra Valley, Australia

Cabernet blends are the founding wines of the Yarra Valley & with good reason. Just think Yarra Yering, Mount Mary, Wantirna Estate, Yarra Yarra ... then add Yeringberg! "Cabernet Sauvignon 55%, Cabernet Franc 13%, Merlot 13%, Petit Verdot 10%, Malbec 9%. A wine that really shines in 2019, our latest Yeringberg blend combines depth, structure and generosity, with the elegance and refinement that we expect in this wine. The nose offers aromas of cassis, violets, plum and bay leaf, interwoven wit
$108
$103ea in any 3+
$98ea in any 6+

Cullen Diana Madeline 2019

Bordeaux Blend | Margaret River, Australia

Right on the back of 2018 we have another stunner from 2019 showing both the quality of the vineyard and the deft hand that guides the wine to bottle! Incredible power and concentration here, and yet, still lithe and so finely wrought. It’s ultra-mineral in feel with iron and dense graphite tannin, but perfumed and spice-laden too. The quality and feel of tannin here is something quite extraordinary. Plum and dark cherry, dark tobacco, whiff of empty chocolate box, superb length of flavour. E
$140
$136ea in any 3+
$132ea in any 6+

Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2019

Bordeaux Blend | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

Perfumed Refined Goodness! TeMate make a Cracking Cabernet blend. Demonstrating the immense potential of Cabernet in Hawke’s Bay. It’s more Bordeaux like than most Aussie Cabernet. The texture, balance and core of fruit combine to delivery a wine of great finesse. Post fermentation and quality fruit result in long fine tannins and persistence of delicious fresh fruit flavours. 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot Wonderful perfume, savoury tobacco-laced and floral at once, cocoa, blue,
$146
$141ea in any 3+
$136ea in any 6+

Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2021

Bordeaux Blend | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

Perfumed Refined Goodness! A single vineyard wine until 1989, Coleraine is an blend of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate’s oldest Havelock Hills vineyards, first planted in 1892. Always a cabernet sauvignon dominant wine, often with merlot and cabernet franc, Coleraine is refined and classical, demonstrating the immense potential for Bordeaux blends in Hawke’s Bay. In fact, it looks mroe Bordelais than most Aussie Cabernet. Very powerful in its youth, t
$155
$150ea in any 3+
$145ea in any 6+
The perfect and some what more affordable introduction to the wines of Ornellaia. For a long time I was unconvinced wines made from French varieties made in Italy. One wine stands out as changing my mind, 1990 Ornellaia, thanks Lou! Beautifully balanced and poised it was poured at an open wine night where the only criterion was that it had to be bloody good! 54% Merlot 28% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% Cabernet France 4% Petit Verdot The 2019 Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is delicate,
$157
$150ea in any 3+
$143ea in any 6+

Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2022

Bordeaux Blend | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

**DUE 1st Week March** A single vineyard wine until 1989, Coleraine is an blend of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate’s oldest Havelock Hills vineyards, first planted in 1892. Always a cabernet sauvignon dominant wine, often with merlot and cabernet franc, Coleraine is refined and classical, demonstrating the immense potential for Bordeaux blends in Hawke’s Bay. In fact, it looks mroe Bordelais than most Aussie Cabernet. Very powerful in its youth, th
$157
$152ea in any 3+
$147ea in any 6+

Château Léoville-Barton HALF 2018

Bordeaux Blend | Saint-Julien, Bordeaux

This estate has been on fire in recent vintages, and the 2018 Château Léoville Barton is up there with the best of them. Based on 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak, this classic, flawlessly balanced, straight-up awesome Saint-Julien has loads of cassis and mulberry fruits as well as notes of freshly sharpened pencils, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and earth. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has building tannins and health
$158
$153ea in any 3+
$148ea in any 6+

Château Léoville-Barton 2015

Bordeaux Blend | Saint-Julien, Bordeaux

I absolutely loved the 2015 Léoville-Barton and this has everything you could want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, and thrilling amounts of minerality all emerge from this inky colored, full-bodied, power-packed, brut of a Saint-Julien that holds everything together and stays pure, balanced and elegant on the palate. It has a lot of tannins, yet more than enough fruit. The 2015 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new Fr
$310
$303ea in any 3+
$296ea in any 6+
GO IN THE DRAW FOR THE RIGHT TO BUY

Te Mata Estate Coleraine MAGNUM 2020

Bordeaux Blend | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

Only a handful for the Country! Perfumed Refined Goodness! A single vineyard wine until 1989, Coleraine is an blend of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate’s oldest Havelock Hills vineyards, first planted in 1892. Always a cabernet sauvignon dominant wine, often with merlot and cabernet franc, Coleraine is refined and classical, demonstrating the immense potential for Bordeaux blends in Hawke’s Bay. In fact, it looks mroe Bordelais than most Aussie Cabernet.
$320
$310ea in any 3+
$300ea in any 6+

Te Mata Estate Coleraine MAGNUM 2021

Bordeaux Blend | Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Perfumed Refined Goodness! A single vineyard wine until 1989, Coleraine is an blend of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate’s oldest Havelock Hills vineyards, first planted in 1892. Always a cabernet sauvignon dominant wine, often with merlot and cabernet franc, Coleraine is refined and classical, demonstrating the immense potential for Bordeaux blends in Hawke’s Bay. In fact, it looks mroe Bordelais than most Aussie Cabernet. Very powerful in its youth, t
$355
$340ea in any 3+
$325ea in any 6+

Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2019

Bordeaux Blend | Bolgheri, Italy

Ornellaia is undoubtedly the refined lady of the estate. The reviews for the 2019 are full of superlatives. Hope to get a little of this in a glass soon. For a long time I was unconvinced wines made from French varieties made in Italy. One wine stands out as changing my mind, 1990 Ornellaia, thanks Lou! Beautifully balanced and poised it was poured at an open wine night where the only criterion was that it had to be bloody good! 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% C
$569
$549ea in any 3+
$529ea in any 6+
PRE-ARRIVAL

Les Forts de Latour 2018

Bordeaux Blend | Pauillac, Bordeaux

Pre-Arrival Offer & Pricing Closes 3 April 2024 Terms: Payment upon order. Delivery: August-September 2024. The 2018 Les Forts de Latour is made up of 65.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 0.4% Petit Verdot, with 14.2% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. It was aged in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal notions of baked black cherries, cassis and blackberry pie with hints of pencil lead, clove oil, cardamom and alls

Château Léoville-Las-Cases 2016

Bordeaux Blend | Saint-Julien, France

One of the high points of this great vintage, the 2016 Léoville Las Cases is a brilliant wine that unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s concentrated and complete, with beautifully refined tannins, vibrant acids and a long, mineral finish. Even in this series of great wines, it stands out for its cool classicism and unerring precision. Still an infant, while the 2016 is sufficient

Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore DOC MAGNUM 2019

Bordeaux Blend | Bolgheri, Italy

Ornellaia is undoubtedly the refined lady of the estate. The reviews for the 2019 are full of superlatives. Hope to get a little of this in a glass soon. For a long time I was unconvinced wines made from French varieties made in Italy. One wine stands out as changing my mind, 1990 Ornellaia, thanks Lou! Beautifully balanced and poised it was poured at an open wine night where the only criterion was that it had to be bloody good! 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% C
$1,272
$1252ea in any 3+
$1232ea in any 6+
PRE-ARRIVAL

Château Latour 1er Cru Classe 2017

Bordeaux Blend | Pauillac, Bordeaux

Pre-Arrival Offer & Pricing Closes 3 April 2024 Terms: Payment upon order. Delivery: August-September 2024. ‘The 2017 Latour is a blend of 92.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.8% Merlot and 0.1% Petit Verdot with 13.3% alcohol and an IPT of 66. Deep garnet-purple in color, it starts off a little broody before exploding from the glass with powerful scents of ripe blackcurrants, blackberry pie and preserved black cherries plus touches of cedar chest, fenugreek, cumin seed and charcoal wit