2014 Dowie Doole Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

$22.40 btl / $268.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml)

Although Shiraz is the most recognized grape from this region, great success has been seen with Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and a number of Italian varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon is typically harvested in late March and displays the rich, ripe characters that typify wines from this region.

On offer this week is the 2014 Dowie Doole Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit comes from two distinct vineyard locations: the California Road Vineyard owned by Norm Doole and the Tintookie Vineyard owned by Drew Dowie. These vineyards produce very distinctive fruit that complement each other when blended.

Enjoy a deep, rich purple colour with a complex nose of ripe, sweet dark berries, licorice, black currants and a touch of vanilla and coffee from the oak maturation. The palate is rich and full, with dark berry and blackcurrant characters. It has a rich and round mouth-feel with bold tannins that will soften further with bottle age.

This is another wine that you should not miss as it is a tremendous value. If you enjoy Cabernet from California but have not enjoyed the significant price increase over the years this wine may just be what you have been looking for.

Price: Case of 12 at $268.80 ($22.40 per bottle)

Drink: Now or over the next 10 years

Type/Variety/Body: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Pairing: Rabbit ragu, braised lamb shanks, grilled meats, flank steak or pulled pork tacos, osso bucco, aged cheddar

Accolades: 94 points James Halliday – www.winecompanion.com.au
“A no-frills, yet nigh-on perfect example of McLaren Vale cabernet, which gives equal time to the expression of place and of variety in a generous medium-bodied frame. Blackcurrant, dark chocolate, black olive, a splash of oak and supple tannins all contribute.”

Dowie Doole came to fruition in 1995, when architect Drew Dowie joined forces with international Canadian banker Norm Doole and Leigh Gilligan, grape grower and veteran wine marketer. They realized from the start that the strength of Dowie Doole was the collection of widely-varying premium vineyards in the region. We have been proudly representing their wines in Ontario since the very beginning.

McLaren Vale, in the north-west of Fleurieu Peninsula, is located approximately 35km south of Adelaide. One of the most renowned grape growing regions throughout Australia and the world grapes have been grown in this region since the arrival of the first settlers. Pioneers such as Thomas Hardy and John Reynella, both iconic names in the Australian wine industry, are credited with having realized the region’s potential in the early 19th century when the first vines were planted. McLaren Vale has come a long way since then and is home to some of Australia’s most highly regarded wine producers, including Dowie Doole.

Within McLaren Vale you the will find Dowie Doole’s vineyards located from the coastal south-east of the prime Willunga Basin, through Blewitt Springs, onto the cooler Willunga escarpment, and right into the higher country over the ridge. These locations provide a range of flavours and ripening timeframes that are second to none in this beautiful region.

The climate is Mediterranean with hot dry summers and mild winters. The Gulf Saint Vincent lies just west of the vineyards and the fresh sea breezes coming off this large body of water help to moderate temperatures during the growing season. Winds from the hills also cool the grapes on specific sites, helping to retain acidity and structure. The summers and most of the autumn season are dry, which keeps vine diseases at bay. McLaren Vale also boasts a wide range of soil types, with localized specialties.