Grand Cru (Perth) Tasting Group – 20 May 2026 – Cabernet Shiraz / Shiraz Cabernet

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

This month’s theme was the Great Australian Red Blend -Cabernet Shiraz - or the reverse – Shiraz Cabernet. We gathered at the wonderful Lulu’s Little Bistro. Given the theme of the tasting, it’s not surprising that almost everyone ordered steaks!

We tasted 13 wines in total (plus a couple of corked or otherwise spoiled wines). As usual, we tasted from young to old, and all wines were served blind.

Rockford ‘Rod and Spur’ Shiraz Cabernet 2022 (Barossa Valley).62% Shiraz, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright almost perfumed red fruits on the nose, with pot Pourri, cranberry, mulberry. A little mocha and cedary oak. The palate has black and red plums, mulberry, and a touch of menthol. Slight alcohol heat and slightly lacking middle palate. Modest tannins and oak, and a little mouthfeel / grip. Medium bodied and reasonable length – elegant rather than powerful.

Penfolds 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2022 (Coonawarra and Barossa). Vanillan oak and coconut leading on the nose, with coffee grounds, chocolate, baking spices and plenty of dark fruits – especially blackberry. There’s more dark fruits (blueberry, blackberry, dark plums) and chocolate on the palate. Soft but grippy tannins, medium to full bodied and a long finish. Surprisingly drinkable at this age and well-regarded by the group (a few of whom guessed this was a 389).

Leconfield D.G.R Cabernet Shiraz 2022 (Coonawarra). A slightly hot nose, with baking spices and menthol, mulberry and dark berries and some graphite. The palate shows juicy red and dark fruits, and chocolate (almost Cherry Ripe). Its soft, with dusty tannins and is medium to full bodied with a long finish.

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Faber CSS 2020 Cabernet Shiraz (Frankland River and Swan Valley). A 50/50 blend. The nose shows red plums, blackcurrant / blackberry, with a little eucalypt and oak in the background. Red and black berries on the palate, with some baking spices and vanilla. Grippy tannins, good freshening acid, medium to full bodied with a long finish. Some tasters considered we were drinking this too young. Well regarded by the group.

Howard Park A.S.W. Cabernet Shiraz 2020 (Margaret River). Mulberries, red berries, blackberries and violets on the nose, along with baking spices (especially cloves), graphite and a touch of mint. There’s juicy red berries on the plush palate, with blackberries and dark plums. The palate is satiny and soft, with freshening acid, gentle tannins, and a medium to long finish. Well regarded by the group.

Brown Hill ‘Bill Bailey’ Shiraz Cabernet 2018 (Margaret River). Mocha, eucalypt, and pencil shaving on the nose, with jubey red fruits, blackberry and blueberry. There’s more eucalypt and red fruits on the palate, with a little chocolate and a slight sourness. Soft tannins, reasonable acid and slight alcohol heat lead to a medium to long finish.

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Penley Estate ‘Eos’ Shiraz Cabernet 2016 (Coonawarra) Red plums, mulberry and raspberry on the nose, with darker berries, and dusty oak. There’s menthol and r ed berries on the palate and some stalkiness (some tasters considered there might be some whole bunches in the mix). Firm and grippy tannins and noticeable acid, A slight hollowness on mid palate and a medium to long finish.

Wynns ‘V&A Lane’ Cabernet Shiraz 2016 (Coonawarra). Juicy dark fruits (blackberry, dark plums) on the nose, with red currant, mint and savoury oak. Gentle black and red fruits on the palate-considerable fruit sweetness and some palate weight. Some pepper also. Integrating tannins, plenty of supporting acid and a medium to long finish. Youthful – a long life ahead of it.

Yalumba ‘Signature’ Cabernet Shiraz 2016. Bright and vibrant red berry fruits on the nose, with mint and savoury oak. More juicy berries on the palate, with choc / orange, mint, fine grippy tannins and prominent acid. Long finish and also considered youthful. Well regarded by the group.

Tahbilk ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Shiraz 2015 (Nagambie Lakes, Victoria). A dusty nose, with mostly darker fruits (plums, blueberry) and a little raspberry. There’s mocha, milk chocolate and especially cocoa powder. The palate leans more towards tangy red berries, although there’s plenty of blue and black berries also. Plenty of freshening acid, and some grippy drying tannins starting to integrate. Long finish, and also considered youthful.

Wynns ‘V&A Lane’ Cabernet Shiraz 2014 (Coonawarra). Slightly oak dominant on the nose, with pepper and spices. Cranberry, red fruits and blueberries and a touch of Chesterfield leather. More pepper on the palate, with juicy red fruits, a little alcohol heat. Acid appears softer than the 2016 and tannins more integrated. Medium to long finish.

Penfolds 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2014 (Coonawarra and Barossa). Mocha initially on the nose, with plenty of dark fruits, especially blackberry. Some mint and menthol, milk chocolate and a couple of tasters opted for pine cones. The palate is dense, with cocoa and chocolate, more dark fruits and a couple of tasters went for salted liquorice. Grippy tannins, full bodied and a long finish. Once again, the group considered this youthful.

Penfolds 389 Cabernet Shiraz 1998 (Coonawarra and Barossa). The nose opened with a little leather, and quickly opened to moderately developed blackberry and similar fruits. There’s coffee and baking spices also. The palate is Chesterfield leather, mocha, and surprisingly for its age, no shortage of semi-sweet fruits. There’s slight tannic grip and considerable length. Amazingly fresh for its age and very well balanced. Easily voted as Wine of the Night.

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Once again, a fascinating and informative tasting. My thanks as always to Mark, Jodie and the Lulu’s team, and to those who participated in this tasting.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

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[Waiters Friend]

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[GraemeG]

All too young, almost, with the exception of last century!
Do I assume a Yalumba was corked?
I am wondering if, as I get older, I want the wines I drink to be older as well!

[phillisc]

Thanks for the great notes as always Allan, you are most fortunate to have both a great venue and a great group for regular tastings in WA.
Sad that we can't do same in Adelaide, with a great range of wines such as these.
I'm fortunate to have about 70% of these in the cellar...so its great to have your notes as a reference point.

I do have some concern for the Wynns V&A's, they're about to introduce another one to the portfolio, rather another wine that gets lost in the abyss that they have created....some 15+ reds made now...getting like a lot of no names in the Pennies portfolio.
A Black Label Cabernet Shiraz upcoming for the 2024 vintage release. Yes a great blend for Coonawarra, but one wonders why this wasn't introduced years ago, or that they already have one in the portfolio that they need to market better.
I'm looking at the 24s next month with MJS, so will report back.
Cheers Craig

[Waiters Friend]

Thanks for the great notes as always Allan, you are most fortunate to have both a great venue and a great group for regular tastings in WA.
Cheers Craig

Thanks indeed, Craig. I concur and have passed your comments onto the group.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

Do I assume a Yalumba was corked?

HI Graeme. We had three wines that didn't make it into the notes (but were already in the photos), and the Yalumba Signature was one of them. Fortunately, the first bottle was looking good indeed.

Cheers
Allan