Brand & Sons Family Reserve Cabernets 2016
- 95
- $75
- Drink by: 2021 - 2031
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A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, this is a superbly crafted example of a Bordeaux blend from Coonawarra. ‘Family Reserve’ was once just that, reserved for family and close friends. This blend is compelling evidence that, on occasion, the sum of the total is greater than anything one gets from the individual components.
Deep red. Gorgeously plush nose. Alluring. There are gamey notes here, florals, chocolate, dry herbs, dark berries, tobacco leaf. Oak is also present but there is lovely integration. Seamless. This wine has a softer structure than many Coonawarra Cabs, but there is no problem at all with that. Fine silky tannins. Excellent length. It offers a good decade or more potential for well cellared bottles. Love this.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
