Zema Estate Family Selection Coonawarra Cabernet 2018
- 95
- $50
- Drink by: 2024-2039
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This is a seriously good Coonawarra Cabernet and a very well-priced one. A case or two of this in the cellar for a decade and you’ll look like a genius. Similar winemaking as for the Family Shiraz, again with two years oak maturation. The wine is from a brilliant vintage and has had time to develop complexity. An opaque vibrant purple, this is a touch more austere than the Shiraz at this early stage, but just as exciting. We have notes of blackberries, cigar boxes, aniseed, dried herbs, roast meats and cassis. This has fine structure and focus, very fine, sleek but firm tannins and exemplary length. The oak influence is handled immaculately in a wine that will provide pleasure for the next ten to fifteen years.
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.
