While Grosset’s Rieslings are almost universally praised, their Cabernet blend, the Gaia, has always come across to me as a bit of a polarising wine based on what I have read, or at the very least, not as highly regarded as their Rieslings. It’s funny how you can build up a view point on a wine you’ve never tried, and I certainly had with the Gaia, thinking it a bit of an overpriced wine. Having now tried the 06 Gaia, however, I reckon it’s a damn impressive wine, and viewed in context in no way over-priced.
The 2006 Gaia is a blend of 75% Cab Sav, 20% Cab Franc, and 5% Merlot.
This wine is elegant in all the right ways. It has a distinctive nose with sweet berry aromas, but also some appealing greener, herbal notes, including a hint of capsicum. On the palate it is medium-bodied and superbly balanced. It has a lovely core of rich, sweet fruit with hints of chocolate but nevertheless gives an overall impression of being savoury with some nice earthiness. Fine tannins support the smooth, long finish. Nothing overdone and everything in its right place. Loved drinking this (after a good decant), and reckon it will just get better and more complex over the next 10 years.
Details
Rated:
+RRP: $58
ABV: 14%
Website: http://www.grosset.com.au/
Red
5 comments:
Nice note Red, I have a lot to agree with you on here and am particularly glad you've discovered this wine!
It's long been one of my very favourite Clare cabernets, it's just that it speaks of a typical Grosset-like elegance that is almost unClare-like when it comes to cabernet. Jeffrey seems to have a real good touch when it comes to blending cabernet franc into the wine for its aromatics and lighter, leaner qualities. I'm a big fan of the 06 too.
Cheers,
Chris P
Thanks Chris. Out of interest, how do you find it from vintage to vintage? Is it a wine you'd be happy purchasing a few bottles of each vintage (obviously excluding any shocking vintages), or would you look to cherry-pick the good vintages (like 06)?
I wouldn't go as far as to say I'd buy it every vintage, but then again, there are very few Australian wines I would stock up on every year, especially for $58...;)
Ditto what Chris said, in good vintages it is an excellent wine. I normally buy the Grosset Rizzas and chuck a bottle in for good measure (though I don't think I'd bother with the 07 given the vintage).
thanks guys
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