Winemaker Notes
revolve around. Flavors like plums and violets tend to show in the palate with the merlot contribution lingering on with chewy black chocolate notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 83% Cabernet and 17% Merlot, is the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Prelude Vineyards. A Bordeaux-like bouquet of tobacco, cedar, black currants, and new oak is followed by an elegant, austere but concentrated offering with beautiful purity and flavors, medium to full body, sweet tannin, and a long, nicely-textured finish. It should drink well for a decade.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.