Sitting around a table with esteemed wine writer, Philip White, we tasted a 2010 Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon as the South Australian Drink Of The Week.
We were surrounded by hundreds of wine bottles and a similar quantity of boxes and packages that had carried the wine to Philip’s door, much to his chagrin. He says too many wineries overdo the packaging and use materials that will not break down. Conversely, he is delighted when a winery sends him samples and he can see layer upon layer of previous labels, mentioning other wine writers; it is a joy for its novelty and its environmental care.
2010 Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon tasting notes
Philip’s first comment was that this new release of an eight year old wine is a really neat example of what he would consider traditional-style Clare Cabernet.
He said it doesn’t have lots of obvious berry fruit and the nature of Clare Cabernet is more olivine, something he believes is relative to humidity.
Steve said the Sevenhill aspect conjured images of monasteries and convents, and the experience was like leaning against a chalk board in such large, timber-made structures. Philip clarified Steve’s thought by saying that, yes, he also got a chalky character from it.
Philip said there is much atmosphere in this wine, similar to standing in a meadow in the sunlight or like the faint, hard-to-describe, dusty fragrance given off by fresh paper flowers.
You can hear the live tasting of the 2010 Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon by using the player below or by searching for our podcast in your favourite podcast app, and downloading The Adelaide Show Podcast 243.
Photo: Philip White.