Koonara Reserve Cab Sav.

I've been hanging on to this bottle, and another like it, for a while, so what better occasion than christms dinner to crack it open?  It's a satisfying bottle, which gives the impression of high quality; including a gold "museum release" sticker.  Those sharing the bottle were suitably impressed, and I had to hope that the wine itself did not let them down.  

And it didn't.  Assuming the grapes are from the same vineyard as the Temptress (if not they'd be close, so share the same conditions), a few years has only improved the wine.  It has become richer and more complex.  The Koonara website says tobacco leaf and violet, but I smelled cinnamon and jammy blackberry.  The mouthfeel was smooth and creamy, with firm lingering tannins, and flavours of plum, boysenberry and chocolate.  I can't wait to drink the other bottle.  

Food: Lamb, and more lamb.

Price: $27 a bottle.