Woodland Cabernet / Merlot, 2008

Woodland
Margaret river
Cabernet/ Merlot
2008

   The woodland I came across was because I have become genuinly interested in Margeret River lately, The woodland top shelf I am familiar with. However, in the search of good value plonk, this Cabernet / Merlot proved to be more than just 'plonk'.
    Being a 2008 the nose threw a rich stalky texture a little menthol infact, the wine is too young i thought but through its youth came a well rounded fruit feel of blackberrys and a little dark plum. Quite intiesing and i could see that the aromatics were in balance, this would be an interesting wine to lay down for a while and allow those stalky textures to tone themselves down a touch.
   At first the wine showed an intense stalky feel ofcourse but after 20 minutes the green notes sliped into more of the structure of the wine rather than the centre peice and fruit weight became complemented by an extremly velvety tannin influence, overall acidity was in balance and I could really see some real production skills at work in this wine. The merlot is not here to drive the wine but merely to cut the edges of the youthfull west coast cabernet and it will continue to keep this wine like velvet throughout its life, but as the cabernet loses its green notes I expect the middle palate to lift and start working with the back palate in a way that will allow these velvety tannins to come to the fore and retain a fairly dry crisp finish.Often 'crisp' is refered to when discussing white wine but in this case it refers to the finese of the wine and the belief that the fruit will retain a refined feel throughouit its life and not develop into a flabby of stewed fruit character.
   Personally  I would like to see this wine in 5 years but also curious about its ability to keep improving with further age.

4 / 5 case rating
5- 10 years cellar
classy good value catagory
5 / 5 for good value
screw cap seal
value-$20.99 / Dan Murphys- fine wine