Casella Wines [yellow tail] The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Very clean on the nose, and very correct too. This is textbook Cabernet, with some dusty leaf, some dark fruit and cedar oak. It's also textbook in the sense that it feels a bit detached and clinical -- if beauty relies on flaws, this wine's aroma never quite approaches a sense of the beautiful because it's just so correct. Not to linger too much on this point; there's something to be said for a wine without distractions. 

Quite structured in the mouth, with abundant though balanced acidity and firm, ripe tannins. In terms of the way this wine flows, there's an unnerving precision to its crescendo from entry to middle palate. It's totally controlled and linear. A good deal of flavour is present at this point, mostly dark fruit with some complexity from citrus and oak notes. I detect a little overripeness in the fruit character. Sappy oak begins to dominate the after palate and this continues, along with plenty of drying tannins, through a decent finish. There's a pretty reverberation right at the end of the line. This tastes like a more expensive wine than it is.

It's all terribly well done. A good casual dinner party wine. I feel guilty for not being more excited.

[yellow tail]
Price: $A15
Closure: Diam