I am a fan of Yarra Valley Cabernet. I see it as quite an underrated variety in the region that sits in the shadows of its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir friends. All that said, this Barkala release from Oakridge was a little off the pace from previous vintages I've tasted.
It's a wine that shows the leafy side of Cabernet. After a few days of tasting, that green tinge was still evident and surrounded by the likes of passata, blackberries, cassis, blackberry jubes. Dried herbs makes themselves known with soft spices pinned to the flank. I found it to sit more to the front of the palate rather than demonstrate that consistent flow that I have come to know. It's a fair wine but there are others I'd prefer at this price point.
89/100
Region: Yarra Valley