Serafino McLaren Vale gold-medal cabernet and Taylors Clare Valley Shiraz among show stoppers

From the first smell of blackcurrants and blueberries, I could tell this was my type of plush, fruit-forward cabernet. It was just one of several gold-medal winning reds in our tasting line up.

The Serafino Cabernet Sauvignon from 2017: A ‘plush, fruit-forward cabernet’.

Wine is personal. It’s about you. In the world of wine, the only thing that really matters is finding the wines that turn you on.

I’ve spent thousands on this chase over the years. Once, when the magazine I was editing was suddenly shut down, I consoled myself by “discovering” pinot noirs from different wine regions to understand the styles that most appealed to me. Some diversion!

The truth is that we can read about wine (and we should, to learn the basics) and we can listen to what wine critics say (and we should, because they will steer us towards quality), but the only way to understand what we like is to taste, taste and taste.

The joy of finding a wine that gets you jumping is absolute. I had such a moment last week when sampling one of the wines our club has on offer today: a Serafino Cabernet Sauvignon from 2017. From the first rush of blackcurrants and blueberries, I could tell it was my type of plush, fruit-forward cabernet.

All the wines featured today are gold medal winners. They have been judged to be among the best examples of their type. While it was the Serafino that really spoke to me, you may well favour another. The hunt continues.

Serafino Black Label McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Serafino “Steve” Maglieri has been dancing to the tune of wine since arriving in Australia from Italy as a teenager and helping his father, Giovanni, plant their first McLaren Vale vines in the late 1960s.

Within a decade, he was winning over wine judges, being crowned “Bushing King” for best red wine in the McLaren Vale Wine Show. He achieved this honour again in 1992 and 2007, while further national recognition followed in 1997 when he won the trophy for Best Shiraz in the Great Australian Wine Challenge.

The Black Label cabernet greets you with an array of black fruit aromas and that hint of menthol that I’ve come to love in Australian cabernets. Velvety smooth on the palate, the generous fruit flavours are balanced by an adroit use of oak. Club president James Halliday handed out 95 points, saying: “This is long and polished. A good drink to be aged with confidence and without unduly damaging your bank balance.” The 2017 won gold at the McLaren Vale Wine Show and the China Wine & Spirits Awards.

CLUB SPECIAL $19.99 a bottle in any dozen

-

Taylors Heritage Release Clare Valley Shiraz 2018

This is classic Clare Valley shiraz; a wine good enough to enjoy on the grandest of occasions or at the simplest of midweek family dinners. Plums, dark cherries and black olives on the nose, leading to rich fruit flavours layered with spice and roasted coffee. From one of Australia’s First Families of Wine, the 2018 was awarded gold at the Monterey Wine Competition and a double gold medal at the China Wine & Spirits Awards.

CLUB SPECIAL $19.99 a bottle in any dozen

-

Allegiance Wines The Artisan Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Dark berries and chocolate swirl together in this powerful, well-balanced Coonawarra red. Initially restrained on the nose, I’d recommend decanting for several hours to experience the full depth of flavours on offer. Behind stylish Coonawarra fruit, you’ll uncover dark cassis, cedar, herbs and spice. The wine spent 10 months in new and aged oak barrels and will surely reward those patient enough to cellar for another five to seven years. Scored golds at the International Wine Awards and Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition.

CLUB SPECIAL $19.99 a bottle in any dozen

-

Bleasdale Vineyards Second Innings Langhorne Creek Malbec 2017

Described by James Halliday’s wine team as “flavourful, joyous drinking”. Bleasdale is one of our most consistent producers of Malbec, almost always picking up scores well into
the 90s. This is no different: plump, juicy and soft, with a generous mid-palate of boysenberries, plums and slight vanilla notes. Won gold at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show in 2018.

CLUB SPECIAL $19.99 a bottle in any dozen

-

More gold medla specials

GOLD MEDAL DOZEN DEAL
Mixed gold medal reds for $18.99 a bottle

The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaite’s Wine People.