SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
2008 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion
"Vibrant colour; pristine fruit aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, ironstone and a suggestion of oak; the complexity continues to unroll on the palate, with bitter chocolate offsetting the generous fruit; as expected the structure is firm, but the generosity shines through on the very long and even finish. "
2011
2008 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
Jeremy Oliver - The Australian Wine Annual
"An earthy, savoury dry red, with a long, firm, drying and astringent palate. Dark-fruited and spicy, its faintly stalky aromas of blackberries, dark plums, mulberries and cassis are lifted by a violet-like perfume, while its long, meaty and firmly structured palate delivers a pleasing depth of complex, leathery, rustic fruit. Perhaps a little distracted by its herbal cabernet-derived influences."
2012
2007 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
"Scoop" - Regional Wines, Winter Warmers
"There is depth of fruit that is quite clenched and contained in this wine. It has focus and precision with the generosity of shiraz and the tightness of cabernet. It is quenching, has thickness with surging black fruit and will continue to offer lavish drinking for many years to come."
Winter 2009
2007 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
Scoop Magazine, Regional Wines – Winter Warmers
"There is depth of fruit that is quite clenched and contained in this wine. It has focus and precision with the generosity of shiraz and the tightness of cabernet. It is quenching, has thickness with surging black fruit and will continue to offer lavish drinking for many years to come. "
Winter 2009
2005 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
"Wine - Gourmet Traveller"
"2005 Frankland Estate SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet is the first vintage of this new line from Frankland Estate. It appealed to Caillard in particular, who wrote 'intense plum, with chocolate and mocha. Plenty of sweet fruit, with choc/berry flavours. Pronounced tannins, cedary and long.' ... The wine is showing some complexity from bottle age, but clearly has the structure to develop further over several years."
Star Performers over $25, June / July 2009
2005 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
Jay Miller - Robert Parker's "Wine Advocate" # 181 magazine
"The purple-colored 2005 Smith-Cullam Shiraz (70%)-Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) has aromas of spice box, meat, game, and blueberry leading to a finesse-styled wine with well-concealed structure, excellent balance, and a silky finish. Give it 2-3 years and drink it from 2010 to 2018."
February 2009
2005 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
James Halliday - "Australian Wine Companion 2009
"Plenty of concentration, the fruit quite savoury; full bodied, with firm, savoury tannins on the finish."
2009
2005 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
Josh Reynolds - "The Australian Premium Wine Collection"
"Ruby-red. Exotically perfumed nose offers fresh cherry and blackcurrant scents along with Asian spices, incense and vanillin oak spice. Quite suave, with seamless red and dark fruit compote flavors and fully absorbed tannins. Finishes with impressive juicy length and a strong echo of sweet cherry preserves. This is lovely right now. I also had a chance to re-try the 2004 Isolation Ridge Shiraz and the 2003 Olmo's Reward and found both to still be very youthful, with fresh acidity and restrained, balanced personalities."
September / October 2008
2005 SmithCullam Shiraz Cabernet
Ray Jordan
"The Frankland Estate 2005 Smith Cullam shiraz cabernet ($54) is the first commercial release of the blend of 70 per cent shiraz and 30 per cent cabernet sauvignon. Itis an intense and complex wine with aromas of blackberry and red berry fruits lifted with a little mint and spice. Toss in some dark chocolate and you get the picture. The palate is deep and powerful with multi-layers of rich fruit. Well structured and superbly balanced. It is, in my belief, the best wine yet released from Frankland Estate."
February 2008