Price: $8
Maker: Lindemans Wines, Australia
Varietal: Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Lindemans Cawarra Shiraz Cabernet 2004 epitomizes the high quality but very affordable wines that Australia has to offer. Its nose is pleasantly spicy with strong berry notes and a hint of licorice. The flavor is straightforward raspberry and cherry. This is one wine that finishes more strongly than it begins, with oak and a bit of acidity bringing the fruit forward into a long and rewarding finish. The breakdown of this wine is 65% Shiraz and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and Lindemans has blended well to produce an ideal mix.
Surprisingly, we found very little in the blogosphere about this wine. We did spot a reviewer on a review site who reported mixed results with different bottles, but our impression is that this Shiraz-cab blend seems to be an overlooked bargain. In our opinion, it falls into the “crowd pleaser” category – it may not be the most sophisticated red, but its flavor will appeal to both the novice and more experienced wine enthusiast.
The Lindemans site comments on their Cawarra label wines:
The Cawarra wines hold a special significance for Lindemans, as they were the first range of wines produced by Dr Henry J Lindeman and are named after his historic homestead, Cawarra, near Gresford in New South Wales. Today their fruity flavour continues to appeal to people around the world…
Having friends over for a barbecue or homemade lasagna? Give this Lindemans blend a try. No critters, no trendy labels… just an easy to enjoy wine.
I am VERY fond of this wine, at least its cousin: Bin 55 Shiraz Cab 2007 which is 60/40%. I tried a bottle and it is more pleasing than what I had been buying. The designation Cawarra is missing from the 2007 bottle. What is the diff?
Anne Johnson