As you recall from my Aroma: Eucalyptus post, I promised to taste some wines which are supposed to show eucalyptus. Thus today I am tasting the 2008 Gumdale Shiraz Cabernet by Wakley Vintners in Australia. With a name like Gumdale and being surrounded by Eucalyptus trees, I figure the aroma and flavor will be obvious. I acquired this bottle with the plastic cork (screw-cap would be better) of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon for under $7. The label touts the mint and eucalyptus flavors from the Cabernet Sauvignon so I am excited to try it. Though I admit I would probably have difficulty distinguishing the mint from the eucalyptus consistently. I’ve got to train more.
Color
The color in the glass is purple/black inky dark. Real dark stuff.
Aroma
Great aroma wafting out of the glass long before I have even gotten close to picking it up. Definitely showing eucalyptus on the nose. Very much that menthol type of effect it produces. There is also some blackberry and cedar.
Flavor
Sweet fruit on the attack. There is very ripe red raspberry and cherry which turns syrupy on the mid-palate. But it is so sweet as to taste artificial. The finish shows some tannins and black pepper. But the sugary red fruit syrup continues to linger. This won’t pair well with a lot of food, but could match up well with a fruity desert.
Rating
This was just way too sweet for my palate. I rate it 80 points. But considering the low price, it provides a cheap, effective way to test out whether you like or dislike the eucalyptus aroma in wine.
Do you like the presence of eucalyptus?
Nice post. You know I like the eucalyptus! Sounds like this one’s not worth looking for though. Too bad. For your readers, I can recommend the Cline Small Berry Mourvedre (around $30) or the Cline Cashmere (around $15). Full reviews on my blog.