Grant Burge Nebu Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2017 in Red

Australia
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV 14.5
Zalto Denk'Art Bordeaux Glass

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 5 June “The 2017 Nebu immediately announces itself with impressive presence and poise. The bouquet unfurls slowly from the glass, revealing layers of blackberry compote, cassis, black plum and wood-fire smoke - this positively smoulders. With air, more complex notes emerge - cedar, roasted coffee bean, dark chocolate, graphite, liquorice together with a gentle lift of dried sage and bay leaf.

The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully composed. Waves of ripe black fruits flood the palate, yet there is nothing heavy or cumbersome about the delivery. Concentrated blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intertwine with notes of cocoa, mocha, sweet spice and finely shaved cedar. The Shiraz provides generosity and depth whilst the Cabernet contributes shape, freshness and architectural precision. Neither variety seeks dominance - both play an equally important role in shaping the wine's overall character.

What impresses most is the balance and, perhaps more importantly, where the wine is sitting today. Approaching a decade of age, the 2017 has begun to shift gear. Primary fruit remains in evidence, but secondary complexities are steadily taking centre stage. Tobacco leaf, cedar, leather, graphite and savoury spice weave themselves through the fruit core, adding layers of intrigue and sophistication.

The tannins are exceptionally polished, framing the fruit rather than dominating it. There is a touch of opulence (a reflection of both the fruit quality and the vintage) beautifully juxtaposed by a seam of freshness that runs through the core. The finish is long, savoury and increasingly complex, lingering with notes of dark chocolate, spice, smoke and dried herbs. This is Nebu entering a particularly rewarding stage of its evolution. The exuberance of youth is giving way to something more nuanced and compelling. It certainly suits my preferences… Drink now (decant for an hour) and cellar for a further 5-6-years. It has the bones to cellar for longer, but check-in from time to time…”

17 Points - Jancis Robinson.com
Purple with a grey edge to it. Bacon-fat, cedar, clove and subtle chocolate notes layered over jammy raspberry and cherry, with again a menthol scent. Plenty of upfront, rich black fruit on the palate, with a fair amount of powdery, ripe tannins too. Some warmth through the finish, but there’s plenty of length here. This may be an ‘icon’, but it’s no bruiser; more Sean Connery than Daniel Craig. (TJ).

96 points David Sly / Decanter: ‘Choosing Cabernet to drive this top-tier blend (short for Nebuchadnezzar) brings lovely grace and lusciousness to the palate, and showing off the character of the cooler 2017 vintage underlines this finesse and elegance. Long silken threads stream all through the palate, guided by soft tannins to a rich, harmonious finish. Different to other top-tier Grant Burge wines – and definitely not a sum of Meshach and Shadrach components – it harnesses power through restraint.

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£143.10 per case of 6

£286.20 per case of 12

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