I hosted a rather fine private client event last week in Mayfair and lined up a superb collection of what I call “everyday posh” wines from Jeroboams. All of the wines were European apart from my featured wine this week. The evening was characterised by a cornucopia of flavours and, by all accounts, the wines hit their mark. Interestingly, the most commented upon wine was this Margaret River cabernet sauvignon and it was the most expensive on the night, too.
A rogue Aussie, from one of the finest estates in the country, Ribbon Vale sits in between Moss Wood estate cabernet and the forward-drinking Amy’s cuvée in both flavour and price (both of these wines are featured in my 100 Best Australian Wines 2018/19 report and both of them are in stock with more coming in the autumn).
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Ribbon Vale borrows class from its world-famous parent, and immediacy and flair from its junior sibling. What is amazing is that 2015 Moss Wood Cab and 2017 Amy’s are my featured vintages in this year’s “100 Best” – and yet Ribbon Vale is still on the 2013 vintage and it is fully mature and utterly irresistible.
Smashing claret aside with the back of its hand, this is the real deal from Australia and it will blow you away. When the 2013 vintage runs out, the awesome 2015 follows – what fun you will have.
2013 Moss Wood, Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia £29.95, reduced to £26.96 by the case, from Jeroboams.co.uk, 020-7288 8888
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (MatthewJukes.com).
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek
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