89/100
3.5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Good depth and hue of colour. Slight dried animal-skin aroma; savoury aged characters. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit, rich and lush, if not very detailed. The finish is drying, with a big grip that persists. A solid wine; one of the bigger-structured vintages.
Tasted: 13/08/2019
Drink: 2019 to 2019
86 Points James Halliday
Medium to full red-purple; complex, rich blackberry fruit, with a few savoury overtones and subtle oak on the bouquet, are followed by a palate which opens with abundant fruit, but then drying tannins come as a real shock in what is normally a wine of impeccable balance. Given the abundance of fruit, the tannins may soften enough to bring it into balance. Drink to 2017.
Source: James Halliday. October, 1999
"The 1997 Gaia Proprietary Red Wine (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot) displays a Bordeaux-like red and black currant-scented nose with spice box, cedar, and vanillin. This classy effort represents a perfect marriage of traditional European winemaking with Australia's more modern day approach. Medium-bodied, with moderate tannin, and well-integrated acidity and wood, this elegant wine should drink well for 12-15 years."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #127 February 2000