I’ve been enjoying trying my way through the Leogate Estate range (read my Chardonnay review here) and was surprised that the Leogate Estate Cabernet Merlot 2017 had slipped through the cracks. Surprised and delighted, because it meant I still had some to enjoy!
Leogate Estate is a sustainable estate at the foot of the Brokenback Mountain Range. The vines were first planted in the 1960s by one of the founding fathers of the modern Australian wine industry, Len Evans. It was bought by Bill and Vicki Widin in 2008.
This wine is from their new Lion’s Pride range. A lion’s pride is its family comprising of many family members. This name came from the idea that the Leogate Estate Lion has its own extensive pride to symbolically represent its three vineyards and wide array of grape varietals and blends.
The Leogate Estate Cabernet Merlot 2017 is a French-inspired blend that seriously delivers on flavour. What I love about it most is that it already has a few years on it, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy it. The wine was matured for 12 months on French oak prior to release, giving it a beautiful complexity and structure.
On the nose, I got cherry, blackberry and raspberry. This followed through into the palate which had beautifully silky tannins and a really nice structure. The wine is smooth and complex yet refined and has a lovely long finish.
Did I mention the Leogate Estate Cabernet Merlot 2017 is $20 a bottle? Aged and delicious, simply tasty wine at that price point? Sign me up!
Food-wise I can’t think of a better pairing than braised meat or roasted beef. At 14% ABV, this wine is a perfect match for bold and rich dishes.
The Lions Pride range including this wine is available exclusively for purchase from bottle shops across the country including Mr Liquor stores, Super Cellars, Bottler, Local Liquor Australia and other independent bottle shops.