Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

A classic Bowen Cabernet from a great year in Coonawarra – the '99 Coonawarras are generally looking much better than the much heralded '98s, a bit like the 91s compared with the '90s (for those of you who can remember, the '91s were ridiculed when released, coming as they did after the fruit forward '90s. But how the ugly duckling has blossomed and left its older sibling in the shade).

Doug Bowen rates this vintage as one of the best of the last decade, on a par with the 1996 and 1990.

"A perfectly balanced wine with a palate of sweet cassis, a terrific complexity of other flavours and a long liquorice finish.  It has ample body, harmonious complexity and can best be described as a very clean wine."  Ric Einstein

"Very deep colour with rich ruby hues. The wine has a delightful nose with lots of berries and a touch of liquorice. The palate is young yet intense, showing great flavour and softness, the hallmark of a great Coonawarra Cabernet. The strong berry fruit flavours complement the oak flavours and tannins. The palate is very long and finishes soft with a lingering finesse."  Bowen Estate

Expert reviews

"Medium red-purple; the bouquet has an elegant mix of cedary and blackberry aromas, the medium-bodied palate following down the same path, replete with ripe tannins and a long finish."  James Halliday – 90 points

"Deep crimson. Intense dark chocolate/liquorice aromas with malty/mocha oak. Dense wine with chocolate savoury nuances, touches of iodine/seaweed, fine pronounced tannins finishing quite grippy and tight."  Andrew Caillard MW

"The nose shows cedar, rich cassis, liquorice and some green tea.  Great use of oak, fine grain smooth tannins, the pure and distinct fruit produce a perfectly balanced wine with a palate of sweet cassis, a terrific complexity of other flavours and a long liquorice finish.  It has ample body, harmonious complexity and can best be described as very clean wine.  It should peak somewhere after 2006 and I rated it as Excellent with **** for value. I purchased a six-pack."  Ric Einstein, www.torbwine.com

About the winery

Bowen Estate is one of the iconic Coonawarra wineries.  Family-owned and operated, it celebrated its 40th vintage in 2015. Regional veteran Doug Bowen has handed over the winemaking responsibilities to daughter Emma and has 'retired' to the position of viticulturist.

Bowen Estate produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay. They are estate grown in clonally planted heritage vineyards and hand crafted, traditionally made wines. They are individually hand-pruned ensuring each one produces maximum quality; this enables Doug Bowen to restrict the crop size resulting in wines that are full bodied with great depth of colour and longevity. In the winery, daughter Emma, crafts wines using these grapes which have been machine harvested and then crushed within an hour of harvesting. Fermented at cool temperatures, the Cabernet Sauvignon is quietly aged in French Oak whilst the Shiraz is in American Oak barriques. One-third new oak is used each year and after 18 – 20 months in wood the wine is bottled awaiting release.