TASTING NOTES FOR Oakridge Over The Shoulder Cabernet Merlot Yarra Valley Victoria 2024

🍷 Appearance

Deep ruby red with vibrant crimson hues and subtle purple highlights, displaying excellent clarity and attractive colour concentration. A bright and inviting appearance reflecting the wine’s youthful freshness, elegance and refined cool-climate character.

👃 Aromas

An expressive and inviting bouquet of ripe blackcurrant, dark cherry, red plum and blackberry, complemented by delicate notes of violet, cedarwood and subtle dried herbs. Gentle hints of dark chocolate, tobacco leaf and savoury spice contribute additional aromatic complexity, creating a beautifully balanced and appealing bouquet.

👅 Palate

Elegant, smooth and beautifully balanced, delivering attractive layers of ripe blackcurrant, juicy plum, dark cherry and blackberry. Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure, cassis intensity and fine tannins, while Merlot adds softness, roundness and generous fruit character. Fresh natural acidity provides vibrancy and definition, while subtle notes of cedar, dark chocolate and gentle spice complement the expressive fruit, creating a harmonious and approachable palate.

🍈 Texture & Finish

Smooth, supple and beautifully rounded, with fine-grained tannins providing gentle structure and an elegant mouthfeel. The palate displays attractive fruit concentration and satisfying persistence, finishing with lingering blackcurrant, ripe plum, dark cherry and delicate savoury spice.

🍇 Overall Style

An elegant and approachable Yarra Valley Cabernet Merlot blend, combining the structure and dark berry character of Cabernet Sauvignon with the softness and generosity of Merlot. The 2024 vintage showcases the freshness, balance and refined fruit expression associated with cool-climate Victorian red wines. A versatile and beautifully balanced wine offering immediate drinking enjoyment while possessing the structure for further development with careful cellaring.

🍽️ Food Pairing

An excellent accompaniment to roast lamb, grilled rib-eye steak, roast beef, pork tenderloin and slow-cooked beef dishes. Equally enjoyable with mushroom risotto, wood-fired pizza, gourmet sausages, aged cheddar and other mature hard cheeses. Its refined tannins and balanced acidity make it particularly versatile with a wide range of savoury dishes.

🥂 BBD Verdict

Oakridge Over The Shoulder Cabernet Merlot 2024 is an excellent addition to Better Buy The Dozen’s Australian red wine selection. Elegant, smooth and beautifully balanced, it combines attractive dark berry fruit with refined tannins and excellent everyday drinking appeal. A terrific choice for Cabernet Merlot enthusiasts, relaxed entertaining, family gatherings or inclusion in a personally selected mixed dozen. A versatile and enjoyable Yarra Valley red delivering impressive flavour, elegance and excellent value.

Cheers
Peter Turnbull
Better Buy The Dozen 🍷