94 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2009
"Excellent colour; attractive medium-bodied palate, with good varietal expression courtesy of the cassis and blackcurrant fruit; supple and smooth, good length. Drink to 2020" (2005 Vintage)

90 Points & 4 Stars - Huon Hooke, Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine, April/May 2008
100 Top New Releases:
"This cabernet has smoked-meat aromas, charred oak inputs and some herbal cabernet varietal aromas.  Quite a stylish wine with some elegance and length, finishing with fine tannins."
(2005 Vintage)

4/5 - Newcastle Herald, December 2007
"Dowie Doole was founded at McLaren Vale in 1995 by Drew Dowie and Norm Doole and now has five vineyards in that region and in the Adelaide Hills.  On occasions it also blends in Coonawarra wine - as evidenced in this cabernet sauvignon and in the stablemate, $21 Dowie Doole 2006 Merlot.  The cabernet sauvignon is 90 percent McLaren Vale and 10 percent Coonawarra and is ruby red with scents of ripe blueberries and mocha coffee.  Juicy blackberry flavour comes through on the front of the palate and mint, licorice and maraschino cherry characters combine with spicy oak on the middle palate.  Flinty tannins feature at the finish.  Try it with tandoori chicken kebabs, deep-fried veal and olive meatballs or steak tartare."
Ageing:  5 years (2005 Vintage)

8/10 - Phillip Stubbs, Geelong Advertiser, November 2007
"The appearance here is an intense crimson showing a purple edge when swirled in the glass.  Juicy blackberry aromas are mingled with a touch of leafy mint on the nose and are the forerunners to the flavour-packed body.  Initially the dusty, sultry tannins grab your attention but soon ripe, soft plum and coffee flavours show their presence."  (2005 Vintage)  

GOLD MEDAL - Mundus Vini Wine Show, Munich 2006
(2002 Vintage)

4 Stars - Winestate Magazine, Varietal Tasting
"Meaty savoury aromas and lovely mouthfilling flavours with some rich but elegant wood and acceptable greeness.  A great food wine." (2002 Vintage)

4 Stars - Winestate Magazine, Regional Tasting
"Nice varietal fruit on the nose, supported by dark, slightly dusty, chocolatey oak.  Sweet, slightly firm palate with nice texture, weight and persistance." (2002 Vintage)

91 Points - Gerhard Eichelmann, Mondo Magazine
"... good concentration on the bouquet, fine smoky characters, unobtrusive toast, pure ripe fruit; good weight and harmony in the mouth, pure fruit structure, tannins and persistence." (2002 Vintage)

8.5 Points/10 - Max Crus, The Daily Examiner (2000 Vintage)

4 Stars - Winestate Winter Reds, 2001 (1999 Vintage)

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