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Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Cabernet Sauvignon is the new black.  The aromas, the flavors, even the look in the glass of a good Cab approaches black, built from the obsessive extraction of the darkest of grapes, buttoned-down and seasoned with oak. 

Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (PDF Summary) is 100% varietal, sourced 54% from Langhorne Creek, 40% from McLaren Vale, both really good neighborhoods for Australian Cabernet.  After fermentation, aging was "several" months in French and American oak.  Penny's Hill and Woop Woop Winemaker Ben Riggs says 2005 is "one of his top 5 out of 18 vintages".

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep black ruby/eggplant hue, essentially opaque.  Aromas: Blackberry, black cherry, mocha, roasted notes and hints of smoke and cedar.  On the tongue, this is a fairly big, well-extracted fleshy Cabernet with firm tannins.  The fruit flavors are ripe and pure, and are joined by a seasoning of cedary oak spice in the generous dry finish.

Outstanding value ($10).  Closure: "Zork*" stopper closure (polyethylene plunger cap). Alcohol content: 15%.

Food pairing: New York Strip steak.

Woop Woop, imported by Epicurean, is doing a lot right at the moment.  Winewaves recently reviewed Woop Woop Chardonnay 2006 and back in May of 2006, Woop Woop Shiraz 2005.

Woop Woop Shiraz 2005

Ben Riggs, Winemaker at Penny's Hill, and Tony Parkinson, owner of same, have released their 5th vintage of Woop Woop Shiraz. It would be hard to improve on the 2004, but the 2005 is at least as good. The 2004 was 100% varietal, and saw just a few months in a combo of French and American oak. Tasting Notes.  Color: Deep purplish ruby, semi-opaque. Aromas: Blueberry, framboise, bacon, pepper and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and chewy, with dusty tannins. Sweet and sour berry flavors are a bit spicy and smoky, and the finish is smooth and rich. Closure: "Zork" (polyethylene plunger cap). Excellent value ($11).

Winewaves recently reviewed Woop Woop's older sibling, Black Chook Shiraz Viognier 2005.