Leo Buring Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996.

This winery is noteable for its Reislings and I haven't seen this cabernet sauvignon label on the shelves in Christchurch for some time. Purchased probably around 1999 it was in the cheap to medium class of quaffer (around $12.95) to have with the Tuesday pizza, up front fruit with sweet vanilla American oak.
Surprisingly it is still holding up well. Both the fruit and oak have lost intensity losing a lot of that vanilla character which tended to dominate the berry flavours, but it is still very balanced, the tannins soft giving a very pleasant drinking experience accompanying the mid-winter lamb roast.
One of those gems that lay undiscovered in the corner of the cellar!

For those that want to know more about Leo Buring, visit http://www.australianwines.com/leoburing/