McLaren Vale 14.0% Screwcap $24 Source: Retail
AKA “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Brett”
Initially it was iron and iodine over black fruit and olives. Then the iron started to smell rusty and the horses were let loose from the stables. The war was truly on. After a five hour struggle, the other flavours gained the upper-hand, subduing the spoilage and even using it to make its point more clearly.
Uber-savoury wine, opening with a little burst of blackberry before red fruit highlights on the mid palate and finish. But this was not a red that was overly concerned with fruit flavour. Olives, soy, dried blood and raw meat took center stage in a confrontational manner with the remnants of cedary oak just apparent at the end. Much of the tannin had resolved and there was a fair crust thrown once the smoke had cleared.
Bitter almonds and muddy dark chocolate played their part along with a fair slash of anise and tarragon, adding some levity to the sombre profile. You’d have to be open minded or already like this sort of thing to get pleasure out of it. I’m crazy enough to fall into that category.
Winery Website- http://www.kaybrothersamerywines.com/home