I have some familiarity with Inkwell Shiraz via the high quality grapes their vineyard contributes to Chapel Hill for that winery’s flagship, The Vicar.
You can see the family resemblance between the two 2010 wines but the structural edifice of the Inkwell is in greater evidence. On opening, it’s quite a muscular wine and it does take a little air for the new French oak to mesh with the fruit.
Plenty of intensity and power here but without any corresponding heaviness or syrupy qualities. Raspberry, coffee grounds, satsuma plum, earth and rich dark chocolate shavings mingle with each other. As a young wine it is tight, tannic and sinuous – a touch foreboding actually…these exact traits will hold it in good stead over the next ten years. Excellent
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $35
Tasted: May 2012
Hi Jeremy
Good to see you scored one of these to try. Pretty much agree with your comments. Can’t compare with the vicar as haven’t tried but certainly the Inkwell does have great structure and brooding depths – as you say it will cellar well. Another great single vineyard example of the vale 2010 vintage. Grabbed a case from Dudley, opened one just to get the lay of the land, won’t be touching another for a few years. BTW – beautiful packaging.
Yep, lovely wine with its best years ahead of it. The packaging is quite stunning too.
Cheers
J