People might look at the price tag on this wine and think – “I could buy a very nice bottle of Chianti Classico or even a Brunello for that amount of money”. Well, yes you could. And I’m confident you’d enjoy it. But it wouldn’t taste like McLaren Vale Sangiovese. That’s what you’re purchasing here. McLaren Vale Sangiovese. It doesn’t lack varietal veracity. Far from it. It just interprets the grapes via the regional fullness (as opposed to weight) of the region in which they were grown. Isn’t that what we’re after in Australia?
There’s a note of sauvage amongst the cherries, blueberries, bitumen and delightfully bitter dried herbs. Fruit sweetness brackets a savoury core with licorice and pencil shaving oak chiming in. Medium bodied with raspy, sandpaper tannins setting off the back palate in a correct and fulfilling manner. The palate feels and tastes leathery – in a good way. If you want to drink Italian Sangiovese by all means get some. It’s great gear. But so is this. Excellent
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $50
Tasted: June 2012