The second vintage of this wine that I’ve tried. It’s handled some difficult vintage conditions well. I may even personally prefer it to the 2010 but I reckon, objectively, the quality is pretty similar.
Raspberry, earth, gentle florals, pepper and herbs. These are some of my favourite things…that’s the Grenache component for you. Shiraz fills out the palate and adds lower tones of blue and blackberry. It’s refined, light bodied, silky and leans towards linearity. Fruit is front and centre stage with clovey oak in the wings. The acidity isn’t too hard or green and it settles nicely given some time to breathe. Plenty of sandy tannin on the back palate although it’s a touch firm and perhaps not as ripe as I’d like but these are minor complaints. Should handle a few years in the bottle well too. Good – Very Good
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $24
Tasted: June 2012
That’s a fantastic picture you’ve painted of the wine. I like to visualise the wine, easy to do with a note like this.
Thanks Stu. It’s an impressive wine for the price and a bit of a triumph over vintage conditions.
Read your TN on the 2010, I think if you tried another one now you might change your mind. When I first tried the 2010 at their CD in June last year I wasn’t that taken with it and I did notice some herbal, or possibly tannic nastiness near the end. Bought 3 nevertheless just for the curiosity factor, opened one of these in November last year and it was a very different wine, really enjoyed it and it had even gained a little more weight. Could be bottle variation or maybe the variable CD experience, but very enjoyable light drinking now.
It’s quite possible Peter. The final paragraph of my note on the 2010 was possibly too harsh – more a sense of disappoimtment as there was so much to like about the wine. For what it’s worth, a rating of 89 or “Good” still means the wine has much to offer…just depends on the price. In this case, the price is right…for both 2010 and 2011.
Cheers
J