For those who doubt the ability of McLaren Vale to produce great Cabernet Sauvignon, I present the 2010 Wirra Wirra The Angelus. No doughnut holes, glorious fruit, wonderfully pitched oak, profound structure and a true sense of life.
Headily perfumed; cassis flecked with raspberries, cigar smoke, violets, after-dinner mints and autumnal leaf. A nutty, cedary backdrop frames the fruit. It’s silky smooth on entry before long, ripe ropes of tannin tether the wine and extend the pleasure. Regal and lithe. The synergy between variety and region is emphatic. Decant now or better yet, sit on it for at least ten years. 96+ Exceptional
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $70
Tasted: November 2012
Hello Jeremy,
I was more than a little cautious with this/any McLaren Vale Cab. Sauv.
I was expecting more place than variety and expected to see some similarities with the usual big black tannic beast from this region. The cigar box oak combined with the black/cassis/mint nose told me this could be something a little special in 5 -10 years. The palate revealed numerous layers of interest, blackberry plum combo, love the balance of the oak, the tannins they are there but again balanced, love the acid very much in keeping with the fruit. The highlight for me was the quality,not the distance of the length. Makes me think of Pavarotti singing the final line of Nessun Dorma……..”VINCERO…….VINCERO” okay I think I went too far there……sorry
Ha, love it Colin
After tasting and falling for the wine I discovered, while visiting the region, that a large percentage of the fruit came from the Hickenbotham vineyard in Clarendon. It’s an extremely hilly site – quite unusual in that respect. You don’t see anything much like it elsewhere in McLaren Vale. Nearer the Adelaide Hills too…cooler with higher rainfall. It’s a vineyard the owners the Jackson Family Group, manager Peter Fraser and operator Charlie Seppelt believe will produce some of Australia’s best Cabernet. And it’s already given us some special wines. My guess is that’s a substantial part of the reason behind it not tasting like a typical Vale Cabernet.