A really tough wine to assess. I’ve spent three days with it and I’m still not sure if I have its measure. Of course, it doesn’t help that the last time we had a vintage like 2011 in Australia was 1974 and at the tender age of one I didn’t get the chance to taste many of the wines produced that year. Experience counts for a lot.
It’s heavily structured with fervent acidity and stern tannin yet there’s also some ripe, fleshy fruit coming along for the ride. Five percent cordon-cut, vine-dried grapes seem to add a rich vein of black plum and cassis to the other dark berry fruits. The opulence and the architecture come closer to each other over time but never totally mesh. It may just be a matter of time and during the wait cedar-vanilla oak should integrate further. If so, a higher rating will be warranted. 88+
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $25
Tasted: August 2013