A blend of 63% Grenache, 23% Mataro and 14% Shiraz. Has rapidly become one of the releases I look forward to the most each year. I don’t rate this as highly as the superb 2012 expression but it is still very good drinking.
Unoaked and unfettered. As much blueberries and plums as red fruits. Savoury earthen characters, florals, black spice and iron. Has a wiry and sinuous presence underneath the fruit flavour even though it isn’t a particularly structured wine. A slip of delightfully textured grape tannin to close. Not the same length as its predecessor. Happy times though. 93
Region: Barossa Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $29
Tasted: December 2013
I have to admit I’m mesmerised by this. It has a firmer acidity than 2012 that many would call aggressive, but I think it frames the wine like many a contemporary Australian Chardonnay. it is harmonising more and more as every month or two goes by. I love 12′s richness, but I’ve put more of this away. Not necessarily as a preference, but I feel that among my favourite SA Rhoneish producers, the 12 Joshua experience is more repeatable.
Very keen to hear how others rate this. It did look better on the second day to me and I wondered if my score was harsh. The acidity is primarily why I felt it somewhat wiry…but not in a bad way. At the end of the day the balanced generosity of the 2012 still wins me over. But I’ve never laid any Joshuas down to see how they age (I look to the Avatar for that). Perhaps I’m missing a trick drinking them within a year of release?
Or I’m just a battery licker. Either way, I found the bracingly refreshing acidity in ’13 wondrous. Your comments are fair, given that the styles of Avatar and Joshua would lead many a sane wine lover to choose the former for ageing and the latter for glugging. Certainly, its acidity doesn’t allow it to behave like a Timaeus or Fugazi. Sometimes the difference is a good thing of diversity. Sometimes it is a sign somebody’s just off the mark. The day and the mood can determine which on a case by case basis!
Good lord, don’t mention that the day and the mood can affect someone’s rating of a wine on a review site TT!