Having first tasted this briefly with Nicholas Crampton and considered it good if not much more, I thought I’d wait a while to revisit it…and pop it into a line-up of 2012 McLaren Vale Shiraz tasted blind. I don’t think there’s anything very scientific or ‘objective’ about that. It’s just a different approach. Has some Mataro and Eden Valley fruit in the mix for the record.
It’s sweet, chocolatey and plummy but also floral and seasoned with crushed brown spice. What it isn’t is over-extracted or overworked. The tannin is of a much higher quality than you might expect at this price – well actually, it shows more finesse than in many wines twice the price. Oak is scaled back. This time round I was left with an entirely positive impression. 92
Region: Barossa Valley
Alcohol: 14.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $19.99
Tasted: June 2014
Enjoyed your comments, and your rating of 92 is exactly the same as what you rated the wine, same vintage on July 21 last year, and thought your comments on the 2013 review were actually positive back then.
My stuff-up actually Glyndon! The title should read 2013 not 2012. Sorry about that, will fix now.