A super interesting wine from one of Australia’s cult producers. Managed to snag this one at auction, and have a bottle of the 2017 Pressings (Cabernet, Shiraz, Malbec blend) stored away.
Decanted for about 45 minutes, and paired with a slow cooked Greek lamb shoulder, with fresh tomato, fennel, feta, and green beans salad.
Colour: ruby with brown tints.
Nose: some cherry, very subtle. Earthiness, reminiscent of a Brugundy but not as thick. Not a lingering aroma.
Palette:
Bright zesty acidity
Bright and dry fruit forward; dried cherries and plums
Subtle Red fruit, earthy undertones
Alcohol expression on the back of the pallet
Tannins gripping but not overwhelming – very pliable and foundational to the fruit flavours
Blue fruit notes carry through the finish, acidity and herbal notes linger long after sip
Reminds me in some ways of a 2009 Saint-Estephe (Chateu Lilian Ladouys) with its minty, almost eucalypt expressions and bright acidity. Far more balanced and very bright. Imagine it as a wine that holds the palette up and forward, with lingering freshness and floral notes on the finish
Very lucky to have snagged a bottle, always keeping an eye out for more at auction!
by ewauan
1 Comment
Great find on that 2011 – those older vintages from them are getting harder to track down and the pricing keeps climbing. Your notes on the eucalyptus character are spot on, there’s something uniquely Australian about how their wines express terroir even when they’re channeling more European styles. I had their 2016 Shiraz last year and was blown away by how much restraint they show compared to a lot of other Clare Valley producers. The pairing with Greek lamb shoulder sounds incredible too, bet those earthy undertones played really well with the fennel and tomato