14% Alc/Vol
Appearance: Clear, deep red-plum hue right to the rim. Somewhat ruby-meets-garnet in colour. No deposit. Clearly fined.
Nose: Definite and clean brown spice, some fruit-cake spice including nutmeg, fresh peppercorn, moderately intense aroma, hint of vanillin, definite smoky scent and bacon fat, suspect American oak, gentle oak influence with a subtle but ripe black fruits aroma on the final nasal palate.
Palate: Firstly “Wow”. Slightly off-dry, low-medium acid level, alcoholic backbone is well supported by fruity characteristics and those are in turn backed by well developed fruit and spice flavours. Flavours include: blackberry, dark plum, vanillin, burnt butter, licorice, raspberry and black pepper.
Conclusions: Full bodied and unctuous, this wine has an intense flavour for an 18 month old wine! With sizable length and acid / fruit balance, this wine is fine for drinking now if you’re after an inexpensive drop to accompany a nice dinner of venison, rabbit or duck. I feel this wine is under-priced, but over delivers. Not designed to age – drink now until 2010.
I give it a conservative 89 points.