"I've watched this wine for some years now; it was one of the first wines I collected. I like it for its uniqueness and the way each vintage tweaks the style this way and that. I also admire it as a lesson in the virtues of blending, in both varietal and regional terms. The cooler 2002 vintage hasn't delivered the usual heady dried berry fruits (partly as a result of the pre-fermentation drying of the grapes in homage to the Moda Amarone wines of Italy's Veneto). It has more elegance than power. Joe Grilli's winning formula is intact though, as the yields were lower than ever before and I appreciate the lighter touch of the 2002. Dark fruits are there, juniper berry and slight mint, cassis and some earthy notes. Cabernet clearly has the upper hand on the nose but the merlot adds some nice, round plum fruit and spice in the mouth. Tannins are dense, sturdy and nicely balanced at this stage and there's already a good range of flavours, from sweet fruit through to spicy savoury notes. The fruit is set to fill out in the next couple of years, so leave it in the cellar over summer and check it out when the heat subsides. Low yields mean there's not much around, so seek it out quickly."
Nick Stock, The Adelaide Review
Country:
Australia
Region:
SA- McLaren Vale
Variety:
Wine Red - Cabernet blend
Size:
750mL
