Winemaker: Some Young Punks
Wine: Passion Has Red Lips
Vintage: 2014
Varietal: 70% Shiraz 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: GBP £14.99 USD $18.63
The 2013 was a great vintage and this wine showed well, the 2014 is even better. At this price point it’s one of the very best Shiraz based Aussie blends, if not the best. The harsh, dry environment with the dense clay and sandy loam of the Mclaren Vale really comes across in this wine with some robust earthy aromas and a somewhat aged feel, although vines are only an average of 27 years old.
The nose is plummy and dominated by luscious wispy notes of vanilla, with just the feintest hint of milk chocolate. Then in the mouth it’s all about sweet black fruit, baked plum and sweet liquorice, all tempered by a rasping, but welcome acidity; the oak integration is seamless, with a lovely thread of vanillin running across the whole palate.
Full bodied and rich and oily in complexion, with a pronounced intensity; sturdy pillars of tannin help keep aloft the dense and complex structure or this boisterous Aussie masterpiece. A great wine to drink on it’s own, but absolutely ready made for all barbecued meats. If you’re looking for something a bit special, then this is your wine.
