Heard good things about this Mclaren Vale label and the price was right, so this seemed a perfect thing to try with a simple steak & veges

A rich, deep red colour, with reddy purple edges, it looks good from the start. The nose is an enjoyable experience all of its own – fragrant with kirsch & red berries, edged with faintly coffeed oak that on a second wiff moves into the Bounty bar spectrum – Its a lifted, sweet & inviting nose

The palate follows the nose perfectly – its a rich, rounded mouthful of sweet rich fruit, some integrated vanillan oak and bugger all tannins. It weighs in at 14.5, but the whole palate feels balanced and perfectly varietal with nary a sharp edge in sight.

Ultimately its a fruit & oak wine first and foremost, but it is so well made and so delicous that it makes for a rather tasty, typically Mclaren Vale Shiraz at a very palatable price – From a critical viewpoint it only lacks the structure for higher points.

17.0/20