Taylors Jaraman Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Margaret River, WA & Adelaide Hills, SA)
13%, Screwcap, $24.95
Source: Sample
www.taylorswines.com.au


What do you think of the Jaraman range philosophy of scouring far and wide to make the desired wine style? Does it work (or has it with these Jaraman wines)? I’m interested as it can be a variable range and I do question whether the sourcing has been quite right…

Anyway, this is rather clever (on paper at least) as it uses that ‘oh how far I roam’ ethos to pick the best from an occasionally troublesome vintage. I think it’s been fermented with some particularly aromatic yeasts too (again clever) which just makes it a bit of a riot to smell. Riotous perhaps but something of a polariser too as I’m not sure if I could really drink it. Sure to win hearts (and trophies for that matter) amongst Sauv fans though.

That nose couldn’t be anymore ‘here, let’s add some Essence of Sauvignon Blanc’ with mown grass a shedload of passionfruit and lemongrass. It’s more grass and passionfruit and less gooseberry which immediately defines it as a non-Marlborough sourced Sauv (is that desirable I wonder? I think it sets this apart but interesting in the context).

No riots to be found anywhere on the palate though which is neutral and a fraction boring, looking very dry but also in need of more palate texture to match that nose. Happily the acidity isn’t unripe, which ultimately makes this really quite quaffable in context. I just wish it had more oomph to follow the nose. 16.5/88