Jacobs Creek St Hugo 2008 pair

Jacobs Creek St Hugo 2008 pair

The St Hugo range has grown this year, now encompassing a Barossan Shiraz and two blends – a multi-regional Shiraz Cabernet (a descendant of the Johann Shiraz Cab now?) and a Barossan GSM.

Simply packaged and quite restrained wines, I can’t help but wonder where the excitement is meant to come from here. Though maybe that’s not the intention, that St Hugo is meant to be about ‘elegance’ and shouldn’t be flashy? Regardless, these will both show their best with some time in the cellar…

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Jacobs Creek St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Coonawarra, SA)
14.5%, Screwcap, $50

Spearmint and eucalypt on the nose. Lot’s of it. It’s covered by sweet chocoltey oak and a little volatility but that mintiness is very distinctive. Oak looks rather sweet on the palate too, the fruit ripe and full if a fraction stewed. Upright tannins to finish. Presents as a fresh,
simple and minty style that perhaps lacks the layers of previous releases
but still carries plenty of dry tannins.

That mintiness is quite polarising though – will it become a ‘Peppermint Patty’ style or just stay ‘not quite there’?

Drink: 2015-2020+ 16.5/88+

St Hugo Shiraz Cabernet 2009 (Barossa/Coonawarra, SA)
14.5%, Screwcap, $50

A blend of 61% Barossa Shiraz and 30% Coonawarra Cabernet.

Rich and a little varnishy on the nose, cast in a very modern, polished, oak red berry mould. Looks a little plump and dull and chocolatey, if even a little
understated actually. Medium bodied, ripe and pulpy through the palate, it is pleasant if unremarkable, finishing with fine tanins. Plenty still to come and quite balanced, this just needs some excitement. Certainly more enjoyable than the Cabernet.

Drink: 2015+ 17.3/90+