Cradle of Hills Route du Bonheur GMS 2011

14.5%, Screwcap, $25
Source: Sample
www.cradle-of-hills.com.au

A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Shiraz, this is open fermented and spends 18 months in French oak, before being bottled without fining or filtration. Oh and Route du Bonheur interprets as ‘The road to happiness’.

It’s a slightly cloudy red this, which I rather like seeing these days as it is likely to be a sign of a quality orientated, unfined and unfiltered red rather than a bad wine. What a contrast to the ‘bright is best’ dictum that is…

Nice Grenache fragrance on this red too, complete with a little meaty stink. Nice. If only that juiciness could carry through the palate which is a little skinny, the alcohol and oak shading the fruit, the palate sharp, but also lacking in drive.

Not a bad wine, just needing a little more fruit methinks, like some of the ’11 Grenache based Vale reds.

Drink: 2013-2018
Score: 16/20, 87/100
Would I buy it? No.