Lethbridge Indra Shiraz 2012

I’ll never grow tired of the little thought piece on the front of the Lethbridge labels. The font is small, which may put off some with average eyesight (my eyes are slightly crap. Not bad enough to wear glasses all the time crap. Just slightly crap) but the words are typically thoughtful. I like.

Anyway, according to the label 2012 was ‘a delight’ in Geelong. I remember chatting to someone from southern Vic soon after the 2012 vintage was finished (it could have been Rory ‘The Story’ Lane) and the excitement was palpable. The only challenge was that yields were down a bit. Indeed there was just 2 barrels of this made from 2 acres.

From the get-go this is exciting wine. Blind you’d be forgiven for calling this a very good warm year Cornas (but I hate those old world comparisons. This is just really good spicy Geelong Shiraz) compared to the Cote Rotie style of 2010. Indeed this smells of mulberries, dry twigs, smoked meat and a deep thickness. It’s a little volatile this year, but that can’t hide a dry, long and extract driven wine of liquered red fruits, ham and drying tannins. It’s just a little warm through the finish, but no doubting the Cornas like beef and black pepper spicy richness, fanning out nicely.

Another excellent instalment in the Indra line, perhaps a fraction warmer and less fragrant than the 2010 yet still has that ‘specialness’ and intensity of flavour that signals the absolute stand-out quality.

Source: Sample
Tasted: October 2014
Drink: 2014-2022
Score: 18.5/20, 94/100
Would I buy it? It’s expensive which means I may not buy it – but I’d drink it in a flash.
Buy online: Lethbridge website