Ambitious but gangly Stockman’s Ridge Signature Range Right Bank 2022

It still makes no sense to me that Orange (the NSW wine regio Orange) is majority planted to Bordeaux red grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot) in 2025. Yes, there are some lovely wines, but it feels like an exercise in winemaking masochism (and products that are a tricky sell in the modern ‘juicy wines or bust’ world). Anyway, this Stockman’s Ridge red is a blend of Orange Merlot (70%) and Cab Franc (30%), and it’s not unattractive, just not easy to drink. There’s molten, ripe-smelling fruits on the nose, all diffuse red and black berries with a bit of leaf. Sweet and sour palate wrestles with acidity and overly sweet oak, with the Merlot looking a bit sour and cooked and then hints of capsicum and chocolate. Raw tannins. I like the ambition of ‘Right Bank’ styles like this, and this will get better, but gee, the gangliness doesn’t make for ease of drinking.

THE VERDICT

• Best drinking: later. Likely f or even ten years, and probably best as an old wine
• Score (out of 20): 17
• Score (out of 100):
• Alcohol %: 13.5
• RRP (in $AUD): 45
• Winery website: https://stockmansridge.com.au/
• Would I buy it?: a glass