To dismiss the vintage outright, though, really would be foolhardy.
These wines, generally, have an upfront accessibility - which means that they will be a good choice to enjoy young while you let the bigger-boned wines from other recent vintages mature in the cellar.
I think of them as ‘‘cellar defenders’’: wines that you can pull out on a whim instead of bottles that you really, really should keep.
Job done.
Price: $39.99
Rating: Excellent
Milk chocolate, gravel, dried herbs, oak spices, a plushness to the rich fruit. There’s powerful tannic grip to this and bright acidity, but the excellent, ripe, fruit intensity balances this well. A cool freshness flows through this with attractive leaf hints, while the log finish is almost European in its sense of dryness.
Already lovely drinkability.
Price: $29.99
Rating: Very good
Interesting nose, tobacco and plum with a hint of minty freshness. Tightly wound on the palate, the tobacco notes are joined by blackcurrant, herbs and oak notes: with a little coaxing, the wine opens up with time.
There are ingredients here that need some time to unfurl: it should provide nice drinkability on a medium- bodied frame.
Price: $84.99
Rating: Very good to excellent
Dusty, a wild/funky nuance, herbal elements, the plum and dark fruits swelling nicely leaving a tangy edge. Plush and rich on entry, a little chocolate-mint note adds freshness before the tannins surge, initially sucking my cheeks dry. Time sees a more supple mouth feel emerge with tangy lift to the attractively, long dry close.
Good medium term potential here.
Price: $79
Rating: Very good to excellent
Juiciness to the nose with some stewed fruits and savoury notes; smoke, dried herb and oak growing with time. Fleshy on entry before the tannins come knocking. Builds a mix of sweet fruit, yet with tangy tamarillo and strongly herbal influences, finishing on tobacco and ash.
Time sees this open up and some medium- term cellaring should be rewarded.
Price: $60
Rating: Excellent
This comes leaping out of the blocks with a plush and juicy nose of blackcurrant and oak spice, an attractive leafiness evolving to cigar box. Rich and powerful, yet coolness too from a fresh mint/leaf-like note. Open for business, nicely balanced and with a hint of black tea on the long, fruit-led close.
This tightens a little as the tannins build, adding a tangy crunchiness.
Price: $29.99
Rating: Very good
Powerful tomato leaf, floral notes, smoke, perfume and confectionery. There is a sweet lift to the fruit on the palate, with dustiness and stalk/ herbal characters that lend this a wisp of sweet and sour. The tannins have a sappy, grainy feel. A wild herb note flows to the finish.
Youthfully taut, needs a little time to come together.
