This wine is a blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvèdre (mataro) from Rusty Mutt in McLaren Vale. It opens to aromas of red berries. The palate is full bodied and consistent with the McLaren Vale GSM style where the tannins are a little firmer and more structured than expected for a grenache blend, but always with no edges. Ready to drink now, this is an enjoyable wine. Rating: Good. Abv: NR. Price: $25. Website: http://rustymutt.com.au. Reviewed: May 2020.
This delicious wine is a McLaren Vale tempranillo fashioned in a “Joven” style and is the best wine of this producer’s current releases. It has an aroma of bright red berries. The palate is medium to full bodied, with fresh acidity and a light on its feet impression. Rating: Good. Abv: NA. Price: $35. Website: http://rustymutt.com.au/. Source: Sample. Reviewed: 2020.
Something of a contrast in style to the Heartland shiraz just reviewed, this shiraz from McLaren Vale and the 2016 vintage has aromas of earth, soil and spice. The palate has medium to high acidity, soft tannins, a medium to full body and is restrained in style. This is an enjoyable wine that can be approached now. Rating: Good. Abv: 14.5. Price: $30. Website: https://www.rustymutt.com.au/. Source: Sample. Reviewed: May 2020.
This is a sound viognier from Rusty Mutt in McLaren Vale. It has aromas of lemon pith. The palate is full bodied, with a not quite oily viscosity and an expression of lemons and stone fruit. Ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Abv: 13.5. Price: $30. Website: http://rustymutt.com.au. Source: Sample. Reviewed: May 2020.
This wine has aromas of confectionary, cracked pepper and game. The palate reminds of dusty oak and has medium to high tannins. Ready to drink. Rating: Acceptable to Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $30. Website: https://hastwellandlightfoot.com.au. Source: Sample. Reviewed: February 2020.
This is a very typical expression of shiraz from McLaren Vale. The 2015 vintage of d’Arenberg’s “The Laughing Magpie” has aromatics of plums and spice. The palate has good density of fruit, fresh acidity and is brooding in bearing. This wine can be approached now, but will be best with aeration and short term (2-3 years) cellaring. Rating: Good. Abv: 14.5%. Website: https://www.darenberg.com.au. Source: Sample.
Deeply coloured in the glass, the 2017 vintage of d’Arenberg’s Footbolt McLaren Vale shiraz has brooding aromas of dark plums and licorice. The palate is full bodied, with approachable tannins, a slightly bitter finish and is ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Abv: 14.5%. Price: $20. Website: darenberg.com.au. Source: Sample.
A slight mouthful of name, places and grape varieties, this wine is deep in colour with an inky nose reminding of tar and liquorice. The palate is expressive of dark plums, tannins and leaf and has a bitter finish. This wine is approachable now with decanting, but will benefit from a further 2-3 years cellaring. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 14.5%. Price: $29. Website: darenberg.com.au. Source: Sample.
Modestly priced at $16, this is a sound chardonnay from McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. In the glass, it has restrained aromas of peach and nectarine. The palate is medium-full bodied and in a crisp, fresh style. Rating: Acceptable to Good. Abv: 13%. Price: $16. Website: darenberg.com.au. Source: Sample.
This is an interesting blend of McLaren Vale sagrantino and cinsault from d’Arenberg. Restrained in bearing, it opens to aromas of earth, red fruits and iodine. The palate has firm, dry tannins, bitter undertones and an Italian sensibility. Rating: Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $29. Website: darenberg.com.au. Source: Sample.