G'day
This Yarra Valley wine is from fruit off the Sexton Vineyard. I believe the composition is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, but I also understand that the composition changes from vintage to vintage. I haven't opened one of these for some years. Decanted immediately before service, but after an initial sniff it was given more time in the glass to open up.
Deep purple in the glass, almost opaque. The nose was initially reminiscent of a Cherry Ripe - cherry, dark chocolate, coconut / vanilla - and there's pronounced violet on the nose also (this is beginning to sound like a confectionery shop!). Blueberries, pencil shavings and tobacco round out the complex nose.
The palate reflects the nose quite well - fruits and savoury elements in proportion. Acid is relatively soft, and tannins are pretty well integrated and providing only a little grip on the back palate. Medium bodied and medium length, and overall soft and juicy, especially on the middle palate.
A very interesting wine indeed, and especially for me as I generally don't drink very many Merlot dominant wines.
Cheers
Allan
TN: Giant Steps Harry's Monster 2014
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TN: Giant Steps Harry's Monster 2014
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Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.
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Waiters Friend
- Posts: 2997
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 4:09 am
- Location: Perth WA
Re: TN: Giant Steps Harry's Monster 2014
G'day
18 months on from the last bottle, this has changed and developed somewhat. Colour has lightened a little. As before, it was decanted immediately before service nd then set aside for a while as a huge whiff of leather accompanied the Cherry Ripe aromas initially. Time and swirling allowed the nose to settle down a bit, and the cherry and dark chocolate from 18 months go still remain. The savoury aspects, however, have increased, especially the pencil shavings and tobacco.
The palate is relatively soft, although not short on flavour, with dark chocolate and sour cherry alongside leather, graphite and cedary oak / pencil. Acid is soft and the tannins, although integrated and not initially noticeable, provide a surprising amount of mouth-puckering. Medium bodied and finish.
Not my usual tipple, and certainly providing lots of interest while giving the impression of being out of balance. Age maybe?
Cheers
Allan
18 months on from the last bottle, this has changed and developed somewhat. Colour has lightened a little. As before, it was decanted immediately before service nd then set aside for a while as a huge whiff of leather accompanied the Cherry Ripe aromas initially. Time and swirling allowed the nose to settle down a bit, and the cherry and dark chocolate from 18 months go still remain. The savoury aspects, however, have increased, especially the pencil shavings and tobacco.
The palate is relatively soft, although not short on flavour, with dark chocolate and sour cherry alongside leather, graphite and cedary oak / pencil. Acid is soft and the tannins, although integrated and not initially noticeable, provide a surprising amount of mouth-puckering. Medium bodied and finish.
Not my usual tipple, and certainly providing lots of interest while giving the impression of being out of balance. Age maybe?
Cheers
Allan
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.