Running with Bulls Vermentino & Tempranillo

Running with Bulls Vermentino 2012

Beautifully thick in mouthfeel but with a lightness and vibrancy which is a mind bender of an experience. The entry of flavour is light before a huge richness kicks in on the mid-palate which fades on the finish. Vermentino has a huge future in Australia as this wine shows in spades. Even though I thought the quality of the Tempranillo was higher, I would grab this as the style of the wine is so unique.  

Alcohol: 12%

Price: Under 20

Rated: 86

Drink: Now or over the next five years

 

Running with Bulls Tempranillo 2012

This wine possesses huge amounts of fruit flavours. The acidity of the wine is pretty good especially for this variety which might be an indication of the vintage. There is an element of smoked jubes but otherwise the wine is all gobs of fresh fruit flavour. What the wine lacks is structure but that is not surprising given the nature of this variety. Right from the get go this wine is highly drinkable!

Alcohol: 14%

Price: Under 20

Rated: 87

Drink: Now or over the next five years

Penfolds 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Penfolds 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

2009 Cabernet's from the Barossa are so drinkable! Well this isn't totally from the Barossa but a large component comes from the area. This wine has an inherent forcefulness about it with plush flavours and a savoury element sitting in underneath. The normally full on American oak is hiding behind the flavours and the structure manages to settle in nicely which provide a nice counter point to the extrovert nature of the flavours.  While everything is balanced, I really dig the flavours of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, mint, spice, chocolate and stinging nettle as they are easy to understand and in your face.  When I say in your face, these flavours aren't trying to be aggressive but they do make themselves known. Now to the length. Long, long and long like the Amazon as it take you on a journey with events that you wish you could have photographed. One wine for now or later.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $200 street price
Rated: 94
Drink: Now - 2030

Patrick of Coonawarra Merlot 2009

Now I have never tasted a wine from Patrick of Coonawarra so I was looking forward to getting acquainted. Patrick Tocaciu is the head winemaker, he has worked for Tollana, Penfolds, Hollick and Di Giordio before taking the finial plunge into making wines under his own label. 


 Patrick of Coonawarra Merlot 2009

This was a tail of two wines mixed together.  One was well constructed in a red fruits end of the spectrum, think along the lines of mulberry and plum, but it was mixed with a slightly vegetal wine.  Its good enough but I just wanted a bit extra palate weight, longer length and to get ride of the tinned veggies for a higher score to be warranted. 

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $26
Rated: 84
Drink: 2011 - 2015