Got my Noon order delivered on Thursday just beating the heatwave. So after doing Tough Mudder yesterday I decided to treat myself to one of them.
Bright fruit aromas, with hints of plums and dark cherries. Some zesty spiciness of Sichuan Peppers, good entry on the palate with a nice texture and a good whack of acid from the dominant Grenache in the blend. For the me the acid is the star giving it that vibrant freshness and tanginess without the overt syrupy characteristics you sometimes see in SA Grenache. The tannins provide a great balance with the acid and the sour, tartness of the fruit which is all held together with an inherent smoothness. On the palate the fruits are a bit darker, smokier with more substance. Although high in alcohol it hides it well, with no heat on the palate, if anything it feels quite light as a wine I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone said it was only 14% alc. A good to long length, with nice fine tannins making you dig around with your tongue to all corners of your mouth. This is lip-smackingly good.
I can see this smoothing out even more in the long term, with the acid/tannins providing a great backbone to the fruit to keep it fresh as it begins to age - 10 years no problems. At the price it sells for it represents great value for money. The sort of wine that you'd look back in 10 years and say "damn I wish I'd bought more of that".
Ohhhh man... I tasted some at the winery when picking up my order and it's fantastic. The 2012 has a bit of an alcohol whiff to it but this one seems just so balanced. I wish I could have bought more than 3 bottles but sadly finances are conspiring against me! Gonna try to hold off as long as possible before opening them up..
