Tasted with David Evans Gander on a recent visit to Passage Rock – their top six barrels get blended together into this unique marriage of Syrah, Montepulciano, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot.
Dark, brooding garnet in the glass, with aromas of cassis, damson, boysenberry, layered with cinnamon, almond and a damp forest floor. Dry, full-bodied and rich, showing textural, chewy tannin structure and power into the palate. Ripe, black and red fruits – mulberry, bramble, liquorice, redcurrant are cossetted by a warm spice and nutty barrel nuance. The savoury notes recur, with dried mushroom, mocha, olive and graphite all present and providing depth and complexity. Backbone and character of this distinctive wine suggest a long life ahead – cellar well and decant. The finish is memorable – earthy, viscous and long. 95pts.
