The latest in the line up from Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel range where the winemakers take the chance to innovate. Except that with this new release they have travelled beyond the expected and taken the daring to a new level – rum barrels! Now, before you assume that this is some sort of ‘novelty wine’ – the project does take care to choose wines as the base that will actually work with the intention. So, in this case – bold Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia. Does it work?
An inky dark purple colour in the glass. On the nose are blackberry, dark cherry, cassis, damson toffee, mint, balsam, tapenade and tar. Plush and generous – the shiraz providing a ripe richness, and the Cabernet Sauvignon adds some structure. Complex, as you’d expect with that added layer of caramelled, smoky oak (cocoa, vanilla and fruitcake notes are added), but well balanced and certainly not lacking in personality. Add a nice grip of tannin to the mix and this is well-proportioned to serve as a winter warmer. 87pts
