Rusty Mutt Shiraz 2006

I don't think I will ever tire of trying new wines or labels, though the former have proven tastier than the latter. This wine, a new wine from winemaker Scott Heidrich, is the "Rusty Mutt" thus joining a rich roll call of unusually named (dare I say South?) Australian wines. Basket pressed and matured in old oak barrels with fruit sourced from McLaren Vale (i.e. it has not been clobbered by oak) you can find it for around $25.



Purple in colour, the wine has a medium to pronounced intensity and rich aroma of white pepper, spices, herbs and to a lesser extent plum jam. On the palate, attractive medium length, spices, and a full bodied, pronounced intensity expression of spiced plum jam supported by medium tannins and seemingly quite firm at times acidity, which I would not wish to see any nervier. A smart and quite typical McLaren Vale shiraz. 87-88 points

Abv: 14%
Price: $25
Source: sample
Website: Rusty Mutt
Tasted: December 2011