Mason Wines 2015 Petit Verdot

There has been a label change ‘tween the 2015 and 2016, another change is winemaker. Anthony Rametta made the 2015/2016 and previous vintages but Andy Williams from Hidden Creek is now making the Mason wines together with grower /vineyard manager Sean. I believe the fruit for this 2015 PV was sourced from the Booth Lane vineyard – Masons have now sold the Rees Road vineyard.

2015 petit verdotThis 2015 is reasonably true to vintage, I tasted the 2016 at Mt. Tambourine and it’s a bigger wine with greater fruit weight, the 2016 is 14.5% a/v Vs 13% for the 2015. The 2015 has it’s own attractiveness though. It’s darkly coloured in the glass depths and transforming into pretty jewelled garnets at the meniscus. The bouquet reveals some black cherries, violets, plums and herbs. Petit Verdot is a big grape with firm tannins and these characteristics are evident on the palate, black cherries are most noticeable but they are in a partnership with dark plums – if you visualise a long twine with the twin components of black cherries and dark plums this could explain the ongoing unfurling of these two fruits on the palate. White pepper adds some condiment to the wine meal, there is a straight line of acid driving the wine, the tannins are fine but still quite firm they build into a still assertive drying presence late on the palate. You may notice the emergence of a mineral bed just before you encounter the tannic finish. Mainly savoury/sour fruits with an inkling allusion of sweet, a drink of vinous vicissitudes that would delight your senses in combination with medium to heavier style food.

Tasted: Friday 4th September, 2020 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $30
Suggested Drinking Window: now to 2026
Winemaker: Anthony Rametta
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Posted by Peter Pacey

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