We need to appreciate that the drought for all of its hardships has nevertheless made a wine like this possible. I had to do a double take when I checked the a/v which is only 13.5% as the fruit weight is powerful indeed.
An impenetrable darkness hallmarks the deep well of this wine with glowing ruby meniscal potency.
The bouquet is intensely fragrant replete with dark plums, black currants, mulberries and blueberries with dark chocolate all propelled toward your senses on a background of spice and some vanillin oak.
The palate is a long luscious flavoursome wave, smoothly flowing but impregnated with complexity. Dark plums and black cherries perform a canoodling caress as they gracefully gyrate within a river rippling with mulberry and licking with liquorice. Rich aniseed and ripe black pepper condiment the lavish fruits with some underlying earthy character carrying just a little minerality and fine svelte tannins elevate the finish to another dimension of delight. Yes this is a lovely wine, perhaps the best Lincoln to date and to borrow a phrase from Peter Stark, “I could drink gallons of this”.
Note: I first opened this wine on Sunday 23rd May and there was quite strong vanilla oak on both the bouquet and palate but the underlying fruit had impressive weight. So I poured half of the wine into a 375 ml bottle all the way to the rim, sealed it and opened again tonight. The five days has changed the wine so now the fruit is more dominant and the oak has receded quite a lot.
This wine is due for release in a few months, if you enjoy vanilla oak you will love this wine immediately. If you prefer less oak influence then let the wine breathe a lot because the fruit weight is undeniable and it will become dominant. My plan, and acknowledging that I really enjoy tertiary flavours will be to cellar the wine and open one when young and a second at 5 years to determine when to open the third. The balance and structure of this wine does suggest enhanced longevity. Another drought year triumph and appreciative congratulations to Peter McGlashan and the team at Ridgemill Estate.
Tasted: Friday 28th May, 2021 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $40
Suggested Drinking Window: Now to 2035
Wine Maker: Peter McGlashan
Fruit Source: Estate
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