MIPTC #31 - Two Hands Sexy Beast 2020

Look at us! Already at number 31 of this fine little corner of the internet where fun, learning and wine come together for a weekly moment away from whatever occupies most of our weeks.

Before I get started, I just want to thank you for making the jump away from LinkedIn. I know we all hate giving away our email addresses and registering for yet another thing, but I really do feel a lot better on here than I did over there. I also apologize for sending you two emails this week if you're still on both lists - I promise I'll stop as soon as people get the message that the party has moved to this place indeed.

As for this week's wine, I think this is the first Aussie one I ever feature on here, so let's talk a bit about the place before we get more specific about the appellation this one comes from.

Australian wine is known for its unique flavours and styles that reflect the country's diverse terroir (environmental factors such as soil, climate, and topography that affect grape growing and wine production). Regions such as the Barossa Valley, Margaret River, and this one (McLaren Vale) are famous for producing high-quality red wines, particularly Shiraz, which is the national grape. By the way, Shiraz is not really an indigenous grape of Australia at all. Rather, it is very much a renamed (some would say bastardized, but they'd be terrible people) of the French native varietal Syrah, which we saw in edition #29.

Yet, there's other high-quality stuff in Australia as well, and namely some stellar Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling, among others. Some of my best white wine experiences in the world were actually with Eden Valley Rieslings. Just mesmerizing wines when done right.

Another cool thing about the land down under is that the country's wine industry is modern and innovative, with a strong focus on sustainability and technology. It produces around 1.5 billion litres of wine annually, making them the sixth-largest wine-producing country in the world, which is usually quite surprising to most people.

As for McLaren Vale, it is a wine-growing region located in South Australia, close to Adelaide (which locals lovingly pronounce A-day-LAID) which has become quite renowned for making very high-quality wine. Climate-wise, things are quite similar to what you'd find in most Mediterranean climates in Europe, so "classic" Bordeaux varietals and other red varieties that love the heat tend to do very well here too: think Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and more. The resulting wines from McLaren Vale are characterized by their high concentration of fruit flavours, medium to full body, and smooth tannins - kind of a telltale of "New World" red styles.

You'll also agree with me that it is pretty as all hell. It's really a shame it is literally on the other end of the world from where I'm from... Maybe one day!

All right, now that we know a bit more about the place and style, let's get tasting, shall we?

The Skinny

• From: McLaren Vale, Australia

• Varietals: Cabernet sauvignon 100 %

• Price: $34,50 CAD

• Feature: None

Tasting Notes

On the nose, this is basically like being pied with the best blueberry pie you've ever smelled. The blueberry core is definitely very present, but there's also room for great stuff like Earl Grey tea, warm spices like cinnamon and clove, as well as dried lavender and cedar.

On the palate, this is medium weight, but still fleshy and weighty. The blueberries are definitely still there and even gain momentum as things progress, moving towards cassis and blacker fruits. Tannins are broad and not grippy at all, resulting in a very smooth vibe. Acidity is very balanced in regards to the whole thing, resulting in terrific harmony. Long finish showing mastery on the winemaker's part. No really perceivable alcohol burn despite the very (very) high 14.9%. Just don't drive afterwards.

Cutting To The Chase: Does It Please The Cork?

I already said I disliked strong alcohol in wine - I even said it again no later than 2 weeks ago. but this was done so right that I can't blame it too much. Now, I must admit I was a bit turned off by the sleazyish-looking label, but this is why paying over 30$ for a bottle of wine can sometimes make you feel like you got a better deal in the end. Totally worth the investment and a killer introduction to McLaren Vale if you're new to the region. This is not quite 4* material since it is not THAT memorable, but 3.5 seems very warranted. 

Cork Score: 3.5/5*

***

*Here's the lowdown on the scores, by the way. Essentially, I don't believe in 100-point scales for things as subjective as wine. Simply put, I just don't think one can credibly justify a 1% or even a 10% increment between two wines. I therefore choose to go a bit more basic. Here's how I break it down:

• 1/5: Seriously faulty, terrible, undrinkable;

• 2/5: Flawed and/or of bad quality. This is the type of stuff you should probably cook with and not drink;

• 3/5: Decent. This is where most entries will end up. These wines are clean and well-balanced, but not particularly memorable and/or exceptional. They are recommendable, but not an experience per se;

• 4/5: Exceptional. I sadly drink few wines that get this rating, but my purpose is to drink more. This denotes a memorable bottle that brought up some kind of emotion in me. This left a mark, and odds are I am now busy recommending it to everybody I know;

• 5/5: Perfect. I think I have probably tasted less than 5 bottles that would have qualified for a 5/5 in my entire life. This denotes an absolutely incredible wine that will imprint a definite memory for years to come - a true experience in itself.