Didn't perform quite at its best - perhaps lacking its usual balance. Lots of lovely blackberry, brambly fruit and also seemed to improve over several days after being opened.
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Still very dark with some purple patches. Rich blackberry and mint on the nose, with an intense concentrated cool palate. Mouth-coating with quite sharp tannins from the mid-palate. Not as evolved as I expected.
Half the bottle was left overnight and tried again the following evening, by which time it had rather fallen away.
Overall, there were hints of very real promise here, but a small something just seemed to be lacking. I've got another five or six of these and am keen to give this wine another try soon.
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Still tight upon opening. Does open up a bit. Hasn’t really changed since previous bottle, this is what it is. It’s good and works at the price, just want more out of it.
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Screw top. Twisted and poured. Had a moderate intense nose of well integrated smoky oak and spice. A touch of pepper and ripe dark fruit but keeps some acidity. No major heat and the oak integrated well within 20 minutes. Not a heavy alcoholic fruit bomb like some Australian wines. It's still modern but not overdone. Quite smooth. Would be a nice bbq wine. They are considered one of the best producers in Mclaren Vale and this wine supposedly has a lot of the characteristics of the region: lush fruit, savouriness, and soft tannins. All vines are estate owned and 20-100 years old. https://winediplomats.com/
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solid cherry (both sweet and tart), good structure, nice finish with good acidity. Nice slightly chalky/tannin/citric acid finish with good length. Better on day two.
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Nose: Dried cherry and current, spice box and a bit of farmyard earth. Nicely perfumed and complex, if lighter in its projection.
Mouth: Dried cherry and red current return exactly as they are in the nose, nicely knit together and generous at the front end, if leaning leaner in the end. The finish kicks in chewy, lip smacking, with notes of rose hip, light espresso, black tea, and some licorice. Tannins are ample yet reserved (especially after decanting).
Overall: This feels almost Italian in profile, it's less of a Syrah and more of an elegant, developing Sangiovese. Balance between the nose and the mouth is excellent and the overall package is a rustic, ample, dry offering with focus. The tertiary notes are really lovely at this price point and would continue to integrate and develop for at least 5 years to come. Comes tight out of the bottle, give it at least an hour or two on air. 100% Syrah.
90.
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PnP, with aromas and flavors of currant, blackberry, and black pepper. Surprisingly elegant, with medium acidity, and a tarry note that adds lift on the finish.
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I think you could put this up against most Côtes du Rhones, and this would come out decently well. Plenty of black fruit and black pepper on the nose -- classic syrah elements. The palate is lean and a little thin, but this isn't an exorbitantly priced wine either. Awesome acidity that cuts through the dense tannins. To me, perhaps an additional hit of fruit might elevate this to the next level, but this is something I could grab a glass of to actually drink and enjoy.
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Definetely a shiraz with lots of potential. I will buy a few bottles and store them for at least 5 more years. Very intense wine, dark, berry and pepper taste, balanced but still to sharp.
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Another big Footbolt this year from d’Arenberg. A deep inky ruby in the glass. Nose of baked plum and blackberry, spice, smoke. Palate is rich plums, cocoa, boysenberry and pepper. Finish is medium, not immensely tannic either. Drinking very well right now. My favourite is still the 2013 at the moment but in a few years this might be the new winner.
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9/24/2022 - Duncan H Likes this wine: 88 Points
Enjoyable, but perhaps not showing at its absolute best?
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9/26/2021 - Duncan H Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good, but not outstanding.
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2/25/2021 - Duncan H Likes this wine: 89 Points
Didn't perform quite at its best - perhaps lacking its usual balance. Lots of lovely blackberry, brambly fruit and also seemed to improve over several days after being opened.
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11/15/2020 - redz wrote: 85 Points
consistent with previous notes, meh.
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5/7/2020 - Duncan H wrote: 87 Points
Still very dark with some purple patches. Rich blackberry and mint on the nose, with an intense concentrated cool palate. Mouth-coating with quite sharp tannins from the mid-palate. Not as evolved as I expected.
Half the bottle was left overnight and tried again the following evening, by which time it had rather fallen away.
Overall, there were hints of very real promise here, but a small something just seemed to be lacking. I've got another five or six of these and am keen to give this wine another try soon.
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4/5/2020 - Jobu wrote: 88 Points
Still tight upon opening. Does open up a bit. Hasn’t really changed since previous bottle, this is what it is. It’s good and works at the price, just want more out of it.
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1/27/2020 - Wine Diplomats wrote: 91 Points
Screw top. Twisted and poured. Had a moderate intense nose of well integrated smoky oak and spice. A touch of pepper and ripe dark fruit but keeps some acidity. No major heat and the oak integrated well within 20 minutes. Not a heavy alcoholic fruit bomb like some Australian wines. It's still modern but not overdone. Quite smooth. Would be a nice bbq wine. They are considered one of the best producers in Mclaren Vale and this wine supposedly has a lot of the characteristics of the region: lush fruit, savouriness, and soft tannins. All vines are estate owned and 20-100 years old.
https://winediplomats.com/
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11/22/2019 - redz wrote: 87 Points
I didn't get the big scores. Fairly basic fruity shiraz...?
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3/9/2019 - Eike Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice solid Shiraz. Good cherry notey bit of wood, well balanced. Give it 3 more years and it might be quite perfect.
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1/19/2019 - wabi47 Likes this wine: 89 Points
solid cherry (both sweet and tart), good structure, nice finish with good acidity. Nice slightly chalky/tannin/citric acid finish with good length. Better on day two.
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12/26/2018 - RoyaltyCoins Likes this wine:
Medium-deep purple, ruby reflections.
Nose: Dried cherry and current, spice box and a bit of farmyard earth. Nicely perfumed and complex, if lighter in its projection.
Mouth: Dried cherry and red current return exactly as they are in the nose, nicely knit together and generous at the front end, if leaning leaner in the end. The finish kicks in chewy, lip smacking, with notes of rose hip, light espresso, black tea, and some licorice. Tannins are ample yet reserved (especially after decanting).
Overall: This feels almost Italian in profile, it's less of a Syrah and more of an elegant, developing Sangiovese. Balance between the nose and the mouth is excellent and the overall package is a rustic, ample, dry offering with focus. The tertiary notes are really lovely at this price point and would continue to integrate and develop for at least 5 years to come. Comes tight out of the bottle, give it at least an hour or two on air. 100% Syrah.
90.
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12/20/2018 - ziavino wrote: 90 Points
PnP, with aromas and flavors of currant, blackberry, and black pepper. Surprisingly elegant, with medium acidity, and a tarry note that adds lift on the finish.
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12/8/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
I think you could put this up against most Côtes du Rhones, and this would come out decently well. Plenty of black fruit and black pepper on the nose -- classic syrah elements. The palate is lean and a little thin, but this isn't an exorbitantly priced wine either. Awesome acidity that cuts through the dense tannins. To me, perhaps an additional hit of fruit might elevate this to the next level, but this is something I could grab a glass of to actually drink and enjoy.
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11/10/2018 - Jobu wrote: 90 Points
Solid Shiraz. Cherry, blackberry, spice. Needs a little air to open up. Decent QPR at $15.
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9/26/2018 - penguinoid Likes this wine:
Colour: dark ruby red
Nose: plum, cassis, mulberry, mulberry jam. Blackberry. Sharp fresh black berry fruit. Bitter dark chocolate. Sweet spice.
Palate: blackberry, cassis, mulberry. Lots of black berry fruit. Sweet spice. Bitter dark chocolate. Mild firm grained tannins, moderate berry like acidity. Full bodied, rich, with structural tannins. 14,5% alcohol
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7/16/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 87 Points
Rich dark fruit, spices, smoke on the nose. Well balanced, good acidity, forward, linear, medium length. 86-88
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5/27/2018 - BigfootPMH Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle restored my faith in the ‘ole faithful Footbolt.
Good QPR but will use a second bottle to verify if 2015 is consistently good.
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1/26/2018 - JerM wrote:
Lush earthy red fruit, juicy, concentrated leafy leather, red and black cherries. Tight tannin.
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1/3/2018 - Eike Likes this wine: 90 Points
Definetely a shiraz with lots of potential. I will buy a few bottles and store them for at least 5 more years. Very intense wine, dark, berry and pepper taste, balanced but still to sharp.
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10/28/2017 - ChrisPage Likes this wine: 90 Points
Another big Footbolt this year from d’Arenberg.
A deep inky ruby in the glass.
Nose of baked plum and blackberry, spice, smoke.
Palate is rich plums, cocoa, boysenberry and pepper.
Finish is medium, not immensely tannic either.
Drinking very well right now.
My favourite is still the 2013 at the moment but in a few years this might be the new winner.
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