Lake's Folly and Lunch with Jerming

Jerms was back in Singapore with some mature Aussie wines in tow. Not the best pairing with kway chap,but still very enjoyable.

• 2001 Lake's Folly Red Blend 88 Points

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Not bad, but a bit incomplete. The nose had a lot VA on it, with wafts of acetone disturbing otherwise pleasant aromas of ripe sunny blackberries and cassis and a little cola seasoned with a bit of spice and brambly eucalyptus herb. There was a bit of an earthy, undergrowth character on it, but it was more the sweeter fruit that came out. The palate had some of those acetone shades as well, but thankfully these were less noticeably than on the nose. What we got here was primarily sweet sunny black fruits - cassis and plums and blackberries again - sprinkled with those warm spice and brambly notes. The tannins had softened to a barely there structure, but the acidity still kept the wine up nicely with a nice freshness and clarity. It needed a bit of time and air to integrate in the glass and it was just a touch thin and short, but I thought pleasant enough. From a 375ml, it was high time to drink it up.

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• 2002 Lake's Folly Red Blend 90 Points

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Quite a bit better than the 2001 we had together - both from 375ml, this drank as a decently good new world Cabernet. The nose had a little poster-colour chemical twang to it, but not quite enough to distract from otherwise pleasant notes of cassis and black cherries, a little wet earth and some lifted eucalyptus and tobacco notes. The mid bodied palate was significantly stronger than the 2001, showing more depth and a brighter, fresher balance than the earlier wine, with pleasantly sweet flavours of cassis and blackberries and dark cherries seasoned with a fragrantly spicy, slightly herby back note. This still had a little layer of fine tannins and good acidity that have it a nice sense of backbone and clarity. There was just a touch of heat in there and it seemed a little less than full on the finish, but this was otherwise an enjoyable wine. Drinking well now.

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