Now then, I have tasted this thrice now, the first blind in amongst a raft of 2005 Huntervas, the second from a whole bottle and the last benchmarking it against the previous vintage (also under screwcap which is 2004 if you can’t subtract) with both of the bottle tastings looking better the next day. A sub twenty dollar (often sub $15) wine that requires decanting or cellaring? Well well. This is a very rich chocolatey wine by Hunter standards, as much like Barossa as anything else, but is still medium weight and I suspect that more regional character will emerge with careful cellaring. Best of all is no longer having to play that tense and scary game of ‘Mount Pleasant roulette’ with your case load of twelve (licorice) bullets; the screwcap ensuring a long and untroubled life.
Rich and tarry with blackberry, licorice and chocolate dominating, a little black pepper and some brighter raspberry fruit peering up through the darkness. On the palate medium to full bodied with blackberry and raspberry, licorice and earthy leathery flavours. It is dry (almost porty) and savoury with fairly strong but appropriate tannin and a good dry finish. It freshened, brightened and sweetened up after being left for a day and I’d really suggest leaving this alone for a couple of years yet at which stage I suspect it could rate a little higher. Certainly I think there is a bit of X-Factor at play here. A big wine by Hunter standards but it’s authentic and honest and I chose to drink it over several (some considerably) more expensive bottles I had open at the time. Drink : 2011 - 2016+ 91+ points Gary Walsh, Winorama
