It's not often I leave a sub-$10 wine overnight, and overnight again, to see how it evolves. But this wine has prompted me to do so, with most pleasing results.
I've had this one a few times with, I admit, mixed impressions at first. My first bottle seemed a little murky, structurally, lacking the purity I often associate with Pinot Noir, especially New World styles. It was also showing a heavy, oak-driven flavour profile. Whilst this wine is not, and will never be, a bright cherry fruit bomb, time will help to clarify its flavour components and structure.
So what does it smell and taste like? At first, a whole mix of flavours, not terribly well delineated, generous, a little "dark." After a day, it was as if a veil had lifted, revealing clean and somewhat brighter (though still deep) fruit flavour, along with definite earthiness, some musk, and perhaps a little lift. The entry is pleasantly lively, with some acid tingling the tip of the tongue as flavour introduces itself towards the mid-palate. Fruit flavour is mostly dark berry in character, and is accompanied by more earth and sous-bois. Oak is relegated to a supporting role now, and it's astonishing how much this aspect of the wine has stepped back over the last six months. Mouthfeel is quite lovely, mixing the aforementioned acidic freshness with fine, powdery tannins of the mouth coating variety. It's definitely tending towards a "dry red" style but, if you're open to this, will be a pleasing wine in its own right. The after-palate and finish show good line and persistence.
At just over $A8 per bottle, I'm astonished this wine is drinkable, let alone stylish and expressive of personality.
Mike Press Wines
Price: $A8.34 ($100/dozen)
Closure: Stelvin
Date tasted: April 2008
I've had this one a few times with, I admit, mixed impressions at first. My first bottle seemed a little murky, structurally, lacking the purity I often associate with Pinot Noir, especially New World styles. It was also showing a heavy, oak-driven flavour profile. Whilst this wine is not, and will never be, a bright cherry fruit bomb, time will help to clarify its flavour components and structure.
So what does it smell and taste like? At first, a whole mix of flavours, not terribly well delineated, generous, a little "dark." After a day, it was as if a veil had lifted, revealing clean and somewhat brighter (though still deep) fruit flavour, along with definite earthiness, some musk, and perhaps a little lift. The entry is pleasantly lively, with some acid tingling the tip of the tongue as flavour introduces itself towards the mid-palate. Fruit flavour is mostly dark berry in character, and is accompanied by more earth and sous-bois. Oak is relegated to a supporting role now, and it's astonishing how much this aspect of the wine has stepped back over the last six months. Mouthfeel is quite lovely, mixing the aforementioned acidic freshness with fine, powdery tannins of the mouth coating variety. It's definitely tending towards a "dry red" style but, if you're open to this, will be a pleasing wine in its own right. The after-palate and finish show good line and persistence.
At just over $A8 per bottle, I'm astonished this wine is drinkable, let alone stylish and expressive of personality.
Mike Press Wines
Price: $A8.34 ($100/dozen)
Closure: Stelvin
Date tasted: April 2008
Polishing off the dozen slowly and this wine continues to puzzle me. It's not overtly Pinot-like, is quite oak driven (although the oak has backed off from being malty to now being cedar-like) and lacks definition. But, as in my note, it's a wine that has some apparent intent beyond simple quaffing, and is hence difficult to dismiss easily. There's certainly some complexity here. It is now quite harmonious and soft, and is drinking well now.