Tasting obscure, limited run, single vineyard wines from boutique producers is just so… obvious. Let’s face it, for those on a limited budget, much of our satisfaction must derive from more accessible wines. Quite apart from affordability, I have to admit I’m more than a little fascinated by the challenge that surely faces producers of cheap, larger volume labels. In this space, MadFish has developed an admirably positive name for itself. What, then, to make of this current release Premium Red?
Not as much as I would have liked, I’m afraid. A full nose of dusty Cabernet fruit mixed with softer, round berries. Quite fragrant, part of its personality is a good dose of green leaf, verging on astringent twig. I’m not bothered by some green notes in Cabernet, but this one verges on excessive, at least for my taste. Still, good volume. The palate confirms a borderline unripe flavour profile, although there’s also a decent amount of sweet dark berry fruit alongside. It’s actually a very well-formed wine, structurally, with a nice swell to the middle palate and a gently tapered after palate and finish. Waves of sweet fruit push through entry and mid-palate in particular. But astringent, marginal tannins intrude towards the end and roughen up what is, otherwise, a good BBQ red.
MadFish Wines
Price: $20
Closure: Stelvin
You are a brave man Julian, going budget and bad vintage at once 🙂
Definitely not “obvious”. I have walked pass this wine a million times, and even thought about it once or twice, purely on the Madfish name and track record, but I thought if the 2006 was as bad as they said for WA then I just couldn’t do it.
It is interesting once again, though, to read some TNs and see how they faired. Cheers
jeremy
That’s the fascination! I don’t mind drinking poorer vintages from interesting estates, as they complete the full range of expressions of which specific sites are capable. But this is a different kettle of fish, and the interest here is: how do larger scale producers manage (or not) to defy vintage conditions almost entirely? Perhaps a masochistic interest, though…
Perhaps masochistic, but well worth exploring IMHO. It deals with those apsects surrounding the contents of the bottle whilst still giving a you a well expressed opinion on the wine itself. I often find The Full Pour raises as many questions as it answers, and I think this is a wonderful, important and fun way to approach wine. Congrats to all contributors.
jeremy
Thanks for the positive feedback, Jeremy. It’s nice to know you’re getting something from the approach. I think most wine lovers are pretty curious people. Personally, I’m mostly less concerned with judging a wine than exploring it, even if it’s less than great.