Screwcap, $28
The ugly duckling of the Taylors range, this Jaraman has had a facelift - as you can see by the picture, its got some brand new packaging (which I quite like). The wine itself is not quite there yet, though I think plenty will appreciate the style.Deep, dark, dense red maroon colour, you can fairly guess this wines intention from the outset - lashings of everything. The nose is dominated by rich chocolate bounty oak - If you dig the smell of oak barrels and that lovely sweet smell, you'll like this. Its an open knit nose with lots of density, the jammy fruit simmering below the oaky surface. Suitably, the palate is quite tight, toasty & oaky with rich, very ripe red fruit that is dense, sweet and quite cumbersome. Oak tannins heavily influence the finish and minutes later I can still taste the oak. It will open up, but what then? The oak should integrate for sure, but will it be a better wine or will it just fall over..
So I have to admit that I find this style of wine near undrinkable. Too dense, heavy, oaky & blunt. However I also know of heaps of people will absolutely piss their pants over this sort of sweetly rich, mega ripe, fruit & oak doused beasty. I'd recommend following your own palate preferences here. 15.5
2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun; Wine Judge; Gourmet Traveller WINE and Breathe Hunter Valley magazine contributor; LattéLife & The Retiree columnist; National Liquor News tasting panellist and Chablis lover who fell into the liquor industry chiefly to buy cheap beer.
I think "piss their pants" is a negative to the subscribers you are trying to attract. Try humour and better English.
ReplyDeleteI found this Jaraman wine recently at Kemeny's. I must admit I bought it because of the label, but must say I really enjoyed it, didn't find it too oaky or fruit-driven - each to their own I guess. Keep up with the reviews Andrew, I enjoy reading about the latest wines.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2 - Each to their own is exactly right. It's just not my style of wine, yet I can also appreciate why many people will love it.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, we are both right :)
Wow. Thank you for describing what i experience last night. I struggle with Shiraz at the best of times due to those tannins, - and even though bouquet was brilliant, the palate and aftertaste made it hard to finish each glass - very unusual for me. The write up above sound very familiar. Thanks. I love oak in a chardonnay btw.
ReplyDelete$30 for a 2008 - on the upper edge of what Im willing to pay for any wine, but this convinces me I wont try any more Shiraz if i can avoid it.
Holy Frog - don't give up on Shiraz, it's a fabulous variety. it's just this wine that was the disappointment.
ReplyDelete