Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012

November 22, 2014

Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012 (France)
14%, Cork, $40


I loved the 2011 version of this as it really captured the joy of South of France Carignan. This 2012 iteration, though, seems to lack the specialness.

The problem I think is that its just too polished, with a very new world brightness in colour, the nose all ferrous, red currant jam. It tastes juicy, tarry and quite confected, the finish shorter than expected and the tannins soft. There’s an awful lot of currant and syrup fruit, but it doesn’t feel as well set as last year and the character isn’t quite in the same league

Will no doubt improve with time.

Source: Sample
Tasted: Nov 14
Drink: 2015-2020+
Score: 16.8/20, 89/100+
Would I buy it? Not at the moment
Buy online: Abbotts & Delaunay website


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    At 18, I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, slogging through physics and chemistry, so a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say, I discovered wine, and my life evolved with a unique dual focus - wine and environment.

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