JM 1ST APPROACH

The 2008 vintage continues a remarkably strong decade of harvests in Mclaren Vale, joining 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. An almost perfect growing season paved the way for a remarkably strong vintage where all the strongest parcels of fruit were picked in ideal conditions. The resultant wine has great concentration and flavour yet continues with the Gemtree trademark of fine acid and tannin lines.

Purple, red with black hue. Red cherry, cloves, violets, 100% cacao dark chocolate, sweet vanilla, black pepper and blueberries. A multi layered generous and hugely complex wine. The dark chocolate and red berries flow richly onto the palate combining with complex savoury oak that paves the way for a seamless finish. The highlight of this wine is the persistence which we attribute to the balance of flavour, acid and tannin.

Deep, dense colour; regional licorice and dark chocolate overtones to the blackberry fruit of the bouquet leap from the glass, the medium- to full-bodied palate providing more of the same, with 16 months in French oak doing little more than rounding off the tannins. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. Rating 95 James Halliday