Hugh Hamilton “The Rascal” (2005) Shiraz

This is a dissapointing drop, after loving so many of their other wines, especially the Shiraz Viognier trying this one has left me feeling like something is lacking, its not up to the usual calibre from this winery. I’m getting dried stonefruit on the nose with a little of that Glen 20 Cotton Sky airfreshner. Its deep deep red/purple in colour, once you take a mouthful you’re hit with a chunky amount of alcohol, after that you have a fruit, liquorice, tannins and acid along with a oak, but none it comes together to form a wine with wonderful mouth feel, its all disjointed and all over the place (much like many of my posts). I think this one may need a lot more time in the cellar to give it some hope for greatness, but as at today, its not a cohesive well rounded wine, it has its highs, which are broken up by too many lows to make it a great wine. Will cellar a bottle of the ’05 for a few more years yet and see what its like in 5 or 6, but for drinking now – look elsewhere its just not come together at this stage.