2004 De Lisio the Catalyst
A roughly 50-50 blend of Shiraz and Grenache.
Wow, what a wine, from the amazing dense purple colour through to the flamboyant, aromatic intense nose stuffed full of fruit, this is some wine!
Forget those soft and confectionary Australian Grenaches, this is the goods! The nose is chock a block full of ripe fruit, Grenache taking the front of stage, exuberant cherries, squashed plums, blackberries and cream, with an overwhelming crushed raspberry core, with touches of spicy oak, earth and milk chocolate peeking around the edges. Shiraz provides the depth of plum and blackberry accented fruit.
On the palate this is all class. It has a wonderful velvety, creamy mouthfeel, incredible depth and purity of fruit, and length to burn. Its an opulent mouthful of fruit, but with very long and very fine tannins and nice acid balance to stop it being flabby. There is just a hint of moccha on the finish, and what a finish , it lasts for an age in your mouth. Give it 6 months to settle then enjoy over the next few years!
Its a seamless, intense, flamboyant mouthful of fruit. However, it is not flabby or overdone, but it is a wine for those who love fruit.
Please note, this is all 100% Australian in style, and not for lovers of CNP wines, if you do not like pure fruited lush wines, then this is not for you.
If however you do love this style of wine, jump in, they don't come much better!
(As ever, retailer notes) but thought it may be of interest. Most of this goes to the US so should be around, even if scarce.