- Coonawarra, SA - $15-$22
- Screwcap
- 14.5%alc
After mirroring the fluctuations of recent South Australian vintages, Majella's lightly oaked Musician has rebounded to top form in 2010, reaffirming its position as a chieftain amongst Coonawarra's everyday drinking class.
Dark, evenly ripened and altogether smelling deeper than previous Musicians, the 2010 still buzzes in with a fragrant vitality, or a regional intensity, revealing a vivid aroma of mint soaked in cassis and raspberry juice with shades of vanilla and white pepper, indicating subtle hints of wood and Coonawarra shiraz (44%). The palate accommodates the nose, delving with a touch more concentration and darkness than usual, however, it bares a radiating brightness to its essence-like blackcurrant, dark plum and raspberry flavours, which persist along a cleverly pitched, light-medium bodied framework aided by great length and a refreshing finish emitting a particularly polished, pulsating acidity. There is a faint, valid sour-edged meatiness through the aftertaste, but it's cloaked in sumptuous chocolate/blackcurrant flavour and emancipating acids. In all respects it's a much more complete wine than other Musicians. It's immediately delicious and then some. Top value.
ü+ Majella have taken full advantage of what could be the best Coonawarra vintage for years. The 2010 Musician contains the light, bright, racy attributes we've come to love from the label, yet still manages to fill in a few holes the other wines didn't. Excellent, modern and intensely regional. A high note for the Musician. So drinkable. Drink to 2016.
91 points
Heya Chris,
ReplyDeleteI totally have this Majella line mentioned in a draft review I have (which won't be published for another fortnight as I should be studying for exams)!
My in-laws brought back a couple of 2009 bottles for me (among others) from Majella. For whatever reason I found the first bottle surprisingly and disconcertingly rich. Luckily I had another two, which we drank a few months after the first one, and enjoyed a great deal.
Which is a long-winded way of saying I'm keen to grab a few of the 2010...
Heya to you Teddy!
ReplyDelete[Good luck with the exams] Keen to know what you think about the 2010 Musician. I thought the 09 was a fair Musician, but I think the 10 is a good step up across the board.
Majella make quite a popular Sparkling Shiraz too (which has never been much to my tastes, bit overpriced in my opinion). Speaking of which, I love your enthusiasm for the subject - keep it up!
Cheers,
Chris P
Thanks, Chris!! Compliments right back at you - I'm learning lots from AWJ; very glad to have your work in my Google Reader feeds :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I look forward to grabbing a few of the '10 Musicians for the reasons you've mentioned. And I agree with your assessment of the Majella Sparkling. It's a little bit too port-rich for my liking (at least that's how I remember it); perhaps too much emphasis on the liqueur rather than the base wine(?) Too true about the price.
Cheers,
Thanks, Chris!! Compliments right back at you - I'm learning lots from AWJ; very glad to have your work in my Google Reader feeds :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I look forward to grabbing a few of the '10 Musicians for the reasons you've mentioned. And I agree with your assessment of the Majella Sparkling. It's a little bit too port-rich for my liking (at least that's how I remember it); perhaps too much emphasis on the liqueur rather than the base wine(?) Too true about the price.
Cheers,
Thanks Teddy. Dosage is definitely a killer of many sparkling reds :)
ReplyDelete