Classic McLaren LaTesta Shiraz/Grenache/Cabernet Blend 2000

Opened this bottle of Classic Mclaren La Testa Blend tonight just to see what I thought of it, as I heard that Get Wines Direct have the 2003 vintage for $9.95 a bottle!!

I was not disappointed and even though this one cost $17.95 it's well worth it. Maybe not the $55 advertised RRP, but I can recommend this as a good cheapie.

(which is always a good thing)

It has a nice fruity and smoky nose and very smooth palate with fine tannins that finishes long and with a distinct liquorice aftertaste. Very nice indeed.

Not my usual vanilla thing, but variety is the spice of life.

I just got online and ordered another 8 of the 2003 that is coming out, so that will hopefully be as nice.

Drinkability 90/91

Value 93

Price $17.95 (Get Wines Direct)

Classic McLaren LaTesta Shiraz/Grenache/Cabernet Blend 2000

Opened a bottle of this Cleanskin again tonight as I had no chance to let anything else breathe in time... this wine did not disappoint.

It's a full flavoured red with a complex palate. Nothing discernably noticeable, but all good nonetheless.

I could pick a smoky fruit flavour and I have no idea what else unfortunately. No vanilla, but still i found this wine fairly smooth and quite easy to drink.

Of course... it should be, as advertised at $55 a bottle, but realistically it is a damn fine cleanskin.

Drinkability 90

Value 92

Price $17.95 (Get Wines Direct- cleanskin)

Classic McLaren LaTesta Shiraz/Grenache/Cabernet Blend 2000

A lot of expectations riding on this cleanskin version of La Testa's Blend. For a start, it's advertised as costing $55 a bottle normally... hmm.. I have seen it advertised for half that...

Anyway, the Red Bigot advised to buy this and he wasn't wrong. Price not being an issue, this wine is very nice. Not with a WOW factor, but a very nice drinking wine. On the nose it's almost perfumed, but not sickly. It does drink very smooth and quite sweet with a lot of oak and tons of fruit. I think the grenache is quite prominent here.

It's almost like a port, but not as strong, if that make sense??

I like this, but it's not an everyday wine. No real punch. It would go well with food too, but I have no idea what food.

:)

I'll know more after this weekend. My course and the Barrel tasting should help me make more sense of this.

(I just read that James Halliday gave this a 90, so did I.. spooky)

Drinkability 90
Value 91
Price $17.95 (Get wines direct)