The label has now been updated to include the ‘sub-appellation’ of Serpentine. Serpentine is very small (and flat) crossroads township located 50kms north east of the major Central Goldfields town of Bendigo, Victoria. Released from the winery on October 1st.

Passing Clouds, Shiraz, Bendigo, 2016

Big, gutsy, rich, deep….and that’s just the aroma profile. Ink, iodine, asphalt, boysenberry, plum, yeast spread, moss and smoky/chary oak. The palate starts sweet with a core of blood plum, boysenberry before tonic/herb medicinal red licorice and choc bullets. There’s an earthy, ferrous, rocky profile to the chunky, blocky mouth coating tannins that pair with interesting acidity. I’m not sure where this will go, I’d like to think it’s a 25 year propsect, but for now give it spiced, charred yearling beef ribs, fresh from BBQ.

RRP: $53
Alc: 14.8%
Rating: 17.25/20

Wine sample courtesy of Passing Clouds