In 2010 Australia's second oldest family-owned winery Bleasdale celebrated 160 years of continuous production, a traditional going back to its original founder Frank Potts.
Uncle Dick has some ripper wines in his historic rat-infested cellar. He was the youngest son of founder Frank and his collection offers up a treasure trove of value-driven wines, including the delicious ball buster, Red Brute Sparking Shiraz. Such was his generous character that postage is thrown in for free on carton orders of a dozen.
His Malbec is lighter than the Second Innings version. Bright garnet to purple in colour. An attractive nose of violets, raisins and dark fruit aromas is followed by a texturally smooth palate displaying round plummy, dark cherry and blackberry flavours. Some notes of pepper and spice. Well-balanced and very easy to drink. Uncle Dick has fashioned a wine that drinks far better than its price would suggest. A real bargain buy.
Source: Winery Sample. Alcohol: 13.5%. Closure: Screwcap. Price: $8.95. Rating: 88 Points.
Website: http://uncledickscellar.com.au/flash/
As a pure varietal wine, Malbec is underrated. Present in Cabernet or Shiraz blends but largely forgotten or unappreciated, it wasn't until the rivers of Argentinian Malbec started to hit world shelves that we sat up and took stock. Since 1961 Bleasdale has been a leading Australian producer from its historic Langhorne Creek vineyards in a region and terroir where it has done particularly well, winning a swag of awards.
Contrary to the sad happenings in the Ashes cricket, this Second Innings is not a disappointment. An inky intense purple in colour once poured. Opens up with a perfumed bouquet of blackberry, plum, violet and smokey oak. Some hints of anise and black olive, which I liked. At the front end the palate is dry, medium-weight and savoury. Pleasing earthy dark fruit flavours swathe the middle order. It's not a fruit bomb as such nor has it been visited by the oak monster. Well-balanced backbone of ripe tannic acid, fruit and oak flavours. A smooth and soft texture to finish at the tail end.
I'm a fan of varietal Malbec and its underrated Bordeaux stablemate Petit Verdot. This vintage makes an excellent quaffing wine, value-driven and flavoursome. It's big, opulent tastes are approachable, satisfying and healthy given the presence of polyphenols, antioxidants found in abundance in red grape varieties such as Malbec. So you get to enjoy the wine in the knowledge it is beneficial to heart health. Recommended as an alternative to Shiraz or to ponder over what has gone wrong in England.
Source: Winery Sample. Alcohol: 13.5%. Closure: Screwcap. Price: $15.00. Rating: 89 Points.
Website: http://www.bleasdale.com.au/
