The reds started with the 2004 Three Little Pigs Shiraz Cabernet Malbec ($18),nicely peppery with charming label artwork to boot. the 4/6 label features one little pig bowling what appears to be a perfectly flighted leg break! Questions about the frequent cricket references produced the explanation that the family had bought the old Penola Cricket Ground in the Coonawarra, source of the non-Clare component of the 2006 The Cover Drive ($18), a blend of cabernets from Clare and Coonawarra, a really classy wine worthy of comparison to the classic shot of batsmanship. Things were warming up with the 2006 Lodge Hill Shiraz ($18) with three gold medals to its name and great value at the price.
As we moved into the top of the range the quality, already almost stellar, made a succession of quantum leaps. The 2005 First XI Cabernet (100% Coonawarra $55) was stunning, the Benbourie Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Clare $90) was sublime and with the 2005 The McRae Wood Shiraz things just kept getting better. Finally, by the time we reached the summit (2005 The Armagh Shiraz) I’d run out of superlatives.
Walking out I remarked it was just as well we’d planned a sightseeing diversion before the next winery because the palate (and the mind) needed time to clear. Needless to say, before we walked out I made absolutely sure I added our contact details to the mailing list.