Vinea Marson Heathcote Sangiovese 2016

It’s not hard to make solid sangiovese in Australia. But great sangiovese – that is a different story. Often the local wines have good fruit and concentration but lack that savoury, almost guttural, brooding intensity of the best from Italy. So this is a great find and now showing some aged characters thanks to the overriding philosophy at Vinea Marson to release wines a little later than most.

There is baked cherry, baked earth and terracotta aromas plus some earthy development on show although the wine is still retaining its youthful vibrancy. That particularly shows on the palate with bright and juicy fruits now showing tar and spice supported by open knit yet firm tannins before a long and fleshy finish. It’s probably close to peak but my guess is that it will stay there for some time to come.