Wangolina Project 5255 Malbec 2024

Project 5255 is a Langhorne Creek initiative that offers three winemakers two tonnes of Langhorne Creek fruit to make a small batch wine. Here, the inimitable Anita Goode received two tonnes of Malbec from Kimbolton Vineyards ‘Lake Plains Road Vineyard’. After crushing, fermentation was encouraged by inoculation with a saccharomyces uvarum strain, which increases savoury and spicy characters. It was hand plunged for gentle extraction to preserve vibrancy, then matured in 10% new French oak, 1 puncheon and 8 barriques, for 10 months prior to bottling. Mulberry, soft lavender, red currant and plum sit above gentle clove, terra cotta, subtle espresso and emergent new leather. It’s soft, round and overall quite attractive aromatically. The palate is cool while round and juicy, with a sluice of plum and bramble fruit wrapped up in piquant spice and ample grip. The tannins are chalky and amply firm and there’s a gentle wash of acid through a finish of medium length. Some mocha-like bitterness to close. A juicy little number this is, and a lovely expression at $30.