decanted

I feel like I’ve stumbled across something special here…
Paul Petagna is a young McLaren Vale wine maker better known in the US than he is on home turf. Yes, Parker ratings have helped his cause, BUT, this is not a “Parker Wine”.

His straight Shiraz from the Vale is under the Piombo brand name and is a wine that attracts US$80 in certain circles. Check out the Piombo website and you’ll see that some heavy-hitters wax lyrical.

The wine before me tonight, his “Diavolo” (trans. Devil. Ita) is a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet. It is Paul’s own project and the first of 3 wines to be released under the striking label.

Deep purple with red edges, this is not pure ink. Blueberry pie on the nose; the cassis of the Cabernet subduing the brooding blackberry of Shiraz. I like.

I’ve given this wine some air and it’s thanked me for it. The wine is very balanced. I must declare my hand as a fan of the these varieties together.

Transition from front to back palate is all too easy. Cabernet sandwiching Shiraz in the middle. This will age well and is a wine to watch as it finds some friends in Oz.