Month: April 2023

2020 Soumah Cabernet Merlot

Reading the label, Soumah is a geographical reference, South of Maroondah, as in the highway. The road to good Cabernet for us lovers of the Yarra Valley’s star variety. Cool mint, red currant and cassis, cedar and tobacco, tweaked with sweet herb and gravel. Pleasing cut of fine tannin and refreshing acidity. Many flavours set against a watercoloured wash of gentle ending. Understated but not diminished in expression. Nice round feel, it sort of seems comfortable, if not incredibly concentrated. On the basis of about five or so bottles, Soumah seem to like restraint and an agreeable savoury invitation more than grabbing your lapels. Civilised, nice.

Happy days, the post Covid energy fog is clearing and stumbling to describe a nice drink seems to be compulsive again. Instead of just sitting there and enjoying the warming effect.

13.5% alcohol. Screw Cap. $28 RRP

91 points maybe 92.

2019 Bodega Badiola Laderas Rioja

The slow and at times discombobulating hold of the Covid virus has certainly whacked the already less than impressive energy levels and made the last couple of months at times seem like a drizzly English weekend. Eventually the sun comes out again as the virus loosens its hold and a bottle comes along that just brings a smile. If the 2018 of this was very good, then this is a paragon of what good Rioja Tempranillo can do if there’s not too mucking about in the winery. Spank me, it’s fresh. Just right ripeness, carefully extracted and delicious. Bright red fruits, strawberries and cherries with a swirl of healthy dirt. Makes the mouth happy with sparkling acidity and a well sharpened blade of fine tannin. Probably has the weight to gain with age but such a cheer up as of now. Seize the day and a bottle. This maker is consistently very good.

14% alcohol, perhaps can’t read my writing. Not that it matters if the balance is there. Diam. $26.60 in a Murphy’s six.

92 or 93 points.