Shannon Vineyards Mount Bullet 2010
By Christian Eedes, 26 March 2012
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Before we despair of Merlot as a single-variety wine under local conditions, it’s worthwhile to reference the outstanding example that is Mount Bullet from Shannon Vineyards in Elgin. A sneak preview of the 2010 suggests that grower James Downes and winemakers Gordon and Nadia Newton Johnson of Newton Johnson Vineyards have refined their game even further – the wine manages to be plush and smooth textured like good Merlot should be but simultaneously complex with layers and layers of flavour – red and black fruit, milk chocolate and subtle savoury notes including oyster shell and black olive. It’s rich and broad but also has great drive; it’s bursting with fruit but this is pure and perfectly delineated; and it really hangs around without being astringent or mouth drying. From 3ha planted to five clones, the wine spent 20 months in French oak, 40% new. Score: 18/20 – a really exciting wine.
Smirrie28 March 2012
Christian i love your website a lot. Can you however when tasting a wine tell your readers the price of each wine.
I am of the opinion that it will make your articles even better.
And jeez what good winemakers did the newton johnson become. They rock
Christian28 March 2012
Completely agree that prices are relevant. Mount Bullet 2010 not released yet but 2009 sold for R270 a bottle from the farm.