2008 Henry’s Drive Vignerons Morse Code Shiraz Padthaway Australia

A few months ago I stumbled upon a wine in which I was not familiar, Henry’s Drive Morse Code from Australia. The label with its little Morse code dots and the attractive price tag of $7.99 drew me in. After keeping it around for sometime, I finally got around to cracking it open.

Aromas of spicy black pepper and dark red fruits carry over to the flavor. Black pepper on the front of the palate is followed by a gamey mineral taste. Mouthfeel is a little rough with some high unrefined tannins and the finish is a bit on the jammy side.

The winery takes its name from the proprietor of the 19th century mail coach which once ran through the Padthaway, Australia property. Mark and Kim Longbottom planted their first vineyards in 1992, bottling their first vintage four years later. In 2008 Mark passed away and Kim has kept up the tradition of winemaking to honor his memory.

Located on the Limestone Coast in South Australia and known for its rich red loamy soil, the area has six wine regions. The region benefits from the winter rains and the warm sunny summers which all work in combo to produce well structured grapes.

The wine’s not horrible and at least there’s no little critter on the label. Now that we’ve been formally introduced, I don’t think I need to re-visit this wine.

2010© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.
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