Robertson of Clare Max V 2005, a Bordeaux Blend from Clare Valley
Deep ruby, with a light garnet rim. Savoury black fruit with an aged 'Bordeaux' style bouquet, it gives a dusty nose of olive, elments of chocolate, peppermint and spice. On the palate, Robertson of Clare Max V 2005 is fully mature with a tannic structure that looks more substantial than the primary fruit. The fruit is leathery and drying, with oak induced spice alongside blackberry and olive to finish. The wine is still dense, more layered than many Clare bottles I tasted before, and feels linear a la style Clare, with an air of Bordeaux.
It's a blend of all five Bordeaux grapes being 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Malbec, 10.5% Merlot, Cabernet Franc 5.5 %, Petit Verdot 4.5 %, hence“Le Cinq”. These five grapes come from three growers in Clare. Also, the wine has a portion fermented in new French Oak, with all the wine then matured in 225L(small) new French Oak barriques.
Impressive scores. For example, James Halliday 95 points:
Powerful and concentrated, but in the best way; blackcurrant leads the charge, quality oak also very much part of the equation; lingering tannins. Exceptionally complex oak treatment: one-third fermented in oak vats, two-thirds fermented in old Mintaro slate fermenters. Cabernet Sauvignon (66%)/Malbec/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot.
