Tasting Notes
2017
Loaded with blue fruits, some violet and an underlying spice on the nose. The palate has a velvety texture with hallmark blueberry and cassis characters. An elegant example of Malbec, finishing with a lovely fruit profile and soft tannins.
2016
Loaded with blue fruits, olive tapenade, garden herbs and gentle spice. The palate is awash with blueberries, red currants and spice. Excellent finish, with chewy tannins. Great length of palate, with fruit and spice that lingers. Our most complex Good Shepherd to date.
2015
The Malbec came in a bit riper (14.5%) than previous seasons so I decided to hang it out there in all its glory. It’s the best crop of Malbec I’ve seen from these vines so we’ve bottled this 100% Malbec, that’s like a slice of blueberry pie with cardamom pods and spice on the nose. It displays a rich, ripe palate awash with blueberries and red currants which leads to a fine finish with some silky tannin grip. The Good Shepherd finally has his wish this year with his first 100% Malbec. Cheers Dad!
2014
The Good Shepherd is complex on the nose with hints of spice, chocolate, caramel and liquorice. The herbal notes from the Cabernet are layered with waves of wild lavender balancing out the bright fruit and trademark blueberry of the Malbec with deep herbal notes, lifted spice and a rich, unctuous finish. Blend 75% Malbec, 25% Cabernet.
2012
74% Cabernet and 26% Malbec, it is incredibly complex on the nose with hints of spice, chocolate, caramel and liquorice, it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store when I smell the Good Shepherd. The herbal notes from the Cabernet are layered with waves of wild lavender. The Cabernet and Malbec are together showing great balance along with bright fruit, trademark blueberry, deep herbal notes and lifted spice with a rich and unctuous finish. Sophisticated.
2011
I love the 2011 Good Shepherd. This is the wine of the release, which shows how good Cabernets can be in cool, wet vintages, with their thick skins and resistance to moulds and moisture. We actually managed to get the Cabernet reasonably ripe, even with the incredibly difficult conditions. We bunch thinned the Malbec early in the season which helped us get a modest yield, with pleasing results. Trademark blueberry from the Malbec, mingling with the lush herbaceousness of the Boundaries Cabernet is for me, heaven in a glass.
