Lucky Penny 2009 Red (South Eastern Australia) - AustraliaAvailability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: April 25th, 2011
Tasting Notes: The Lucky Penny 2009 Red, as part of a newly released duo from prominent Australian mega-brand Yellow Tail, acts as an uneasy older brother out to chaperon his affable younger sister, the 2010 White. She's charming and fun. He's superfluous and uncomfortable in his own skin.
A blend of 50% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot you would expect, even for a mass-produced "South Eastern" Australia wine, to have a meaty backbone with big tannins and spicy black pepper characters. But the Lucky Penny Red has neither. Rather, the character of the wine is super-ripe and juicy with a sharp nose of prune, maraschino cherry, molasses and oak aromas. The palate starts with an unwanted level of sweetness and then settles to showcase substantial concentration of cherry, dark berry, licorice, spice and chocolate flavours.
"Unpretentious and bursting with flavour..." the marketing material suggests, and it's hard to disagree, but I think they left out "confused". Drink 2011-2012.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca
A blend of 50% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot you would expect, even for a mass-produced "South Eastern" Australia wine, to have a meaty backbone with big tannins and spicy black pepper characters. But the Lucky Penny Red has neither. Rather, the character of the wine is super-ripe and juicy with a sharp nose of prune, maraschino cherry, molasses and oak aromas. The palate starts with an unwanted level of sweetness and then settles to showcase substantial concentration of cherry, dark berry, licorice, spice and chocolate flavours.
"Unpretentious and bursting with flavour..." the marketing material suggests, and it's hard to disagree, but I think they left out "confused". Drink 2011-2012.
