So can you recall the last time you had a dainty wine from Barossa? Those wines are known for their power and depth.
Peter Lehmann’s Layers from Adelaide has a very traditional GSM blend (Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre) but it adds to that Tempranillo.
It has a black cherry colour. On the nose it has a great density of blackberry, cassis, black cherry and cocoa. The tannins are veering toward moderate. On the palate there is brackishness with some bitterness. This bitterness takes one by surprise and is distracting. Just when you think you are picking up some fruit on the palate the bitterness kicks in. Trying to race against the bitterness one can pick up some black cherry and Texas ruby grapefruit. Overall, I’d also say there is a bit of rawness in what I can call an uncouth wine. I can finesse the bitterness by saying the wine has a bit of almond extract to it. No amount of decanting seems to remove this strange bitterness. Leave this one on the shelf.
(Peter Lehman Layers 2020, Adelaide, Peter Lehmann Wines, Tanuda, South Australia, $16.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 138883, 750 mL, 14.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 77/100).