Domaine O’Vineyards Stranger Stranger 2011: 93 Points

Editor’s Rating

93

Winery – Domaine O’Vineyards
Wine – Stranger Stranger
Vintage – 2011
Varietal – 100% Merlot
Score – 93/100
Price – GBP £24.99 USD $31.22

The 2010 vintage of Stranger Stranger was simply sublime, a truly wonderful wine, punching well above it’s weight, all things considered. This latest vintage, is nearing the same quality, even with a years less age at this point in time. Whether it will quite reach the same dizzy heights as the 2010, I’m not sure, I guess only time will tell, although my personal opinion is that 2010 was a slightly more rounded vintage. Having said that there’s only one point in it on my scorecard, so don’t be swayed either way, this is still an exceptional vintage of an exceptional wine.

A heavenly, aromatic bouquet, led by rich, intense dark fruits and freshly polished leather, with baked plums and raspberry rounding off an endearing array of scents. The palate is broad; black cherry, damson and vanilla, with mild aniseed and velvety milk chocolate on the finish, which itself is of extraordinary length. A texturally addictive and hugely masculine mouthfeel really make one appreciate the full bodied presence of this wine. Rich, dense and oily in complexion, deep purple and opaque in colour.

A good splashy decant really helps open up this wine’s potential and realises it’s power. A real classy wine. Enjoy folks!