Substantial, complete, sophisticated. It's hard to say Painted Rock's wines are getting more mature as the vines do (they are now well over a decade old) but that would suggest they had improvements to make, and that's not the case. They make honest, complete and well postured wines, like this substantial Red Icon (44% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Sauvingnon and 7% Malbec). Expect archetypal Bordeaux aromas of graphite and black currents, leather, dark chocolate, toasted spices and undertones of charred orange peel. The palate is youthful, the tannins still need time to integrate, but it is smooth, balanced and complex.
Open now and decant, or hold for up to 10 years to allow it to coalesce more.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 22nd, 2019