Innocent Bystander | Sangiovese-Merlot 2004

PV Tasting Notes

This Yarra Valley winemaker has crafted a really interesting bistro style red wine – Chianti style, easy drinking yet with a real quality dimension to it and a really good food match of a wine. Lovely fresh and a vibrant purplish red, the wine exudes dark berry fruit characters, along with loads of rich succulent juicy plum. Mouth filling plum glides effortlessly down the throat, lingering on and on.

88 points - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon (42%, 40%, and 18% respectively) exhibits medium body, supple tannin, and a lively, cedary, black currant-scented nose displaying hints of spice box and earth.
 

We would suggest matching this with herb stuffed veal wrapped in Prosciutto, venison braised in cherries, saltimbocca alla romana, most Italian sausages, or pork sausages with lots of herbs, and of course pizza.

Phil Sexton made his first fortune as a pioneer micro brewer creating the cult beer “little creatures”. He then invested a substantial part of that fortune in establishing the ultra premium Margaret River winery Devils Lair which he sold to Southcorp in 1996. Earlier that year he had purchased a hillside property less than a kilometre away from Coldstream hills and sharing the same geological structure and aspect. He has established Giant Steps, a striking and substantial vineyard comprising almost 34 hectares ranging from 400 feet to 1200 feet above sea level. Innocent Bystander is their second label offering top flight quality at a fraction of the cost of their main line products