x
  • Country ranking ?

    302
  • Producer ranking ?

    34
  • Decanting time

    1h
  • When to drink

    now to 2025
  • Food Pairing

    Pan fried tuna steaks

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The Story

Many of McLaren Vale's vineyards are on free-draining soils underlain with limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of the local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that inhabits the cast-off shells of others. The Osborn family thought the name appropriate for this, McLaren Vale's first ever blend of Viognier and Marsanne. "Hermit" is also an abbreviation for the French appellation of Hermitage, where the Marsanne grape variety dominates.

 

A wine that really does offer something for a large array of individuals, from someone purely interested in a nice drink to those seeking to explore the nuances of these “alternate” varieties. The Viognier certainly takes centre stage on the nose in the guise of stone fruits, candied ginger and florals. In the background for those keen on honing their senses, Marsanne adds slightly more exotic notes of green mango, hay and almond. The palate has a lovely medium bodied weight to it, without any of that oiliness that over ripe Viognier can deliver. Precise acid throughout and a mild pithy texture on the finish ensure freshness and spice to keep the sweetness of the fruit in check. Fruity and spicy yet dry make this an all occasions wine.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

Nutty and cashew-like notes with lovely stonefruit characters underneath. These two Rhone varieties traditionally make a great combo and they work well together here. The wine has a really appealing layered texture and shows decent length. Loads of fruit here and that lovey textural note. A wine that is fabulous value. 

Score: 90/100

Best drinking: now for five years. 

Alc: 13.3%

  • 90p

Apricots sing clear on this one. It's a pretty thing, that stonefruit in tandem with florals offering an attractive intro. 


Sadly the palate comes across a little odd, missing definition and shape, in fact comes across initially as quite sweet followed by a dryness. The Hermit Crab is clearly looking for a new home on this outing.


Back palate bitterness is the lasting memory. Scuttle back into your shell on this occasion. 85

  • 85p
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Information

Origin

McLaren Vale, South Australia

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