Watkins Ruscello Sangiovese 2022

92 POINTS

Tony Love - Winepilot

The Watkins family vineyard in Langhorne Creek provides for a range of traditional and newer wines, this sitting in a series titled “Mad Cousins” which banners together alternative varietals, inventive blends and creative styles. And so to Sangiovese, with its lovely garnet colour in the glass and more savoury notes through the sensories. Quite lifted at first, aromas suggesting old cellars and leathery lounges, oak in play to begin as well as following into the palate where it offers a woody backbone to modest black tea and black cherry fruit flavours. Quite compact in structure, the wine sits in a medium bodied zone yet with surprising power and drive. A wine that has quite a bit of old-school charm, and plenty of cellar-worthy time on its hands.

91 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

Cold soaking after harvest and then two weeks on skins with eight months maturation. The fruit is from the Langhorne Creek. The wine is a soft crimson hue, while the nose exhibits some lovely and rather obvious varietal notes. Animal skins, bay leaves, roast meats, warm earth, raspberries and dried herbs, with sour red cherries on the finish. There is bright acidity running the length and a lingering finish. A joy to drink now but should continue to provide pleasure for at least half a dozen years.

91 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - Halliday Wine Companion

The fruit is sweet and jubey, the woodsy spice notes are well integrated, and the overall appeal is clear. This is a good drink, full stop. It's medium in body, dry through the finish and generally well balanced.