Tait The Wild Ride 2013
12/15
The 2013 Wild Ride, a blend of 42% Shiraz, 36% Grenache and 22% Mataro (Mourvedre) comes from fruit sourced throughout the southern part of the Barossa Valley as well as some fruit from the Tait home block vineyards. Black cherry and black plum fruit are accentuated with spice and a touch of tar and earth aromatically. Fuller bodied, Barossa generosity is on display with the riper black cherry flavors taking on a round textural feel with riper tannins making this smooth and supple, while there’s enough acidity to keep the fruit focused with a savory note of baking spices on the finish. Showing well as we speak this should drink nicely over the next couple of years.
92 pts James Suckling
A solid red with blackberry, dark chocolate and spice aromas and flavors. Full and velvety. Opulent yet shows tension. Drink or hold.
90 pts Tanzer/Vinous
Brilliant ruby. Sexy, spice-tinged aromas of dark berry preserves and potpourri, with licorice and cracked pepper notes building in the glass. On the palate, vibrant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors open slowly and become sweeter on the back half. Finishes silky and nicely focused, with subtle tannins folding into the wine’s juicy dark fruit. — Josh Raynolds
89 pts Wine Enthusiast Magazine
This is a full-bodied, rather weighty wine, but one that stays within normal bounds. Black cherry fruit is tinged with mocha and baking spices, ending in a dusting of soft tannins. Drink now–2018. The blend is 42% Shiraz, 36% Grenache and 22% Mataro.
89 pts Robert Parkers The Wone Advocate
A blend of 42% Shiraz, 36% Grenache and 20% Mataro, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2013 The Wild Ride has pronounced warm berry, plum preserves notes with nuances of anise, bacon, licorice. Soft, full-bodied and rich in the mouth, it is nicely balanced and finishes long.
It was an absolute pleasure to finally pay Bruno Tait a visit at his winery in the much under-rated Lyndoch township of Barossa Valley. I have to commend Bruno for keeping it real with regards to pricing. He always aims to over-deliver on value, exemplified by what must be one of our most consistent 90 point rated wines for under US$25: The Ball Buster. I was treated to a vertical of Tait’s Basket Pressed Shiraz during my visit – a classic Barossa beauty – which proved that it ages slowly and gracefully with the very best of Barossa’s Shiazes…at a fraction of the cost.