Master Sommelier, Cameron Douglas of Decanter recently tasted a range of Destiny Bay vintages across all three blends. No stranger to Destiny Bay, Douglas reviewed the 2014, 2015 and 2019 wines. 

Douglas described the Magna Praemia 2019 as, “pure and fresh, with aromas of ripe blackberry and dark plum,” which earned it a cool 97 points. “Tannins are abundant, polished and very fine with a long chain effect, while acidity adds freshness and carries flavours and texture highlights through the palate.”

The Magna Praemia 2014 seemed to be held in high regard for Douglas as the description is mouth-wateringly enticing, “Primary aromas suggest a wine now beginning to develop in bottle with seamless scents of dark berries, lots of baked plums and kitchen spices of dried clove and vanilla, then toasty barrel scents with a smoky edge. Delicious on the palate with a textured and complex mouthfeel.” This combination saw the Magna Praemia walk away with 96 points.

With only one year between them, the Magna Praemia 2015 was described as having a, “youthful appearance.” He went on to say that the, “aromas suggest a wine only just beginning its primary development, with scents of plums and blackberries.” 95 points for this one.

Aromas of the Destinae 2019, “suggest a primary, fruity, plush and enticing wine: fresh black berries and dried currents, juicy plums and sweet barrel spices of vanilla, clove and a whisper of anise.” Douglas continues with an account of the, “firm, ripe, long-chain tannins,” and remarks that an, “equal abundance of acidity suggest a wine that will age for some time.” He awarded this wine 94 points.

The Destinae 2014 and 2015 were both aesthetically described as, “dark purple and red core with a purple and pink rim.” With both wines having accrued a few years of aging, the, “toasty barrel spices” were notable with the fruit still extremely prominent – “dark plum and blackberry aromas turn to flavours on the palate.” The 2014 and 2015 Destinae earned 93 and 94 point respectively.