An expressively fruity red blend that has bright raspberries and red plums and the glossy depth of malbec’s mulberry aromas, as well as some flowers, oak spice, white pepper and dried roses. The palate has a very glossy feel with a thread of oak spice here, too, and there’s a bold, boisterously fleshy texture to the palate. The tannins are powerful and need time to settle. A blend of 53% shiraz and 47% malbec from 1989, 1919 and 1920 plantings. Give this three-to-four years to settle in.
96 points, JamesSuckling.com (August 2020)
Wonderful perfume, blueberry, raspberry, medium-bodied, with plenty of cranberry crunch, cool mineral feel, lovely carriage of flavour, fresh and long, a touch of gum leaf as it goes, and some graphite stuff. It does feel a bit unformed as at now, but the freshness and fragrance here is very appealing.
94 points, The Wine Front (August 2020)
Mulberry and plummy fruit characters, new leather and clove/cardamom spice. Synchronised flavours and scents make for harmony from the get-go here. Warm fruit characters to taste, a bit of breathiness, tobacco and clove through the chewy, lightly puckering finish. Some mint and brambly herb shot through the wine too. Just over medium-weight with lip-smacking satisfaction though the finish fizzles a little with warmth and tart acidity poking out a touch. Needs time, as most Wendouree does, but feels a bit raw in a way.
94 points, The Wine Front (August 2020)
The Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is located two hours north of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty ranges. The region was settled by John Horrocks who encouraged his servant James Green to plant the first vines in 1842. Climate in the Clare Valley is continental with hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall that necessitates supplementary irrigation. Soils in the valley are predominantly red brown loams over shale, permitting excellent drainage. Many of the best vineyards are located at higher elevations of 400-500m on sites that take advantage of the cool breezes that funnel up the corrugation of hills from the south. The Clare Valley is renowned for its zesty fruit-pure Rieslings particularly from the sub-regions of Polish Hill and Watervale. The region also produces intense age-worthy sturdy reds from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
