I was getting ready to cook a good, solid hunk of rump steak when I decided on the spot that this whole business of trying to drink less before the Christmas/New Year’s onslaught was just too damn difficult. So I popped down to 1st Choice and hastily grabbed this off the shelf knowing it wouldn’t be bad but not quite expecting to be as taken with it as I was.
Quite honestly, Australia recently went on too big of a Shiraz Viognier bender in production terms. At least for my liking, and I’m often considered an apologist for the blend. But Yalumba were doing it way before most everyone else said “me too”.
Loaded with vital red fruits and extremely floral on the nose, the clove and earthen properties added real depth and, dare I say it, gravitas to the wine. A touch of leather was beginning to appear and some blueberries were wafting around too. Heady stuff. I kept sticking my nose in the glass most of the night.
Only just above medium bodied the wine possessed a completely gorgeous mouthfeel. All enveloping satin like sensations. The fruit had eaten up all of the oak, which left behind some vanillin highlights and probably some of the spice. The tannins were of the highest quality, long fine strands drawing the finish of the wine out even further. Some white pepper & a slight Turkish Delight character rounded things out. But really, it was the earth and leather that was taking all these elements to greater heights and giving them a feeling of serious, layered quality.
I wasn’t even going to write notes for this, but when a wine hits me out of the blue I try to do everything I can to remember & relive the feeling.
Winery Website- http://www.yalumba.com/
Sounds lovely Jeremy. Have you tried the Y-Series Shiraz/Vio which has created all that fuss lately? I haven't but I've been rather tempted….
I was extremely impressed by Yalumba's flagship release of Shiraz Viognier (2007) under their Hand Picked label recently. It's a real benchmark of the fuller South Australian style really, with viognier adding a very subtle, barely noticeable (that's how I like it) influence to the wine through a long, firm and spicy finish. Well worth a look methinks, especially considering the seasonal constraints.
Cheers,
Chris P
Hi Chris
I've been fortunate enough to taste a couple of vintages of the Hand Picked label. Bloody good wines and the 2007 SV, as you point out, is certainly more than worth a look.
I've been following (and drinking) the Y-Series SV for the the last 3 vintages. 2006 & 2007 offered excellent value and ample short term enjoyment. I grabbed the 2008 as soon as it appeared on the shelves & was a bit thrown by the acidity to be honest. The flavours where fine. I'll most likely grab another bottle in the first half of next year to see if it has settled down a bit.
As you are probably aware I'm a big fan of Yalumba & even if I get the odd wine that doesn't thrill me, over all I can only applaud them. Great to read about your cellar door experience there recently. I like seeing wineries pour most of what is on offer. If they want to charge a small fee for the higher end stuff that's fine by me too.
Hopefully I'll get to taste the 2006 FDR1A Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz soon. It picked up the Great Australian Red gong recently and there is a decent possibility all the gold medal winners from that competition will be at a tasting group I am lucky enough to attend.
Cheers
jeremy