McLaren Vale 14.5% Screwcap $35 Source: Retail
Friday the 24th of September is International Grenache Day, and in a week from now I will be opening a few Grenache/Grenache dominant wines to mark the occasion. Tastings will be held all over Australia and the globe, so I encourage you to see if there is one close by. It really is a top notch grape when done right.
I opened this Oliver’s Taranga wine partially to get in some practice and also because I’d been a bit heavy handed with the smoked paprika in my goulash last night. Grenache seemed to be the most obvious choice to accompany the dish, and I suspect it made my entire dinner a lot more pleasurable.
Having tasted this upon release, it was good to see the alcohol and oak had integrated well within five years. It’s a fair clip of oak at that but it still tastes like Grenache (even though there’s 5% Shiraz included as well). Raspberries and spicy redcurrants, dark chocolate, earth, tar and fresh orange peel. Very smooth, might I add.
The whole package is slightly reminiscent of fruitcake with its mix of brandy, currants, orange peel and chocolate but it is tasty and the spice is nice – earthen qualities balance this very well too. Fine tannins on a finish that approaches glace cherries before a big hit of brown spice, ginger and black pepper. All in all a very satisfying wine. I’m happy I put one away.
Winery Website- http://www.oliverstaranga.com/
I'm a huge Cadenzia fan! I love the Yangarra Cadenzia but haven't yet tried this one. Thanks for the review – I will be sure to hunt down a bottle, especially on re-reading your last paragraph:)
Eek! More interstate agreements!
I loved the 06 Taranga Grenache as well! In fact I found many satisfying grenaches from Mclaren Vale that year. On a sadder note I had a tasting of the 08 a week or two ago, which didn't do it for me. It was just too sweet and didn't play to its regional strengths at all, unlike the 06….
Cheers,
Chris P