Coonawarra 15.5% Screwcap $25 Source: Sample
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From the difficulties of Coonawarra’s 2007 vintage, Zema have crafted a winner here. The alcohol is certainly high but it doesn’t impart any real heat on the palate. It is, however, a very generous wine. Black fruited, plummy; sweet and smooth on entry.
There are fruitcake characters, some rich chocolate and brown spice (cinnamon and the like) on the mid-palate before it gets a little meaty and veers towards savouriness - that movement is crucial to how well the wine works.
The fruit is not really fresh, but the abundance of flavour compensates for that. It’s livened up by well judged acidity and manages to avoid being amorphous. Tannins are drying but do not come across as arid due to the intensity. I know this one won’t make everyone happy but I’ve got plenty of time for it.
Winery website- http://www.zema.com.au/
I'm finding quite a bit of white pepper on the nose which seems surprising for a Coonawarra. Not as intense as a Hawkes Bay syrah, but still there.