I love the way Sagrantino roughs you up. It’s kind of kinky. This is certainly a grape with character…and lots of tannin. Almost out Barolos Barolo if you catch my drift.
Savoury, around medium bodied and rather sensually earthy. Flowers pretty up the picture though. Fruit-wise, it’s mostly black with cherries on top. Aniseed and charred notes with a little dried herb/tea leaf. Everything is pieced together though. It’s oddly harmonious actually. Muscular and cerebral whilst maintaining a peasant edge. Further proof that Corrina Wright is guiding Oliver’s Taranga in the right direction. Very Good
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $40
Tasted: April 2012
Loved this. Corrina was kind enough to send it up for SSS. My first exposure to the varietal.
There’s a QLD winery – Preston Peak – that apparently makes a half decent one. Need to get out there and have a squizz at that too.
Great Note, Cheers.
Cheers Stu. This is definitely my kind of wine.
Sounds like I need to try a number of QLD wineries that haven’t been on my map. Will mark Preston Peak down and try to see how they are working with the variety, It certainly seems to suit the Vale.
Oliver’s Taranga Sagrantino is one of the coolest wines to ever meet my gullet
Ha! Well said Jesse
Would love to try this.
Well worth requesting a sample for review. Same vineyard as d’Arenberg’s The Cenosilicaphobic Cat’ apparently but cast in a slightly different mold. Would be keen to read your thoughts.
I’m curious about Preston Peak too – they are just south of Toowoomba and look to be doing more than a few pioneering things. They have a Syrah Mourvedre Viognier that looks interesting. Who’s keen for a roadtrip?
Me
Will be snowed under with work for another fortnight though.
Let’s do it: “road trip, road trip”
They planted Sagrantino on the advice of Collector’s Alex Mackay who stopped with them and offered Sagrantino as an alternative to Sangiovese – given trouble with growing that on the Belt.
Apparently Jancis MW rather enjoyed it. So yes, I’d be keen to hit the road when JP is freed up
This is a very good Sagrantino, I tried it at their cellar door in June last year. Like all/most saggy’s it has monster tannins and needs time (at least for me it does). I am really interested in trying their 2010 Saggy when it’s released, especially given the quality of the 2010 McLaren Vale reds I have tasted – it’s shaping up as a great vintage.
Re the Preston Peak Saggy. I have not tried it but Peter Stark at Boireann made a 2010 Sagrantino from Preston Peak Grapes. It’s a good wine but the Olivers Taranga is much better IMHO. At the Boireann cellar door when I tasted the Saggy I wrote this:
“Sunday April 10th, 2011.
Sagrantino 2010 : 13.5% Alc/Vol
Very dark purple (almost black), very subdued nose (will open up over time) of liquorice, roses & tea, huge tannins but well balanced with
the palate of berries and a hint of lime. The tannins are a touch grippy but will soften over time and I would expect that this will become a stunning wine but needing big flavoured foods. The wine maker suggests long term cellaring. Highly Recommended ****”.
So obviously I liked it & packed a couple into my mixed doz. Both myself and my wife tasted it, but when we hit Olivers Taranga later that year and tasted their Saggy … we instantly gave each other that look, no words needed!
BTW Jeremy, you’ve been a bit more posty of late, after falling into a slight slumber, keep up the good work : )
Agree totally re 2010 in McLaren Vale. Rating entire vintages in one region can sometimes be fraught with danger but I haven’t seen a bad red from McLaren Vale yet in ’10.
Been receiving some top quality samples of late so inspiration has come in a somewhat easier fashion. Thanks Peter. Will try to keep the reviews coming.