TarraWarra’s fourth vintage of a ‘Rhône’ white blend and the first I’ve tasted from them. Judging from this, they’ve gotten the hang of it pretty darn quickly. The composition changes from year to year depending on vintage variation and the winemaking team’s preferences.
Waxy and gently viscous with terrific textural appeal. A shaft of ensconced acidity runs through it and there’s a satisfying phenolic tug at the end. It smells of honeysuckle, Turkish apricots and nectarine. There’s a suggestion of poached fruits on the palate but it’s mostly fresh and savoury. Herbal tea and spiced orange rind pop up along with a pleasant, understated bitter nuttiness on the back-palate.
I spoke to winemaker Clare Halloran last week and she told me, in her typically candid and refreshing manner, that when they first made a blend like this, people wanted to know how it would age. As they hadn’t done it before Clare said she really couldn’t be sure. Personally I think this will improve for at least a couple of years and beyond that it just depends on how much you enjoy the waxy, developed characters of aged Rhône varietal white blends. I rather fancy them myself and I can’t see this wine falling over anytime soon. Good 90
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $30
Tasted: August 2012