Here it is, the much anticipated 2009 Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz which has been released after the 2010 model. To quote chief winemaker Michael Fragos at the time of last year’s release:
“When we recently sat down with the 2012 Vicar growers to taste a vertical of The Vicar Shiraz it became evident that the more tightly wound 2009 needed additional bottle time whilst the savoury and layered 2010 was more approachable. This correlated with the vintage conditions of the respective years. As our commitment is to release The Vicar when it has achieved our desired level of balance and complexity we have decided to release the 2010 The Vicar Shiraz prior to releasing the 2009.”
Two blocks were used to make the 2009 The Vicar. The Inkwell Vineyard Block 1 and the Chapel Hill Road Block. It is a dense and tightly structured wine with extremely fine tannin underpinning the flavours at all points. On the basis of it taking three full days to reveal its proper range of characters and charms I’d say the decision to hold it back about a year was a very sound one. This is built for the long haul.
Mulberry and plums with aniseed, dried Italian herbs and Indian spices. It’s not at all massive or plodding. In fact I’d say it possesses a great deal of finesse but it’s still a touch taciturn for the moment. Given time it exhibits fantastic form and flow along with great reach and quiet intensity. Cellar with confidence. 94+ Excellent
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $75
Tasted: February 2013