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2019 Tempranillo
$54.00
MEMBER: $43.20
The dry summer of 2019 gave Tempranillo of low yields and exceptional quality. Bright and complex aromatics, plush fruit flavours and firm tannins make for a powerful wine.
Trophy (Best Tempranillo) Winewise Small Vignerons Awards, 2020
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Accolades
It’s such a distinctive tempranillo, distinctly Mount Majura. This reveals a quiet confidence at first. The splash of red berries, the hint of sarsaparilla and the dusting of spices, all enticing. The flavours build across the palate – tangy raspberry-like acidity an interplay with arrowhead-shaped tannins. 95 points (Jane Faulkner)
Another classy tempranillo from Canberra’s Mount Majura. This one is subtly complex, showing black olive overtones to complement the dark berry fruit. Fine tannins impart a savoury feel to the satisfying palate. (Winewise)
Deep red/purple hue, with a smoked-meat and char-grilled vegetable bouquet. There is a trace of fruit sweetness in the centre before a firm grip of tannin which imparts a slight touch of bitterness. A ballsy, slightly extracted wine and a very smart tempranillo. (Huon Hooke)
Winemaker's Notes
TEMPRANILLO
This is our seventeenth release of the Spanish variety Tempranillo, a variety that is very well suited to our site, with Canberra having high levels of climatic similarity to leading Spanish regions. This wine has become our flagship. It is blended from three distinct sites within the vineyard.
2019 VINTAGE
This year we celebrate our 30th vintage. Just like last year, the 2018-2019 was the second-warmest season on record behind 2016, this time with some very hot summer weather. A very dry winter saw us applying irrigation prior to budburst for the first time. January was particularly hot, and irrigation was used to prevent heat damage. Subsequent weather during ripening and vintage was good. Yields were down in most varieties, but quality was good, and once again, the later ripening varieties benefitted from the milder conditions, showing great colour and flavour definition.
WINEMAKING
Hand picked 22 March to 9 April 2019, at an average of 13.6 Baumé. Had 5 days pre-ferment maceration, then wild-fermented in open vats with hand plunging. Pressed to French oak (15% new) after 6-9 days post-ferment maceration. Blended from three sites within the vineyard: Dry Spur (57%), Rock Block (29%) and Little Dam (14%). Unfined and lightly filtered. Bottled under screwcap January 2020. 232 dozen made, plus 102 magnums. Alcohol 14.5% by volume. Vegan friendly?: Yes.
CELLARING GUIDE
Drink now to 2039.
In The Cellar
Tempranillo is suited to cellaring; here are our most recent tasting notes. Wines tasted from the winery museum. If your cellaring conditions are less than ideal, consider reducing the expected life of the wine. Tasted July 2018.
| Vintage | Tasting Notes | Drink Until | Rating |
| 2016 | Deep red with purple edges. Red and dark fruits with some oak, brown spices and pepper. Structured but juicy with mouthcoating soft fruits. Plenty of power and potential. | 2035 | Outstanding |
| 2015 | Dark black/red. Powerful nose of rich black fruits, plum and cola. Very youthful, very powerful, graphite, black fruits and dark cherry, cola and liquorice. Plush, fleshy and structured with plenty of powdery tannins. | 2035 | Outstanding |
| 2014 | Medium red. Red fruits with spice and char. Medium weight and flavour, supple, compact and tight with fresh tamarillo fruit and good juiciness. | 2030 | Excellent |
| 2013 | Deep dark red. Complex nose of ripe cherry and brambly fruit, game and toasted nuts. Rich sweet fruit flavours of cherry, stewed plum, currants and cassis. Complete, fresh and balanced. Similarities to ’09 and ’10. | 2033 | Outstanding |
| 2012 | Deep red. Interesting nose of fresh fruit, smoky chocolate and earth. Fresh and pleasant, still quite primary, a bit on the lean and green side with drying grippy tannins. | 2028 | Very good |
| 2011 | Medium red. Pretty nose of dusty red fruits, pepper and tomato leaf. Fresh and tangy with red berry fruit dusted with minty/herb character. Fairly lean, with firm drying tannins. | 2026 | Very good |
| 2010 | Deep dark red. Black fruits, spice, dark chocolate, beef stock, biscuity vanilla and red fruits. Rich and powerful with round grainy tannins, deep brooding character. | 2028 | Excellent |
| 2009 | Deep dark red. Complex nose of briar, cherry, earth, blackcurrant and oak. Lovely density of mouthcoating fruit, tangy, plush and balanced. Ripe and fresh, long and complete. | 2029 | Outstanding |
| 2008 | Deep ruby. Interesting and complex with liquorice, cherry ripe, graphite and gamy notes at first. Flooded with sweet dark cherry fruit, good freshness and a little mint. Quite powerful, structured style, benefits from time to open. | 2027 | Excellent |
| 2007 | Medium red, slight brick edge. Savoury nose with woodspice, dried leather, roast meat. Light framed, complex, lovely sweet fruit palate with some mint, fine powdery tannins, cola, plum, mushroom and vanilla. | 2027 | Outstanding |
| 2006 | Deep ruby. Savoury, earthy, dried leather. Firmly structured with red fruits and savoury, fine, powdery tannins. Quite mature but will hold. | 2023 | Excellent |
| 2005 | Medium red with brick edge. Slightly gamy and slightly herbaceous nose: balsam, earthy, dried leather. Bright and fresh palate with red berry-pomegranate fruit, cherry cola and a hint of oak. Lovely balance with juicy fruit sweetness, deliciously fine. | 2020 | Excellent |
| 2004 | Deep red with brick edge. Rich dark fruit with notes of chocolate, cola, mint, blackcurrant, spice. Plush, dense and complex. | 2023 | Excellent |
| 2003 | Good deep red. Minty/eucalypt with ripe fruit. Bright and mineral palate fine, powdery tannins. Enjoyable but not as lush as it once was. | Now | Very good |
