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Shows the outstanding complexity of Tempranillo, from bright pippy pomegranate, to sweet fleshy red fruits, and meaty graphite tannins with great chewiness and length. A highlight of the vintage.
TEMPRANILLO
This is our fifteenth 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.
2017 VINTAGE
The 2016-2017 growing season started with a wet winter and cool spring, resulting in later growth but strong canopies from all the moisture. The summer was particularly hot, with consistently high temperatures from late December to late February, but then switched into a perfect, mild autumn with sunny days, cool nights and little rain. Crops were larger than expected, accordingly taking longer to ripen, but having perfect conditions to do it in. In contrast to some recent years, ripening of different varieties was well spread apart, so that vintage was measured and controlled (leisurely would be going too far!). There are bright fresh flavours in the earlier varieties, with increasing depth, colour and detail in those ripening later.
WINEMAKING
Hand picked 22 March 2017, at an average of 13.2 Baumé. Had 5 days pre-ferment maceration, then wild-fermented in open vats with hand plunging. Pressed to French oak (14% new) after 9-10 days post-ferment maceration. Blended from Dry Spur (46%), Little Dam (39%) and Rock Block (15%). Unfined and lightly filtered. Bottled under screwcap January 2018. 294 dozen made, plus 100 magnums. Alcohol 14.0% by volume. Vegan friendly?: Yes.
CELLARING GUIDE
Drink now to 2035.
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 |
