Tappa Pass and Ebenezer, Barossa, South Australia. Shiraz. 15%. Screwcap. Approx $55.In the background the 2003, screwcap sealed version and in the foreground, part of the 2005, which is now closed with glass.
From the back label: The Barossa has a core of grapegrowers of German-Lutheran descent dating back five generations, doggedly continuing the tradition of their forebears. Occasionally one or two parcels of fruit come over the weighbridge that just blow us away; this wine is one such example.
Dense and staining. The first sip is the most remarkable, then the senses become saturated and numbed by the sheer depth, bigness and concentration of the wine. A slightly muted nose, laden with alcohol, the most noteworthy aspect is in the mouth, where it is intense, sour, creamy and long. Just short of being raisin flavoured and port like this is ridiculously curved, abundant, pointed and rich.
Very good - excellent.
91.
Now - 2013.
technorati tags: wine, australian wine,
8 comments:
I'm having problems seeing the second bottle! Maybe I shouldn't go there.....also withdrawal symptoms as a result of your reduced input, so, Rx, less jogging in drinking time. Any chance of a "series" on Swan Valley wines?
Apologies for the photo, I'm still debating whether it was a good one to use. Sadly the wine is long gone so no easy way to replace the image. I'm almost where I want to be in terms of fitness and abstemious behaviour. . . so more on wine shortly. A look at the Swan Valley would be a good idea, given it is so accessible. Any favourites?
I liked the photo!!! This new font, not so much. Have a good one Edward.
cheers
jeremy
Julian,
Thanks for noticing! I'll seek some more feedback on the issue of the font and change accordingly. It looks better on firefox than safari. Will wait till I get to work to see how it looks of explorer. . .
Hey Edward
Just wanna take time to differentiate myself from Julian. I really don't mind, but I'm seriously not in the same class :) I'm just a novice!
Cheers jeremy
Jeremy,
Apologies. That's the second time (that I can recall). On each occasion I've thought Jeremy, but by some mental slip Julian appears.
Ok, main advice is to avoid it in Spring, but autumn /winter is brilliant. Maybe start as you mean to continue, at the Mann cellar, then wander downriver to Upper Reach where the Verdelho is mischieviously impressive, and then just keep following the river back home. A couple of the Sandleford's (like the 2005 Margaret River Shiraz) are developing well, (and the tucker is good but shame on them for taking the damned fine Duck Bistella off the menu),...and for a pleasant drop with your Thai feed at the King and I in Guildford on the way home, it is hard to go past the latest, and just ever so slightly sweeter thanlast year's Breanna Rose from Pinelli's, which quite impressed Ray Jordan in the under 20 buck class. Actually, it is probably worth thinking about it more seriously than this, a few trips may be necessary, a bit like the folk who, over a year or so, sampled every restaurant/cafe.....etc in Beaufort St, makes rivetting late night reading.
And, on an entirely different note, and from the Victor Harbour part of SA, south of McLaren Vale, comes a very comely and refined though slightly brooding Pinot Noir, under the label Tappa Nappa, I wonder if there is a connection with the Henschke? Sorry about this too long response.....
Moonshadow,
What excellent suggestions! I'll start making plans. . .
The Tapanappa pinot is superb, I've onoe bottle left after trying one last year. I'm not sure if there is a shared origin in the names.
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