Samuel's Gorge Winery

McLaren Vale | South Australia

The Wines

2009 Tempranillo

This wine is incredibly exciting with a huge range of exotic florals and spices in the bouquet. I see hints of cinnamon or the richer cousin Cassia bark. Initially it has a broody dark berry tone and then lifts with some delicate floral notes like the roses grandpa used to obsessively tend; dark ruby rose. The palate explodes like the fruit of a pomegranate with a nice tang linking in with the gravelly tannins. It’s like a locomotive on the palate, it keeps building steam. The ‘08 Tempranillo set a personal bench mark for us at Samuels Gorge as we discovered what we’re doing with these grapes in the paddock and the pot. The more I work with it the more Tempranillo tells us that it’s not a fickle trend, here just because of its difference. It’s here to stay and will be part of our landscape in years to come. Hopefully we keep it to the level of ‘09.

Geology/ Paddock:
The Tempranillo is all estate grown on an east/west ridge at 180 m above sea level. The estate is on the northern Seaview Ridge in McLaren Vale. This is from fifth crop; third release. The bluff roles over from north facing to the south and therefore engages full sunshine. Coastal breezes prevail in the afternoons during the ripening season. Air currents also flow down through the Onkaparinga Gorge and have some cooling effect on the fruit ripening. The ridge is mainly composed of compact sedimentary shale with outcrops of ferric sandstone and some calcareous material in spots.

Shed:
We practice extended skin contact (pre and post ferment). We mature the wine in old oak French barriques with nine months on original red lees. Minimal handling avoiding oxidative influence at all cost. This wine sees twelve months in barrel before blending. King Valley Hops.

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