Wine Blogging Wednesday #76 : Reduxing the Barossa V
Not that I think that the Barossa Valley needs to ‘reduxed’ at all. It is still one of the best known wine regions of Australia –in & out side of Australia and it is still producing some very stylish wines. Of course, ‘Barossa’ is a zone that covers both Eden & Barossa Valleys and perhaps the Eden Valley is getting a lot more attention out of the two with its cooler climes giving distinct perfumed notes whether it be a red or a white. There are many wines out there embracing the Eden Valley portion of their blends whereas before they may not have sung about it on the label. However, the Barossa Valley will always be the home of some of the oldest vine wines in Australia and the world (for more information on the Barossa Old Vine Charter click here).
Not only is it the home of these old vines, Jacobs Creek claim to be producing Shiraz/Syrah from vines planted in 1846 & Turkey Flat from vines planted in 1847, but there are the new comers as well. In a seemingly natural progression considering the quality of Grenache, its Spanish soulmate Tempranillo is making a name for itself. Particularly from the biodynamic and dynamic Kalleske & the energetic Running with Bulls. So too is Savagnin (which inconveniently started out as being another Spaniard, Albarino).
Another indication that Barossa Valley is reinventing itself is the growth of naming the sub-regions on the label (click here to see a map of the subregions of the Barossa). Now you will see names such as Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf & Gomersal appearing on labels.
With plenty of interesting wines coming out of the Barossa Valley as well as the classics & here are just three:
Kalleske Dodger Tempranillo 10 – fragrant with cherry & herbs, the nutmeg oak is very pretty in this wine. With its forward tannins & generous fruit weight this is a great food wine. ($23)
Tscharke Marananga Girl Talk Savagnin 11 - apple, pear fruit are tempered by some savoury minerals. Juicy, long & lean there will be plenty of girl, & boy, talk over a bottle of this wine. ($20)
Charles Melton The Kirche 09 Shiraz – generous blackberry, coffee, pepper & chocolate mesh into a firm wine with a touch of silk with heaps of freshness. A wine with this much personality makes you look at the price and think ‘Seriously?” & one sip will make you a believer in the power of Barossa Valley Shiraz again ($32).
Hope that you can find some of these wines to enjoy this Wine Blogging Wednesday – a very apt theme for this ANZAC day too.
