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| Nepenthe Tempranillo |
14%, Screwcap, $20
Source: Sample
www.nepenthe.com.au
Tempranillo in the Hills? Well if La Linea can pull it off well then why not. In fact, Nepenthe's vines were first planted in 1998 which places them right at the start of the recent Tempranillo boom. This particular bottle is festooned with medals (including a few trophies) to boot.
It's a distinctive wine too, with a big hit of eucalpyt and spearmint dominating the nose, alongside mulberry fruit and a hint of breadcumb oak and yeast character. You've really got to have a high eucalypt/menthol tolerance to really love this I think, though the sweeter edges to the palate are still quite attractive, softening out the hardness of the minty (borderline ripe?) fruit. With air it all looks more cohesive, that slightly sullen palate opening up to flesh everything out again, even if the finish is on the gruff side. Solid drinking for the price regardless. 16.5/88+
2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun; Wine Judge; Gourmet Traveller WINE and Breathe Hunter Valley magazine contributor; LattéLife & The Retiree columnist; National Liquor News tasting panellist and Chablis lover who fell into the liquor industry chiefly to buy cheap beer.
Andrew I think the best places for Tempranillo are probably those with some elevation. In Spain it is grown chiefly in the Rioja elevation about 450m and in the Ribiera del Duoro 950m. The variety seems quite versatile as my database of about 250 producers in most regions of Australia. I think that the cooler climate ones will eventually be best, but it is still early days, we have barely a decade of experience with the variety.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right Darby, Tempranillo is an oddity for the Hills though. As you say it will be interesting to see over time which regions rise to the top of the Tempranillo pile, particularly as Tempranillo in it's Spanish home works well with a little heat.
ReplyDeleteWho says La Linea pulls it off? ;-) Unusual seeing XL menthol in Tempranillo, but reckon you've nailed it here. Great note. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Bennie. I thought it was unusual too, though I had a look at Campbell's note for the 08 and he picked up some eucalypt too. A vineyard thing?
ReplyDelete