I’ve been a bit slack on getting these last chapters up, which I promise to address ASAP.
This chapter in the diary is unlike many others, with the cellar door in question (Alkoomi) taking a form that is quite unlike the traditional format. Its more of a quasi cellar door, lying a fair drive South of the actual winery (and ‘real’ cellar door, located in Frankland River) in an apparently much more tourist friendly location – downtown Albany.
In truth its more of a shopfront than a cellar door, with a considerably scaled down range as a result. Still, it was worth the trip for two highlights.
Alkoomi Shiraz Viognier 2007
My aversion to Shiraz Viognier is mainly built upon producers who have embraced the style only recently, leading to wines that are nowhere near balanced, nor believable. Alkoomi however have been at the Shirognier caper for longer than many and geez it shows – No apricotty red here!
Smart, slightly stalky, peppery nose of red fruit & pink roast beef, the palate is vibrant, youthful and red fruited, with mid palate chocolatey oak and real tannins. It tastes like a good cool climate Shiraz should – medium bodied, aromatic, spicy and savoury. Really smart. 18
Alkoomi Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Indelibly marked by the challenging vintage, yet with real class apparent at every turn. Leafy, slightly herbal, red capsicum nose, the palate is slightly short and sappy, but it never feels harsh – just simple. Would be a stunner in 07 if the Shiraz/V is anything to go by. 16.8
Comment
Good to see that you liked these wines, we’ve just taken then to Switzerland and were really impressed with them as well. I also really liked the Wandoo but if anyone thought that Hunter Semillon was a hard sell overseas this wine would rank as an impossibility. Still the reality is we can’t always sell what we like!!!
Paul