This wine raised more questions for me than it provided answers. It was the first Tannat that Peter Stark of Boireann has made since 2005, vintages in between variously lost to frost or hail damage, or made in such minute quantities that use for blending is the only option.
It makes me question whether it's the right variety for the region? Boireann are the only winery I know of there releasing a varietal Tannat, Summit use it in blends. Boireann are on one of the higher points in the region, and one of the coldest too.
2011 was a tough year on the Granite Belt, it was the year that saw widespread flooding across much of South East Queensland. A year in which for once hail or frost weren't a problem, a year in which Peter Stark managed to commercially release a Tannat at 13.5%.
Initially quite muted aromatically, seemingly hard and unripe, yet give it some time and the Tannat character does get a chance to shine through, for that cloak to remove itself. Dried leaf litter, dried earth, the savoury edges imbued with some lifted floral and blackcurrant nuances.
Medium bodied, slight herbal and savoury notes; the hallmark tannins are there, yet the wine seems elegant. Juicy to boot - the regional DNA for many a Granite Belt wine, hints of violet, good acid balance. Length a little lacking for me, and for me a requirement for what I look for in stand-out examples of a Tannat. That said, from the challenge of a tough vintage, Peter Stark has fashioned a reasonable Tannat. 88 - Good
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.boireannwinery.com.au/
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[This post was edited at 18:37 on 25/6/2012 to correct the fact that the last Tannat made was 2005 and not 2002]
[This post was edited at 18:37 on 25/6/2012 to correct the fact that the last Tannat made was 2005 and not 2002]
"It makes me question whether it's the right variety for the region?"
ReplyDeletePerhaps try some of Peter's later vintages of Tannat (2011, as you say a challenging vintage). His 2013 is very good, 2014 excellent, 2015 very good again. Also at Just Red Wines at Ballandean on Eukey Road ... Tony Hassall (with his son Michael) have released a 2014 and 2015, 2015 is a solid straight tannat. I preferred the 2015 to the 2014 which has 10% Cabernet Sauvignon ... 2014 still a good wine though. Sorry no specific TN's for you today but note that Tannat on the Granite Belt is a variety that grows with little trouble and produces good fruit, plus it is very tough, able to resist the quite wet vintage conditions that can occur, makes me wonder why there isn't more around ... or maybe that's to come.