Grant Burge Wines: Icon Releases

Had the pleasure of meeting Grant and Helen Burge at the Brisbane release for their Icon series. In addition, the event marked the unofficial release of the new sparkling from the winery, the Helene.

2004 Helene Sparkling
Named after Grant's Tasmanian born wife Helen, and indeed the Apple Isle is the source of the fruit for the wine. Opens, appropriately, with hints of apple, blossom and citrus. Fairly delicate aromatics given the 9 years on lees. Palate shows complexity, nicely developed autolysis character and finishes long and minerally. (92)

2009 Abednego, $79.95
Made in good years, production is in the 350-500 case territory. Fruit comes off vines 100+ years and all at a maximum yield of 1-2 t/acre. 

Fairly delicate aromatic approach, good perfume of rose, and florals. A little spice up front on the palate, very fine - silken almost - with chalky tannins approaching the mid/ back palate. Backed up with good fruit character, generous length. (93) 

2008 Shadrach, $94.95
Fruit for this Cabernet is sourced from two sites: Corraton Park (75%) at an elevation of about 500m, and the remainder from Cameron Vale, slightly lower elevation with vines around the 40 year mark.

Opens with choc-mint character leading, slight dusty profile backed up with small red berrys. Dusty/ grainy tannin, chocolate, spice and layered texture - backing up with a little mint. Drying finish, gives length and richness.  All French oak here, 60% new and the balance 2 year old. (92)

Meshach
Meshach, of course, along with Shadrach and Abednego are recorded in Daniel and are known for their devotion, and for the fact that they were saved by divine intervention from being burned alive.

Well the Grant Burge Meshach was so named after Grant Burge's Grandfather, Meshach William Burge. The name in the context of the wine serves as a nod to longevity for Meshach Burge was 99 years at the time of his passing. It was good to see this longevity in the glass and not just rely on the word. 

2008 Meshach, $189
Dense, rich, plummy with a hint of licorice in there. Oak shows itself, the power of the fruit holding it, working with it. It's powerful, concentrated and in the mouth a fair gobful of spice builds toward the back palate. Exemplary length, lasting some good 50-60 seconds. Infanticide to even approach now. (95)

2004 Meshach
Still yielding a good deal of primary fruit character, a testament to the fruit's quality. Elegant, finesse - settled into itself a little - opening up. Still shows that drying tannin character, cassis/ black fruits and pepper present. Finish shows chalky tannin, pepper and is rich and mouth filling (94).

2001 Meshach
Included to show where the youth of the '08 may go, if the buyer has the patience to cellar well. Leathery, dried earth - beautiful savoury qualities. Elegant and balanced, stil some florals and a little dried herb present. Menthol and a little choc-mint present too. Still struck me as fresh. Life ahead of it - demonstrating the true value of cellaring. (94)       

Tasted on:Thursday 21st March, a Flower Day
Source: Tasting
Website: http://www.grantburgewines.com.au Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac