Queensland's Granite Belt region is about as far as you can possibly get from Vermentino's native home. The GI is located some 2.5hrs South-West - inland - from Brisbane, and located at altitudes ranging from 800-900+ metres above sea level.
Yet there, in the hands of winemaker Ray Costanzo, it has a home for itself in Australia. I'm not suggesting it the ultimate region for the variety, it's just that the grape/region/winemaker combination has formed a particularly compelling case for Australia's best example of the variety - in this humble gentleman amateurs eyes at least.
Snow pea, lime and brine, subtle honeysuckle, rock melon, and grape aromatics. From the get go it possesses an allure, a sirens call to the passionate (and the thirsty).
Where Costanzo has managed to excel, in my opinion, is to employ judicious use of just the right portion of barrel fermentation, sufficient to aid texture, yet not at the expense of the acidic profile. To that end, a small inclusion of Semillon (11%) was included in this vintage.
It gives the wine shape and focus, yet aids the overall composure and delivers exquisite length. Quite superb. 93
Tasted on: Saturday 6th July, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $ 26
Alcohol: 12.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.goldengroveestate.com.au
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