A. Rodda Cuvee de Chais 2022

Description

Adrian Rodda has been making wine since 1998, almost entirely working with David Bicknell at Oakridge. He was involved in the development of the superb Oakridge 864 Chardonnay. At the start of 2010 he and wife Christie, a doctor, decided to move to Beechworth, North Eastern Victoria and it was no coincidence that he was a long-term friend of viticulturist Mark Walpole.

Yet further coincidences came with the Smiths Vineyard and winery being available for lease; he now shares it with Mark, who makes his Beechworth wines there. Even more propitious was the availability of Smiths Vineyard chardonnay, planted in 1978. The quality of the portfolio has been consistently excellent.

“Cuvée de Chez” loosely translates as Cellar Blend and is Adrian’s interpretation of a traditional Bordeaux blend or ‘Claret’. Adrian believes that when it comes to Bordeaux varieties, the sum is greater than its parts. Cabernet Sauvignon provides the tannin, length and structural backbone, Merlot contributes ‘the fuzzy ball of fruit’ in the mid-palate, Cabernet Franc red fruits and savouriness, Petit Verdot adds perfume and acid line and Malbec gives dark fruits and overall roundness to the finish. With this in mind, each variety was made to ensure its varietal strengths came to the fore.

Cabernet Sauvignon was crushed and de-stemmed whereas the other four varieties incorporated more whole berries. During fermentation, the timing and combination of pump-overs, “rack and returns”, pigeage and plunging was to preserve aromatics and perfume yet extract adequate tannins for structure and length, depending on the variety. Post-fermentation, the Cabernet Sauvignon was held on skins for a further 12 days than the other varieties. All wines were pressed to French oak barriques (29% new) for 15 months.

The Cuvée de Chais consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (22%), Cabernet Franc (9%) and Petit Verdot (9%). Top notch pedigree fruit hails from Smiths vineyard, the oldest most historic vineyard in Beechworth planted in 1978.

An array of red and purple fruits (think dark cherries and plums) with heightened aromas of violets and wild herbs.  The supple fruit weight is seamlessly interwoven with fine, velvety tannins giving the wine great balance and finesse.

94 points, Jeni Port for Halliday Australian Wine Companion  “65/19/8/8% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/cabernet franc/petit verdot. A blend of fruit from the Smiths and Aquila Audax vineyards. This is Adrian Rodda’s interpretation of a traditional Bordeaux blend. It provides a classic backbone of cabernet tannin upon which a finely tuned wine is fleshed out in blackberry, black cherry, plum, woodsy spice, herbals, dark chocolate and engaging Aussie bush and briar notes. Oak is well managed. Gives Beechworth cabernet blends a good name..”

RRP $46 Our Special Price $36.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.