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.
About this wine from the winery: “In traditional usage, ‘Tête de Cuvée’ refers to the wine of the highest quality. Sourced from the Smith’s Vineyard in Beechworth, fruit was selected from the top 10 rows of the North-East facing Cabernet Sauvignon block and the small, low yielding Merlot block. In the best growing seasons, the resulting blend is elevated to the Tête de Cuvée release.
“The 2019 Tête de Cuvée consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (69%), Merlot (29%) and Petit Verdot (2%).
“Hand picked fruit was destemmed and crushed prior to fermentation whereby a combination of pump-overs, rack and returns and plunging was utilized for cap management. Post-fermentation, the Cabernet Sauvignon was held on skins for a further 18 days. The wines were pressed to French oak barriques consisting of 50% first use and 50% second use. After 12 months, the wines were racked to old 600 litre thick stave oak casks for a further 8 months prior to bottling.
“Intense characters of blackberries, dark plums and mocha are heightened by aromas of violets and wild flowers. Savour, fine-grained tannins frame the structure then deep-seated dark berry characters flow across the palate providing a finish that is tightly focused yet fine, elegant and exceptionally long. Will reward cellaring.”
95 points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion “… Deeply coloured and concentrated in the glass and boasting a classic cabernet-led bouquet of cassis, mulberry, bramble, herbs, leaves, chocolate and vanilla. Stands up straight, firm in structure in nicely measured tannins with concentrated fruit which has yet to fully reveal. It’s asking for more time in bottle. Give it some.”
RRP $91 Our Special Price $76.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
