A. Rodda Tempranillo 2021

Description

Adrian Rodda has been involved in making wine since 1998, spending more than decade at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley. In 2010, Adrian moved to Beechworth in the North East of Victoria to produce a Chardonnay from the Smiths Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in modern Beechworth viticulture. In 2012, Adrian commenced the “Chardonnay Project” whereby he sources grapes from the Willow Lake Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and vinifies them in parallel with the Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay. In 2017, a third single vineyard Chardonnay was produced from the Baxendale Vineyard at Whitlands in the cool upper reaches of North East Victoria.

Since 2011, the range has also included a Bordeaux Blend, based around Cabernet Sauvignon also sourced from the Smiths Vineyard, and a Tempranillo from the Aquila Audax Vineyard, Adrian’s first foray with a Mediterranean variety.

Sitting on the edge of an escarpment, the vineyard is planted at 580 metres above sea level in deep, shaley, mudstone soils. Vineyard Owner/Operator Mark Walpole (ex-Brown Brothers Viticulturist) employs a fastidious viticultural approach that combines arch-cane pruning with judicious leaf plucking and fruit thinning. This, in conjunction with the inherent suitability of the site to the variety, ensures the desired fruit flavour profile and tannin maturation is achieved in the vineyard.

After hand harvesting, the majority of fruit was de-stemmed, lightly crushed and cold soaked for four days. A small parcel of 100 per cent whole bunches was fermented separately making up approximately 17 per cent of the final blend. 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. Post-fermentation, the wine was held on skins for a further 15 days before pressing to French oak hogsheads (36% first use) for 15 months. The wine was then transferred to old 600 litre thick stave oak casks for a further 6 months prior to bottling.

Intense aromas of spiced plums, dark cherries and white pepper are complexed by hints of violets, mocha and cinnamon spice. On the palate, dark plush fruit characters are seamlessly interwoven with fine, silky tannins providing a finish that is long, velvety and highly tactile.

New 2021 vintage is here and on song with lovely depth of fruit, richness and balance following excellent warm growing season.

Reviews of 2018 … 94 Points, Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion “Coffee grounds, chicory, peppercorns, cola and ripe black cherry. It’s attractively fruited but, unlike many a tempranillo, it’s not too fruit-sweet and manages to play many savoury cards. There’s a positive firmness and dryness to the finish; it feels polished, structured and complete.”

92 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Juicy cherry, spicy, ripe raspberry, some perfume here of herbs and flowers. Medium-bodied, some chew to tannin, cola, a bit of citrus zest, acidity even a bit ‘mineral’, and solid finish. “

RRP $44   *Our Special Price $38.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.