Description
‘Charlie, one of the Barossa Valley’s great characters, and wife Virginia, make some of the most eagerly sought-after wines in Australia.’ James Halliday
Charlie Melton needs no introduction. Since his first vintage in 1984 and on to his first vintage of Nine Popes in 1988 and beyond he has been a leader of the Barossa Valley. Importantly, he was one of the first to recognise the value of the Barossa’s old plantings of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro, at a time when the S.A. Government launched the infamous Vine-Pull Scheme, paying growers to remove these so unproductive vines!
And thank goodness he did! Since those early days, the range of Charles Melton Wines has expanded, with total plantings today of just over 34 hectares, the majority being old vine plantings in Krondorf, Lyndoch and Rowland Flat. Indeed, the very oldest of these (at Rowland Flat) will be celebrating their centenary in 2027.
As if this pedigree needed any endorsement, the 2014 Nine Popes was awarded the trophy for Best Australian Red at the 2017 International Wine Challenge in London. Today, Charlie has been joined by daughter Sophie as winemaker, further underwriting the future of this much admired and celebrated family business.
About this wine: Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro from Krondorf, Eden Valley and Rowland Flat, typically a 50/40/10 blend. Dry farmed, old vine bush Grenache, forms the core of the Nine Popes. The fruit is co-fermented with Shiraz mostly, but with some single varietal tanks as well. A mix of whole-bunch, destemmed and uncrushed fruit along with a small batch of carbonic maceration Grenache, is fermented cool and given gentle cap management, including hand plunging before being pressed to barrique (mostly French) and undergoing malolactic in oak. The wine spends its customary 24-27 months on lees before settling and bottling.
From the winemaker: “Lovely deep colour. Nice bright crimson edge to the colour. Opens on nose with a delightful spicy licorice all sorts amalgam of sweet perfume and spice, although 50% new oak was used, it remains in the background as a support to the exotic aromatics. Licorice and meat stock flavours lead into a plush rounded structure, with an excellent volume of finely wrought tannins to help shepherd this wine many years into the future.
“Much like the great Grenache wines of the world, this wine will reward patient cellaring of 25+ years. The complex delicacy of the blend will elegantly complement duck, quail and other rich dishes.”
97 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion ‘I’ve mentioned previously that Charlie Melton’s Nine Popes was one of the first wines that made me fall in love with Barossa wines. I guess you could call it a regional classic and it remains one of my favourite wines from the Barossa. A blend of old-vine grenache, shiraz and mataro from Krondorf, Rowland Flat and Eden Valley. Perfumed red and dark plum fruits with raspberry pip and citrus blossom top notes. Hints of dried citrus rind, medina spice, rose petals, charcuterie, bath talc, pan juices, gentle oak spice and earth. It’s savoury and succulent at once with a sapid, briny energy and a sweep of sour morello cherries on the exit. So good. Drink 2025-2040.’
RRP $130 Our Special Price $99.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
