Granite Belt Tempranillo just keeps getting better. I had a glass of this with a platter at Hidden Creek Winery overlooking the lake on a stunningly beautiful day on Sunday 25th June, the wine was superb and the setting replete with beauteous peace.
A complex of deep purple, red and black colours literally shimmer at you from the glass – as the alien species say “resistance is futile”.
A wafting intensely redolent bouquet emits fragrances of ripe black and red cherries, cherry cola, black plums, leather, spice and earth.
Savoury/sour black cherries are initially dominant on the palate, plums intercede a little in the savoury experience and cherry cola swirls around the taste bud edges, cloves and a little black pepper enhance with some spicy lift, dried tomato emerges in the flowing palatal stream with some genuine complimentary culinary skill, some cedar combines with tobacco. The wine is medium bodied but very complex and mouth filling, galvanised by well judged Granite Belt cool climate acidity and the tannins are fine and drying causing the palate to hold the flavours long indeed.
So this is a wine to initially enjoy and contemplate and appreciate then you simply must marry it with a complimentary meal. Yes Granite Belt Tempranillo these days sits high on the quality chart and this 2022 is rather excellent.
Tasted: Saturday 8th July, 2023 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Oak: French
Fruit Source: Estate
Price: $40
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 to 2033
Winemaker: Andy Williams
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