One of the few grapes that has red/pink flesh and together with very dark skins results in the reputation of ‘The Inky Grape of Georgia’. The fruit for this wine was sourced from Riverlands, east of the Barossa Valley in SA. The wine was made in the Symphony Hill Winery on Eukey Road, Ballandean. So wine from warm climate fruit made in a cool climate winery and it begins with an often encountered cooler climate characteristic – only 13.5% alcohol by volume which is a good thing for many of us!
Consistent with the grapes reputation and it’s coloured flesh this wine is an inky black in the glass and somewhat muted garnets where it’s pulled upwards by forces at the meniscus. The bouquet is plush with dark berries and some purple fruits, a little vanillin oak, some spice entwined in dark chocolate and old leathery wafts together with some smoked charcuterie.
On the extended and soft/smooth tannin palate there are conjoined blackberries and mulberries floating atop some darker plums. Vanilla and ground coffee emerge a little later and lead into a slight earthiness piqued with some mixed spice. The acid is well judged and will sustain this wine in your cellar.
The complexity of the wine handled a roast topside from Stanthorpe’s organic butcher Boss Meats with ease and a high enjoyability factor. There is no rush to consume this wine which is labelled Organic and Vegan Friendly. I’d be inclined to give it a few more years to develop further complexity which I’m confident will emerge.
Tasted: Sunday 11th April, 2021 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $65
Suggested Drinking Window: 2019 to 2028
Winemaker: Mike Hayes
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Hi
With lunch yesterday we had the 2017 Symphony Hill Saperavi. This had been in frigerated cellaring since purchase ten years ago at the estate. Amazing wine and I loved the grape’s history starting in Georgia. Halliday gave it 95 points, but a decade later in 2026 I would reassess this wine as 98 points.
Max
Hi Max
The 2018 was made from Riverland (South Australia) fruit, not sure about the 2017 but likely not local GI fruit. No doubt both are very good wines and make by Mike Hayes glad you enjoyed the 2017. Many Granite Belt wineries are now identifying fruit source on the label which I believe is a helpful practice both for consumer interest/palates and for Granite Belt promotion.
Cheers Peter