07:18 Stu.
This wine raised more questions for me than it provided answers. It was the first Tannat that Peter Stark of Boireann has made since 2005, vintages in between variously lost to frost or hail damage, or made in such minute quantities that use for blending is the only option.
It makes me question whether it's the right variety for the region? Boireann are the only winery I know of there releasing a varietal Tannat, Summit use it in blends. Boireann are on one of the higher points in the region, and one of the coldest too.
2011 was a tough year on the Granite Belt, it was the year that saw widespread flooding across much of South East Queensland. A year in which for once hail or frost weren't a problem, a year in which Peter Stark managed to commercially release a Tannat at 13.5%.
Initially quite muted aromatically, seemingly hard and unripe, yet give it some time and the Tannat character does get a chance to shine through, for that cloak to remove itself. Dried leaf litter, dried earth, the savoury edges imbued with some lifted floral and blackcurrant nuances.
Medium bodied, slight herbal and savoury notes; the hallmark tannins are there, yet the wine seems elegant. Juicy to boot - the regional DNA for many a Granite Belt wine, hints of violet, good acid balance. Length a little lacking for me, and for me a requirement for what I look for in stand-out examples of a Tannat. That said, from the challenge of a tough vintage, Peter Stark has fashioned a reasonable Tannat. 88 - Good
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Bit of funk and meatiness to this one on opening, with chocolate bullets and herbal, undergrowth notes on the nose.
