Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz but no oak. This Barossa wine is made from old vine fruit in a fresh, approachable style. Tradition meets fast food, you might say, but in a good way.
Penetrating nose that, initially, is all about sweet red fruit, but that quickly gains complexity and savouriness. It ends up being a fresh, somewhat sharp amalgam of fruit, spice and something akin to fennel. Slightly feral or meaty, too. There's an impression of good detail as well as some fruit depth to back up what is quite a bright aroma profile.
In the mouth, lots of flavour quickly delivered to the taste buds. The entry shows quite bright, almost aggressive acidity that builds as the wine moves through the palate. Although there are fairly relaxed tannins down the line, structurally this wine revolves around its acid. It provides sizzle and good flow, but also balances out the wine's considerable fruit sweetness to the extent that one's overall impression is of a savoury flavour profile. Crunchy red fruits, herb and aniseed all vye for attention here. It's almost medicinal in a Dr Pepper sort of way, and some hints of dried fruits also emerge. A nice crescendo of intensity that peaks at the middle palate. If there's a fairly sudden drop-off on the after palate, that's ok, because all that acidity and bright fruit verges on abrasive, especially without food. It continues in this more subdued, plummy key and delivers a pretty decent finish, with perhaps the slightest glow of alcohol heat.
A good food style that's certainly a lively drink. Try it with pasta or a robustly flavoured meat dish. Wines like this often strike me as "picnic" wines in that I can well imagine drinking it in accompaniment to bread, cheese and charcuterie.
Price: $A24.70
Closure: Cork
Date tasted: October 2008
This is my least favourite of Kym Teusner's current reds. And I still enjoy it. I preferred the 06 vintage which I thought had less of the sweet red fruit and a touch more complexity and more bountiful finish.
The meatiness seems to be a major focus in all his red Rhone blends, but in the best years it really makes the wine for me. I'd really suggest grabbing yourself an 05 Avatar though Julian. Better vintage, grapes for the blend where co-fermented that year, and a touch of oak takes it up a notch for me. Sadly, I will be missing a dinner at Brent's at Toowong with Kym talking about all of his five commercial reds and a degustation menu. But if you haven't lost the 23rd of October to other commitments I think it would be a great night. Cheers jeremy
G'day Jeremy,
Thanks for those insights. Edward the Wino-sapien has also recommended the Avatar, so I really should pick up a bottle one of these days. The Joshua felt too far tilted towards brightness for me, but it's certainly a tasty and surprisingly complex wine (for having no oak).
Cheers.