The Blonde 2008
Tasting Notes
2008 HEAD 'The Blonde' Shiraz Viognier, Single Vineyard – Stonewell. 298 doz. An addition of 2% Viognier was co-fermented with the Shiraz. 100% De-stemmed, no crushing, pre-ferment cold soaking in deep open fermenters, light to medium pumpovers avoiding pigeage, combination of wild yeast and EC118 with a relatively short warm ferment of 10 days. 10% new Sirugue Burgundian hogsheads with light toast to preserve the fruit. Essentially the wine is made in a modern hedonistic/exotic style that shows very perfumed, sweet fruits and glycerolic texture that lends medium term consumption (2009-2020). I would match with both strong white and red meat dishes (an all-rounder).
A fragrant and aromatic little devil it is - full of flowers and spice with juicy cherry/raspberry fruit and a tiny dollop of apricot jam mixed up with the nuts and meat. There’s minimal oak influence here it seems. Medium to full bodied and very fresh and clean with delightful emery board tannins and no shortage of length. Cheeky and light on its feet with a dry finish being a big positive. It’s a bit Torbreck-esque in style perhaps, although finer boned and far more lively - certainly more affordable. Very bloody drinkable now but should look more settled and savoury with a couple of years under its belt. Excellent. Rated : 94 Points,Gary Walsh – The Wine Front
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