Mount Majura Tempranillo 2003

I've heard a lot about the Tempranillo produced by the crew at Mount Majura, all very good things of course.  The Canberra region is very similar in climate to Rioja Alta, 600-700 meters in elevation, warm enough to get the grapes ripe but very much cool climate.  Even the soil types are similar, clay loam with a bit of limestone and volcanic material. 

Thats all good in theory, a lot of places are similar to Rioja and produce average wine.  If you open up a bottle of this stuff you'll find that the theory seems to work in this case.  This is a spectacular wine.  This may sound a little over the top, but if this wine from young vines is anything to go buy, this producer will do great things with Tempranillo. 

The wine is a dark cherry colour with a purple tint.  Aromas of dark cherry, licorice and anise with some leather and rose oil.  Savory and beautifully balanced in the mouth with good acid and supple tannins.  The oak treatment is very discrete and controlled.  Great gobs of concentrated black current and cherry fruit in mouth followed up with a bit of liquorice.  The finish is quite long and shows of the soft tannins.  How good? Bloody good. 92 Pts.

Source: Winestar Price: $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.mountmajura.com.au