Australia
Tscharke Only Son Tempranillo 2004
Should wines made made in Australia taste like their European ancestors? This is the question I found myself asking while drinking this wine. Or should we take the grapes and make it our? Should we pay homage to the great wines of Spain by making wines here in a similar style? I'm still undecided…
I liked this wine a lot, it has that classic barossa taste and feel to it but it is made from Tempranillo. It bears very little resemblance to the classic descriptors of a tempranillo based wine, but it is still very well made and highly drinkable.Perhaps its vine age or the clones used, or perhaps it is climate. Or all three, only time will tell I think.
Very dark and inky in colour with aromas of dark cherry and plums on the nose with a bit of coffee. Good mouth feel with soft tannins and lovely smoothness. Dark berry in the mouth with a little bit of tart blueberry and a bit of cola. Quite a long finish, it is a powerful mouth coating wine that I found very enjoyable. 89 Pts.
Source: Winestar Price: $26 Closure: Screwcap
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I think all that counts is that it should be good wine.
GW
I’m very much leaning towards that point of view. This wine was very good and it really said “Borossa” in every taste. But if I was looking for a good example of Australian Tempranillo I’d point to Pondalowie…
The 2004 Only Son has 5% graciano in it. I liked it, but agree it was more Barossan than Spanish in style. It’s still available as mail order from Tscharke/Glaymond wines at $22 a bottle.
The 2005 Only Son is just out, and the graciano has stepped up to 10%. It’ll be interesting to see the difference that makes.
For my tastes, the 2005 albarino has been my pick of the Tscharke Spanish and Italian varietals I’ve tried. It sold out pretty quickly last year, from memory, and I’ll be getting some of the 2006 albarino ($18/btl).
ps: Anyone tried the Samuel’s Gorge tempranillo (McLaren Vale) yet? I met the winemaker at a sagrantino dinner in SA last week but didn’t get to try his stuff. Copped a good Halliday review, I recall.
I didn’t really notice the gracino, but being such a different style I probibly wouldn’t at 5%. I will track down an 05 and the Albarino.
I haven’t tired the Samuels as yet, I’ll have to track one down as well.
Did you do that Albarino tasting?
The new Tscharke 2006 albarino and 2005 tempranillo-graciano blend have turned up. I might get into them over the weekend. Could be a good way to celebrate the albarino being planted this Sunday.