Samuel's Gorge Winery

McLaren Vale | South Australia

The Wines

2015 Samuel's Gorge Tempranillo
More informataion coming soon

2014 Samuel's Gorge Tempranillo

Tempranillo - the precarious co-mingling of good and evil both on a vine and its personality in the glass akin to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. On heavy ground it can behave like a feral triffid yet on the right plot this infinitely low yielding, Iberian icon is an interpretation of a landscape more than most. Our Tempranillo vineyard is set amongst the clutches of a rocky, windswept ridge exposed to the Gulf. 2013 harvest offered up a nearly unviable yield, at most 1.1 tonne to the acre: temperamental and seemingly miserly. Look past the gruff it will charm you with its generosity, depth and concentration.

A dry winter and warm spring set the stage for the 2013 harvest seemingly as perfect as 2012. While we don’t expect much rain over summer, 2013 didn’t yield a drop. These warm, dry conditions stunted vigour and yield more so than usual: stellar for concentration of flavour and tannin but not so for quantity of stock in the cellar. Vintage 2013 came and went in a furious blur.

The 2013 has perhaps a darker and more sinister side than any Tempranillo we have released. All of this in a clever kind of way; the early transformation stage to Edward Hyde... The brooding blood plum, tart red currant, sundried strawberry. Characteristic savoury over sweet. The richness of a composting forest floor with a multitude of wild fungi, throw in crushed fresh herbs and a liberal dash of volcanic ash.

With ball-bearings for berries amidst very tight bunches, this wine has amplified masculinity, ripe flavours and great presence well after the last drop leaves the palate. Warm flavours of black cherry compote with splash of kirsch, tart blood orange, toasted dried spices and fresh tobacco leaf. Vibrant pomegranate toned acidity gives the wine a racing pulse – it feels deliciously fresh – though at the same time, the complex blend of components feel well integrated along Tempranillo’s signature gravelly tannin.

The juxtaposition of dark and light keep on going: stepping into a Moorish palace garden from the parched sundried landscape. A refreshing cooling effect of the water feature set among ancient olive, fig and bay trees, cascading jasmine, intricate design woven into the interior mosaics. Our Tempranillo: at the heart of the delights of the sultans. Aromas of jamon Serrano, lavender, dried sage, sun worn dusty limestone walls infiltrate the senses. Be prepared for an extended journey in the cellar with this one; it’s a stayer and may take a while to settle into its stride.

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