Community Tasting Notes 3

• Dr S Likes this wine: 94 points

  January 22, 2023 - Apart from knowing the variety, I tasted this blind, a sample provided by my fraternal komrade. Two things struck me instantly. One, that it was bloody good.
  
  And two, that I’d tasted it before. But was it a Paralian thanks to the sandy, almost salty characters on the nose and palate? Or did the close to sweetly scented blood orange and red fruits point to Eperosa? The lite medium bodied palate brought back the excellent In Praise of Shadows, and its maker’s wines from Aphelion.
  
  Of course, I got it wrong on all those counts, but did pick it as McLaren Vale over Barossa. And here’s the thing. It’s multiple personalities reveal a multifaceted wine of real class and complexity. The nose takes you on a merry ride, teasing the senses (and memory). The palate’s thrilling. It glides across the mouth, veils of silk but with just the right touch of sandy grip and tingling acid to keep it on point. Spice, black tea and saline notes keep the raspberry and cranberry in check, with a hint of beetroot in there too.
  
  For mine, inherently more interesting than ithe much more expensive 186 ($45 v $100). Not quite the depth of the pricier sibling but much more complex.
  
  I usually rate a wine with a definite eye to its ability to mature. In this case, it doesn’t matter. This is a great drop now. And to answer Komrade Kappelle’s question below, my sense is it doesn’t quite have the fruit weight or length to go long distance, but up to five years should see it take on more savoury characters - if you can keep your mits off it. Salud!

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• Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 points

  January 21, 2023 - I am scoring this at the top of the 'Excellent' range but was tempted to put it in the next category up. This is a lo-fi wine with minimal Sulfites and it is under screw-cap (you gorgeous thing). I used a large ISO shape stem and the note is made on day 2, undecanted.
  
  This wine put a smile on my Grenache sceptic face. It really opens up after about an hour and is hardly changed next day.
  
  As with all the Ochota wines, there is a really marked freshness, almost crunchy as in the texture of freshly picked grapes in the mouth. The acid is in balance, however. Tannis are very soft and supportive - a touch of sandiness (a positive).
  
  Although this is almost a riot of Grenache varietal characteristics, I am reminded of the description 'Pinosity' for some Grenache wines - something reminiscent of Pinot Noir and here it is in the slight hint of darker, almost beetroot earthiness combined with aromatics.
  
  There is a distinct sour cream/yoghurt flavour and textural element to this wine and that is common to all the Ochota reds I have tried. I really like it, but I wonder if it will win universal acceptance? There is strong wine gum-confectionary aromatics and these come through on the palate, which is a complex amalgam of sensations. It is hard not to guzzle in between wanting to bathe one's nose in the glass.
  
  Length and intensity are very good. This one is worth finding - difficult though as only 3,200 bottles were made.
  
  Will it cellar? Here is my issue with minimal sulfite wines - you just can't know, because sulfur was used to stop wine going through secondary fermentation in bottle and also to knock off bacteria and other yeasts throwing in unexpected (and usually unwanted) flavours and textures. I am sure that the maker will say that they have worked out exactly how much sulfur they need and others overuse. There may be truth in that. Or you might cellar this for a while and find you have spritz Grenache that is walking on the wild side. As I seem to have no problems with sulfur in wine, I won't cellar minimal sulfur wine, but I will enjoy them now. If these wines help those with sulfur intolerance, then all power to them.

  2 people found this helpful Comments (1)

• dpolivy Likes this wine:

  December 16, 2022 - Beautifully aromatic and expressive nose. Lots of violets, sweet cherry, and grape soda. Pure, clean and fresh on the palate; soft and sweet blue/red fruit. Soft and fine integrated tannins to finish. Nicely balanced with good acidity. Good complexity.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2022
• Type Red
• Producer Ochota Barrels
• Varietal Grenache
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard The Fugazi
• Country Australia
• Region South Australia
• SubRegion Fleurieu
• Appellation McLaren Vale

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 32 (80%)
• Consumed 8 (20%)

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