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Back to winesView a PDF of this page2005 Shiraz Viognier Wine Notes Wine NotesBackground:The 2001 Shiraz Viognier release from Meerea Park was the first of this blend from the Hunter Valley. Shiraz Viognier is the blend produced in France's Cote Rotie Appellation in the Northern Rhone Valley. Fruit Source:Viognier and Shiraz from the 'Lindsay Hill' vineyard near Denman and Shiraz from a mature vineyard near Pokolbin. Fermentation & Maturation:Viognier fruit and pressings were added to the shiraz parcels and allowed to co-ferment making the 2005 vintage the first 100% co-fermented under this label. The 2005 cuvee consists of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier and has spent 16 months in French oak barriques, 10% of which were new. Winemakers Comments:2005 is shaping up as a spectacular vintage for Hunter Shiraz at Meerea Park. A very hot January allowed fruit to obtain perfect phenological and sugar ripeness. The harvest period in february was punctuated only by isolated storms. The co-fermentation has integrated the Viognier with the Shiraz so well that on the nose it is barely noticeable, the only indication is lifted plum, blueberry and spice. The palate is where the co-fermentation makes its mark. Medium-bodied, dark fruited, soft with great persistence. Cellaring:Short to medium term. What the experts say
"The 2005 vintage for Hunter Valley shiraz is looking as good as any I can remember and this is most certainly the best Meerea Park Shiraz Viognier to date. It is also the first release to be co-fermented with the viognier (5 percent) and what a difference it makes. Aged in French oak (10% new) for 16 months.
Aromas of dark fruit, earth, licorice, flowers and light cedar oak. On the palate perfectly ripe dark berry fruit (think blue and black), earth and licorice bullets with just a hint of apricot and flowers floating gently beneath the surface. Silky, almost slippery, fine grained tannins. Beautiful texture. Medium to full bodied. Long earthy blueberried finish. Killer value. Shiraz at under $20 simply does not get better than this." Rated : 93 Points.
Gary Walsh - Winorama - www.winorama.com.au. - November 2006
No one is prouder of the Hunter Valley than brothers Rhys and Garth Eather, the big men behind the big mover in Hunter wine circles, Meerea Park. It would probably surprise people to know,too, that the Eather family has been in the Hunter Valley for over 150 years, which means that they pre-date even families like the Tyrrells. None of this would matter a jot if the wines weren't good, but they are, and in recent years they've got steadily better. The 2005 reds they have in the cellar are uniformly outstanding, and interesting, extending all the way down to the first of them to be released - this shiraz-viognier. It's a wine that creeps up on you. It's pretty and floral, raisiny and ripe - one of those wines that is worryingly easy to drink. It's only seen old oak too, so there's nothing agressive in that department either. With time though, a framework of tannins builds, as does earthy, dusty, aniseedy complexity. You can quaff it, or think on it. Perfect." Drink 2006-2011. 91 points.
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front - 4th January 2007.
"When does viognier overwhelm shiraz in modern blends like this ? This Hunter version takes it near the limit, with apricot, floral and musky viognier clues readily apparent, backed by slightly syrupy, berryish fruit and earthy regional qualities. But its still in balance and the velvety palate is long and aromatic, finishing soft and friendly." 4 1/2 stars.
Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Age Epicure - 27th February 2007.
"Typical vivid colour; a medium-bodied, fruit-driven wine with soft, almost silky, red fruits and viognier lift; minimal tannin and oak inputs". Rating 90.
James Halliday - 2008 Wine Companion |
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