A.P.Birks `Wendouree` Horizontal Pack (4x 750ml), Clare Valley.

Winery Tasting Notes

Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 2017

Scents of dried berries, a fainter side of raspberry, cranberry and strawberry, let’s say, plus a violet floral lift. Alongside, whiffs of fennel, pepper, light eucalyptus, brambles and gun smoke. Nice start, if not a bit shy. The palate is quite rigid and does pinch a bit as it closes. You’ll see now some more of that light, mixed red berry flavour, a savoury, clean earthy edge, licks of mint, a rugged pulverised granite/slate sort of character too, which is a good bit in the wine.

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 2017

So refined, so beautiful to smell. Pencils, violet, cocoa and aniseed, plum and blackcurrant. Svelte, perfumed and pure of fruit, cool mineral acid line, tannin spreads out with a comforting cocoa warmth, slight hedgerow and edge, but carries it off. Runs cool and long, glassy acidity in the finish, perhaps ever so edgy, but carries it off with style. Less thunder and earth, more perfume, spring rain and cool nights.

Wendouree Malbec 2017

This vintage is acid over tannin, in terms of structure and while it smells good, the finish has a distinct under-ripe blackberry tartness through it. Black plum, blackberry, hedgerow, some chocolate and very slight smokiness. A good, but light and intense small berry and blackberry flavour, sheets of glassy acidity, some hardness to tannin.

Wendouree Shiraz Mataro 2017

It opens with that cornucopia of Aussie bushwalk scents of earth, trees, dried leaves, eucalyptus, with black cherry, lavender, brined black olive introduced late in the bouquet. Firm ribs of Italianate tannins tighten and give rails to more of the dark cherry flavours, alongside more brined black olive, dried green herbs. Texture is succulent, grippy from mid-palate to close; I love these tannins, and the finish is a swoosh of dark berry flavours, green-citrus acidity and strong, black bergamot tea. Power, edginess, savoury qualities, in a tightly wound wine.