Craneford The Tribeca GSM 2023
G 94
A superb example of the Barossa Valley blend, Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. The fruit comes from the Marananga sub-region. The wine spent a year in older French oak puncheons for maturation. Deep garnet in colour, there are gorgeous aromas here. Liqueur cherries are to the fore, supported by hints of chocolate, plums, kirsch, mulberries and a dusting of cocoa powder. There is very good length here with fine balance throughout. The wine finishes with powdery tannins and is quite simply delicious. Enjoy it over the next eight years. Love it. Drink now–2033 Craneford No 1 Marananga Vineyard Shiraz 2023 G 94 At this early stage, the wine still has lashings of toasty vanillin oak, but integration appears to be proceeding as planned. Under Diam, the fruit came from the Marananga sub-region. Maturation was for 20 months, in French oak hogsheads, a considerable percentage of them new. The final wine is a barrel selection. Deep purple in hue, we have notes of chocolate, cassis, mulberries, bay leaves, liquorice, plums and black fruits. A juicy line of acidity lingers for the full journey and the wine is finely balanced with satiny tannins. Best left for two to four years and then drunk for the following 15. Drink now–2044 Curator Marananga Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 G 94 This wine sees only French oak hogsheads, around half of them new, for a year and a half. A fine example of how warm climate Cabernet can be utterly delicious, even if it does not resemble the more traditional styles. Under Diam. Inky dark hue, the aromas offer notes of cigar boxes, cassis, blackberries, coffee beans and mocha. There is a sweet core of choc/cherry, which centres the wine. Supple and seamless with a fine line of acidity, good balance and medium to good length, the oak is deftly handled. This is very much a crowd-pleaser. The palate sees the emergence of notes of cold tea, more chocolate, black fruits and cassis. Ideally, squirrel this away for the next three to five years and then enjoy over the following decade. Drink now–2035 Dandelion Vineyards Enchanted Garden of the Eden Valley Riesling 2025 G 94 Never quite sure whether or not the name for this always cracking Riesling came from Tolkien, the Bible, or somebody’s delightfully twisted mind after a few too many samples. The wine is yet more evidence that the 2025 vintage is another excellent one. A bone-dry style, with relatively low alcohol, 11.5%, it is ideal for summer drinking when a second glass is compulsory. The fruit comes from a range of regional vineyards. Brilliant value. Ripe in style, and perhaps even a hint forward at this early stage, the colour is that of pale straw. The nose gives us notes of citrus, chalk, bath salts, grapefruit, river stones and a hint of peach. Forward it possibly is, but it is also very long, and the intensity is maintained for the full journey. Juicy acidity runs the length. This is clean, fresh, pristine, focused and impressively balanced. Enjoy it over the next 12–15 years. Drink now–2040
106
The Vintage Journal
Powered by FlippingBook