Tempranillo Wine Reviews - Municipal Wines


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2021 Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Bright, intense, ruby red. Aroma: Super lifted and very complex, cherry, rhubarb, cola, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, savoury spice and delicate minerality with lots of character and interest Palate: Vibrant red fruits including cherry and wild strawberry, cola and spice both sweet and savoury, fresh acidity excellent length with powdery tannins. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2021 Variety: Tempranillo Production: 177 Cases Harvested: 10/3/2021 pH: 3.63 T/A: 6.26 Alcohol: 13.0% Vinification: 3 day cold soak followed by a 14 day fermentation kept cool to retain freshness and the beautiful varietal aromas. Maturation: 16 months in large format French, American and Hungarian oak with 27% new oak and the remainder in 2nd used and barrels older than 5 years. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 17 years Yield: 5.66T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters.	z

2016 Whitegate Reserve Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Bright and crimson red with great depth. Aroma: Youthful, lifted and complex with spiced plum, maraschino cherry, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, cola, and lots of savoury spice jumping out of the glass. Palate: Powerful red and blue fruits including spiced plum, boysenberry andzv blackberry, clove, nutmeg, cola, and savoury spices with fresh acid, firm powdery tannins and a wonderful long and attractive finish. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2016 Variety: 100% Tempranillo Production: 126 Cases Harvested: 25/2/16 pH: 3.57 T/A: 6.68 Alcohol: 13.8% Fermentation: Three day cold soak prior to fermentation to extract aroma compounds and improve colour brightness without the presence of alcohol, followed by a short 8 day ferment kept below 25 degrees to retain the delicate Tempranillo aromas. The must was immediately pressed post fermentation as the 2016 fruit delivered wines high in tannin and with good structure. Maturation: 25 months in barrel. The 1st year in 25% new French oak Vicard hogsheads and 30% second use Radoux French oak Puncheons with the remainder in older oak. The second year all in barrels greater than three years old. This wine is a blend of the best four barrels of 2016 Tempranillo. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 12 years Yield: 5.66T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters.	z

2017 Whitegate Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Bright, intense, crimson red with great depth. Aroma: Fresh, bright and complex with cherry, cola, vanilla, nutmeg, hints of clove, some lovely savoury notes and a slight mineral character. Palate: Heaps of red and blue fruits, sweet and savoury spice and an attractive cola note, it's super delicate with fine tannins, good acid and length and a wonderful complex finish. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2017 Variety: 100% Tempranillo Production: 257 Cases Harvested: 26/3/2017 pH: 3.76 T/A: 5.51 Alcohol: 12.8% Vinification: 4 day cold soak followed by a 7 day fermentation kept below 23 deg to retain freshness and the beautiful varietal aromas. Maturation: 13 months in 30% new large format French and American oak with the remainder 3rd and 4th use French and American hogsheads and puncheons. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 12 years Yield: 5.66T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters.

2016 Whitegate Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Clear, bright Magenta Aroma: Lifted spiced plum, sour cherry, blueberry, cola, clove, hints of vanilla and lovey sweet and savoury spices. Palate: Red fruits including red currents, rhubarb and red plums, nutmeg and clove with firm tannins, great structure, excellent length and a lovely fresh finish. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2016 Variety: 100% Tempranillo Production: 263 Cases Harvested: 25/2/2016 pH: 3.47 T/A: 6.76 Alcohol: 13.5% Fermentation: Three day cold soak prior to fermentation to extract aroma compounds and improve colour brightness prior to the presence of alcohol, followed by a short 8 day fermentation kept below 25 degrees to retain the delicate Tempranillo aromas. The must was immediately pressed post fermentation as the 2016 fruit delivered wines high in tannin and with good structure. Maturation: 15 months in third use or older French, Hungarian and American hogsheads to retain varietal expression. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 12 years Yield: 5.66T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters. Review Cola, cherry cola, sarsaparilla, sounds like soft drink, isn’t, but does that earthy-sweetness-herbal thing really well and in balance. Lovely texture, bright and yet just the faintest yielding to Autumnal characters, brine-like minerality. Far out. This drinks a treat. Complex and savoury thing this is. Mike Bennie - http://www.winefront.com.au

2014 Whitegate Reserve Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Bright medium intensity, crimson Aroma: A very complex savoury wine with medium plus intensity, red fruits, cola, sweet spice, clove, sage, dark chocolate and hints of cedar and bay leaf. Palate: Med body, medium plus acid, chalky tannins, well balanced with medium plus intensity. The flavour profile includes red fruits, spiced plum, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cola, & hints of fresh sage. The finish is long and persistent. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2014 Variety: 100% Tempranillo Production: 131 Cases Harvested: 25/3/2014 pH: 3.62 T/A: 6.45 Alcohol: 13.1% Fermentation: Three day cold soak prior to inoculation. This Tempranillo was fermented in an open fermenter, with two punch downs per day. Concurrent malolactic fermentation occurred. Fermentation continued for 17 days between 18-20 degrees. After primary fermentation, a three day post fermentation maceration was conducted to maximise colour and tannin extraction. Maturation: 24 months in a combination of Demtos and Radoux hogsheads (300L) & barrique (225L) barrels 50% new, utilising French, American & Hungarian oak. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 10 years Yield: 15.5T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters. Review Sensational. From floral, clove-spiked, amaro-drenched, cherry cola-scented perfume, through to shapely, inwardly concentrated yet just on medium weight flavours. The wine has energy, exceptional length, a feel of finesse, succulence and immense persistence. It’s a tempranillo that values that sense of ‘pinosity’ but doesn’t forget to come bearing a shawl of finely threaded, firm tannins. Utterly charming, this is a hit from the get go. This is exciting. Mike Bennie - http://www.winefront.com.au


2015 Whitegate Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Bright and youthful deep crimson. Aroma: Medium plus intensity, red currents, spiced plum, clove, nutmeg, sour cherry, cola, aniseed, hints of vanilla and lovey savoury spice. Palate: Vibrant red fruits including sour cherry and spiced plum, clove, nutmeg, cola, and savour spice with fresh acid, firm powdery tannins, moderate alcohol, medium body and great length. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2015 Variety: 100% Tempranillo Production: 132 Cases Harvested: 27/2/2015 pH: 3.5 T/A: 6.9 Alcohol: 13.3% Fermentation: Three day cold soak prior to inoculation. This Tempranillo was fermented in an open fermenter, with two pump overs per day and two delestage. Fermentation continued for 7 days between 14-25 degrees with Concurrent malolactic fermentation. The wine was immediately pressed off post fermentation as 2015 fruit delivered wines with plenty of tannin and good structure. Maturation: 24 months in a combination of Radoux and Demptos barrels (both puncheons 400L and hogsheads 300L) 30% new, utilising French, Hungarian and American oak. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 11 years Yield: 5.66T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters.


2014 Whitegate Tempranillo Tasting Note Colour: Bright crimson, medium intensity, with a violet meniscus. Aroma: Clean, medium intensity, spiced plum, dark cherry, cola, liquorish, cardamom, nutmeg, fruit cake, and chocolate. Palate: Dry, high acid, powdery tannins, moderate alcohol, medium body with a delicate structure, medium plus intensity. The flavour profile includes spiced plum, sour cherry, poached rhubarb, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cola, & hints of fresh sage. The finish is long and persistent. Wine Profile Region: Strathbogie Ranges Vineyard: Whitegate Vintage: 2014 Variety: 100% Tempranillo Production: 381 Cases Harvested: 25/3/2014 pH: 3.65 T/A: 5.47 Alcohol: 13.3% Fermentation: Three day cold soak prior to inoculation. This Tempranillo was fermented in an open fermenter, with two punch downs per day. Concurrent malolactic fermentation occurred. Fermentation continued for 17 days between 18-20 degrees. After primary fermentation, a three day post fermentation maceration was conducted to maximise colour and tannin extraction. Maturation: 14 months in a combination of Demtos and Radoux hogshead barrels (300L) 25% new, utilising French and American oak. Whitegate Vineyard Profile Size of Vineyard Block: 0.5 Ha Row Orientation: North / South Trellis System: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) Pruning: Spur Planting density: 1,200 Vines/Ha Clone: D8V 13 Average Vine Age: 10 years Yield: 15.5T/Ha Climate: Continental climate, warm days followed by very cool nights. MJT: 20.7 Growing Season Rainfall: 320mm-380mm Soil: Sandy loam, giving way to decomposed granite. Altitude: 480 Meters. Review As delicate as tempranillo comes. This is a flighty, lacy red of beautiful, red berry, pomegranate, sweet earth, pot pourri and herb scents. The palate has feathery yet firm tannins, bright cranberry-like acidity, a dance of barely there but attractive red fruit flavours. It’s subtle, understated, utterly charming. Just don’t expect a tempranillo clip over the ear. Mike Bennie - http://www.winefront.com.au