2010 Shiraz Viognier $35
;)
Canberra has made a name for medium-bodied, Rhone-style Shiraz. The Murrumbateman sub-region delivers ripe, red berry fruit, spice and supple tannins.
We co-ferment this Shiraz with Viognier, adding 5% at the crusher to give fragrance, perfume and complexity.
These wines are glorious when young and vibrant, but repay careful cellaring as they soften and gain layers of complexity.
Reviews:
Nick Stock; Good Wine Guide 2012
This mid-weight spicy and complex young red has plenty of fragrance, toasted dark baking spices, plenty of pepper and a swathe of red-chery and plum fruit aromas. The palate's smoothly textured, really elegant and composed; creamy oak adds spice to the dark-plum and peppery fruit flavours. Lithe, fine tannins, and great balance - brilliant example.
94 Points
Sexy nose, it’s perfumed to the hilt in phoney Rhoney way. That’s not to dismiss it, this shows Canberra’s ability to consistently turn out a Côte-Rôtie style with an Australian bent.
It’s captivating stuff, a gorgeous tapestry of red fruits, roses, violets and white pepper. Search underneath and there’s cinnamon and cardamom lurking and what I’d call a meaty pan juice essence. The Viognier adds to this lift with a sweetness, but it’s not distracting.
The palate shows more of the redcurrant flavour infused with a bovine charm, like a medium rare steak. There’s a suppleness and a sexy, savoury sensation before very stylish acids fill out the finish. Boy does it persist too, there’s some real spicy length that keeps on delivering well after you’ve taken a sip. I love it. It’s nicely affirming to see a style like this but I imagine only a small amount was produced, so if you see it around, jump on it.
OzWineReview (Andrew Graham)
Lark Hill has hit a new high in recent years, driven by the input (I think) of founding couple Dave and Sue Carpenter's son, Chris, who has taken on a much more prominent role in the day-to-day business of the estate.
It's a beguiling nose, an unusual one. One moment it's lush, brambly and glossy, the smoky stems and juicy apricot Viognier fruit topping things off nicely. The second whiff is all herbal violets and a hint of prosciutto. Dandelions too. It's a moveable target, an oddly marginal nose given the recent run of warm Canberra vintages, but still something to savour. The palate starts sweetly though, with vanilla bean oak that descends into red cherry liqueur fruit. From there it gets darker, stemmer, stalkier before finishing with smoky dark tannins. Lots of intrigue on this high toned palate, with the late hit of peachy Viognier juiciness prettying up the finish.
Interesting wine this and a very solid result from an odd vintage. 17.7/92+
James Halliday - 2011 Wine Companion
James Halliday said of the 2009 "Has well above-average texture, structure and length, with very good spicy/savoury nuances plus balanced tannins. Another string to the Canberra bow. 94/100"
Also, the 2009 was awarded Best Canberra District Shiraz at the Canberra Regional Wine Show.