It
was a real delight to read an article (included
below) written by Mike Burnett in the Launceston Examiner today.
Top dollar for Kalleske
shiraz worth every cent
“Approaching a wine worth three figures could be likened
to watching a batsman as they move towards 100. For most people there is a
little anticipation and the worry that the wine, like a batsman, might fall
short of the mark. Although these days there are plenty of Australian wines
worth more than $100, it is still a big decision for most wine buyers.
While wines lower down the price scale can be more easily weighed up for value,
it is far more difficult to attach that term to a wine of $100 or more. That
judgment can only be made by the individual. What can be looked at is the
wine's quality and pedigree.
In that area the 2009 Kalleske Johann Georg Shiraz, which weighs in at a retail
price of about $100, makes the cut. There is no question this is a very classy
wine from the internationally recognised shiraz region, South Australia's Barossa
Valley.
As for the pedigree side, the Kalleske family has been involved in the
production of wine for nearly 160 years. Although it has only been involved in
the winemaking side of the operation for a decade, the family's fruit made its
way into various vintages of Australia's benchmark Penfolds Grange.
The Kalleske label has been one of the emerging stars of Australian wine and
the Johann Georg Shiraz shines brightly at the top of an impressive line-up of
wines. The wine comes from the vineyard of the same name, which has vines dating
back to 1875. After hand picking, the wine was given two years in French and American
oak before bottling. The dark purple to black colour reflects the red and black
fruits that emerge on the nose through to the palate. The same path is taken by
cedar and spice. The wine is full and complex, with fine but firm integrated
tannins that promise to soften further with time in the cellar.
To keep the cricket analogy rolling, Kalleske also has some solid contributors
down the order. The Australian organically certified producer has also released
its 2009 Eduard Shiraz ($85), 2009 Old Vine Grenache ($45), 2010 Greenock Shiraz
($38) and 2010 Dodger Tempranillo.
The Eduard comes from vines planted between 1905 and 1960, and more than likely
would have tasters who would favour it over the Johann Georg. It probably does
not have the broad flavours of the higher-price wine, but that does not make it
any less attractive with its plum and berry fruit having concentrated power.
In the Old Vine Grenache and the Dodger Tempranillo, Kalleske offers an excellent
mix of the old and new. Grenache is a great old Barossa variety that is
wonderful with many Asian dishes, while tempranillo is an in variety in Europe
and is growing in popularity in this country.
In many company ranges, the Greenock Shiraz would be the top wine.
That illustrates how powerful this line-up is”.
Mike Burnett,
Launceston Examiner, 13/02/2012
