Over the weekend I was tweeting with my Australian friend @nessaussie, a Sommelier in Perth, about wine. We were discussing the Swan Valley of Western Australia. This morning I woke thinking about the wine we featured on the September #WineMuse Podcast. It was then that I realized I had not posted my tasting notes for the Hope Estate 2010 Shiraz "The Ripper"...fruit sourced from the Geographe Region of Western Australia.
*Podcast Note: "You Say Syrah, I Say Shiraz (& To Spit or Swallow Wine)"
You can listen to our discussion of this wine on Minstrel and Muse Audio Art Magazine and our #WineMuse podcast. The show has a special interview with Keith Pilgrim of Terra Blanca Winery.
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia.
The Margaret River Valley Wine growing region is centered in the cooler south-western tip of the state of Western Australia. This area produces less than 5% of the country's wine (but excels in quality I'm told). This property is in the Geographe sub-region, next to Margaret River, with coastal Indian Ocean influences and those all important warm days and cool nights.
Located just over 2 hours south of Perth, the Geographe Wine Region, is earning a reputation as one of Western Australia's exciting new wine regions. Spanning from Harvey in the North to Busselton in the South and out to Donnybrook in the East, the region hugs the Geographe Bay with the cooling afternoon sea breezes being a hallmark of a long stable growing season.
Tasting Notes Hope Estate 2010 Shiraz "The Ripper" (slang for really good)
Color: Dark garnet.
Nose: Nice fruit, blackberry, violets, peppermill.
Palate: Bright, good mouth feel, blackberry fruit, black pepper, fresh and dry. Crying for a steak. Showed well at opening and 1.5 hours later. medium finish. Big like.
After 7 hours: Bigger in the mouth, more fruit, tannin finer, nice gentle grip under the lower lip with coffee and cola into the finish. More my drinking speed at this point. Quite tasty. Recommended + Great Value.
SRP: $20
ABV: 14%
Closure: Screw cap
Winemakers: Stephen Hagan + James Campkin
Sample provided by Winesellers LTD
Hope Estate is open 7 days from 10am to 5pm.
Groups welcome by appointment.
2213 Broke Road Pokolbin, NSW 2320
(Opposite Pokolbin Village)
Phone (02) 4993 3555
hopeestate.com.au
Comments by Winemaker Stephen Hagan
"This Shiraz is not co-fermented with, nor does it have any contact with Viognier. JAMES CAMPKIN was the winemaker for the 2010 vintage. But he left in November of that year and I commenced in early 2011, taking responsibility for the finishing and blending of the 2010 Ripper Shiraz. Exactly. It is in effect a very extended cold soak for 100% of those grapes. Colour and tannins guaranteed – managing the tannins is the challenge. Yes 2010 a very good vintage, a fairly ‘typical’ vintage from my understanding. 2010 an excellent vintage." STEVE HAGAN, Winemaker.
Vineyard Location
The grapes used to make this wine are from Hope Estate's vineyards in the Geographe Region of the West coast of Australia - Donnybrook vineyard. The fruit is crushed there and then transported by truck across the outback to their East coast winery, where they are fermented and bottled. The must is chilled for this three day road trip and arrives with a lot of color and tannin extraction from the time in transit. Expect a lot of flavor (hence the "Ripper").
Driving distance from Margaret River to Cessnock, Australia 2,587 miles. (From Perth in the West to North of Sydney in the East) (LA to NY).
Donations Breast Cancer Charity
Every October, Hope Estate releases special pink labels of Shiraz and Chardonnay to raise awarenesse and to help in the fight to stop breast cancer. Since 2007, Hope Estate and Winesellers, Ltd. have together donated over $200,000 to various breast cancer charity.
Australia Information
- Population of Australia: 23.13 million in 2013.
- Continent of Australia is about the same size as continental USA.
- Geographe Wine Region
http://www.geographewine.com.au/ - Wine Australia
http://www.wineaustralia.net.au/ - Australia Wine Grape Council South Australia
http://wgcsa.com.au/information/south-australian-grapegrowing-regions/ - Video - Wine Touring in Margaret River, Western Australia
Wine touring, hiking, canoeing, surfing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x-iKzDUFrM - Video - Jerome Scarborough talks about Shiraz and the unique style made in the Hunter Valley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1P_W2Ez1SA
Washington Syrah Perspective
I encourage you to listen to our podcast "You Say Syrah, I Say Shiraz (& To Spit or Swallow Wine)" - we enjoyed an in-depth discussion with Keith Pilgrim of Terra Blanca Winery about Washington Syrah and his winemaking approach. He's a grower and winemaker on Red Mountain so his perspective is personal and detailed. Terroir is the essential aspect of a wines profile. Keith also discussed the 2014 harvest, European and Oregon oak in wine barrels and his oak program. Keith co-ferments Sryah with Viognier too. I tasted his 2009 Syrah beside the 2010 Hope Estate. Night and Day. Very different wines.
Tasting Notes Terra Blanca 2009 Arch Terrace Syrah
Color: Dark garnet
Nose: Earthy, smoky, bacon fat, a little funk, violets in the background.
Palate: Earthy, mushroom, bacon fat, with air added smokiness, bacon, earth, mushroom, violets, dark fruit, nice zing of acid on edge of the tongue into the finish. Showed better after an hour. Medium finish.
After 7 hours: Definitely umami on the nose, mushroom and barnyard floor. Creamy, earthy, funky around the edges with bright dark fruit down the middle, dry finish, Thinking Asian pork dishes and pork broth noodle dishes. This wine is asking for savory foods. Think pulled pork sandwich, smoky meats. Recommended.
ABV: 13.5%, Closure: Natural Cork, Paid $15.
That was fun and informative. Sorry so late at sharing.
Cheers!