Description

A product of the visionary Hill-Smith family (owners of Yalumba). It started out in 1999 with some Barossa Chenin Blanc vines that had been grafted over to Tempranillo. Those vines ended up with a nasty virus but the seeds had been planted. Subsequent plantings by the company in Barossa and Wrattonbully and also by their growers gave them a new start. Today they are sourcing Tempranillo from multiple sub-regions of the Barossa and making a good fist of it. They almost produce some Vermentino under this label – a variety that is very close to my heart. Winemaker Sam Wigan has spent time in Rioja and Ribera del Duero and the heart and soul respectively of Tempranillo in Spain and has brought back some of their extensive know-how.

A hint over ripe (just a hint though) meant I was thinking Barossa or McLaren Vale. The fruits were tart and jammy with pepper. It grew in the glass and came back into balance a bit. The palate had a lovely fragrance was sweet, silky, floral and soft with hints of choco and cola. Great mouthfeel. This was the bright, rich ripe personality of Temp. It is great value too.