2021 Charles Melton Nine Popes GSM Barossa Valley – Charlie of course needs no introduction. Since his first vintage in 1984 and on to his first vintage of Nine Popes in 1988 and beyond he has been a leader of the Barossa. Importantly, he was one of the first to recognise the value of the Barossa’s old plantings of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro (Mourvèdre). And this at a time when the South Australian Government was running the infamous Vine-Pull Scheme, paying growers to remove these so unproductive vines!Venerable Shiraz vines and ancient dry grown “bush” Grenache are amongst the Barossa Valley’s richest resources. These varieties along with Mataro which is added to give a spicy complexity make up the Nine Popes cepage. The wine showing beautiful Grenache perfumes and excellent Shiraz richness and spice.Lovely deep colour. Nice bright crimson edge to the colour. Opens on nose with a delightful spicy licorice all sorts amalgam of sweet perfume and spice, although 50% new oak was used, it remains in the background as a support to the exotic aromatics. Licorice and meat stock flavours lead into a plush rounded structure, with an excellent volume of finely wrought tannins to help shepherd this wine many years into the future.Single Price: $125.00 Any Six Bottle Buy: $100.00
