Wine Code Breaker #338

Cote-Rotie is a sub-region in the northern area of Cote du Rhone.  This region thrives on a continental climate that is famous for its blend of Shiraz, a red grape, and Viognier, a white grape.  A cool climate region that experiences cool to cold wet winters, the best vineyards are located on steep sloping sites.  Murrumbateman is a sub-region within the Canberra district that experiences cold winters that are intermittently wet.  It is about 150km from the coast so marginally continental, with slopes abutting the Southern Tablelands that are renowned for sheep production.  The Shiraz Viognier is taking hold in this region with some fine examples for us to share.

The 2018 Ravensworth is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier from the Murrumbateman sub-region of the Canberra district.  The colour is an amazingly bright crimson that draws you in.  The nose is all about spices, peppers, blackberries, apricots and hints of nuts and nougat.  The palate is all about the coolness and elegance of the red fruits, raspberry being the highlight, and cherries.  The spices are lifted and the tannins are velvety.  The flavours are akin to waves, perhaps of the sloping land in which it was crafted. The persistence is glorious and the structure delightful. Grab some while you can.