Noble Red Carmenere 2019

The Noble Red vineyard was established in 2002 in the Heathcote region on rich and ancient Cambrian soils. In addition to the 1⁄2 acre of shiraz, planted in the 1970s, the Sobiesiak family planted 2 acres of Shiraz soon after the purchase. Today, there is 15 acres under vine. The majority of the plantings are Shiraz with small parcels of Tempranillo, Mourvèdre and Cabernet.

The vineyard has adopted a dry-grown philosophy with the use of minimal chemicals producing fruit that is low yield and concentrated. The first few years were a struggle due to the drought as there was no irrigation on the land but the last few years or so, have seen healthy vine and fruit growth.

"I do like a Carménère. Always happy to taste one, though admittedly, it’s something you might call ‘an enthusiast’s wine’. This vintage almost comes across like a Xinomavro, in many respects, but thicker. Straight off, I like this. Ripe red fruit, blackcurrant, sun-dried tomato and roast red capsicum, dried roses, even. It’s a savoury little antipasto of a wine, black olive and herbs in there too, but lively and pretty fresh, with plenty of ripe fruit and fine silty tannin. It finishes well, again more unorthodox, yet delicious flavours in the aftertaste." 93pts - Gary Walsh - WineFront