Tarrington Vineyards Wine Dinner Tasting Notes

Tarrington Chardonnay 2004

A limpid wine that shows a youthful demeanour in the form of a bright white-green robe. The bell clear bouquet is redolent of restrained old world apples and pears with a little quince and an elusive nuance of nectarine. On the background, yeasty notes manifest, a direct consequence of explicit lees retention that aims to bring an additional European style of complexity and allure to the multitude of white autumn fruits suggested.

On the palate, natural acids provide all the nerve required to draw the component parts together that augers so well for a wine that will readily see ten years in a stable cellar environment. Handsomely defined mineral traits express the origins of a complex gravely soil profile with wet stone and slate to the fore. The wine is true to its style and terroir and will show graceful, yet seductive honey and almond notes in years to come whilst retaining all of its intuitive ability to quicken the appetite, a capacity derived from an intrinsic balance and restraint.

De Ireys Chardonnay 2004

Comprised entirely of free run juice, from the oldest Chardonnay vines, the wine is marked by a purity of line that emphasises the essence of the vineyard. Classic white flower notes with taut and restrained citrus, the wine shows a wave of intense minerality that extends well through to the aftertaste. Or in the words of Campbell Mattinson: "...Some wines are about fruit, some wines are about structure, and then some wines are just themselves. I suspect that this wine falls into the latter category. There's a lot of acid here, quite a deal of bitterness, a gentle edge of toast and a handsome croon of minerals and nectarine. It’sa fantastic wine, just superb. Drink 2008-2014. 95 points."

Right: Albrecht Dürer, Melancholia (1514) chosen to adorn winemaker Tamara Irish's personal label, De Ireys

Artemisia by Tarrington Pinot Noir 2004

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-~1652) was the pre-eminent Caravaggista of that splendid artistic period so well known to us as the baroque. As one would expect, her works were fleshy, opulent and forthright. Full of the passion of the era and indeed, striking reflections of the times. A world bold and robust, characterized by lashings of verdant colour, voluptuous energy and seductive shadow.

So what better name for a wine. One that is plump and rich and able to be readily appreciated across the cuisines and at an early age. An accessible introduction to the work and philosophy of Tarrington. The fruit was locally derived, carefully grown and hand harvested by fellow Vigneronne Jennifer Lacey, commissioned by Tamara and Dianne, with each and every one a passionate wine woman indeed.

The appearance of the wine is a full and deeply coloured vermilion that eagerly caresses the glass. On the nose; spicy nutmeg mingles familiarly with keen fruit characters reminiscent of small red berries, in particular raspberry and red currant, with just a gesture of white violet and deciduous forest. The theme continues on the palate with accessible, succulent fruit neatly packaged within its smoky spicy envelope of French oak. The finish is clean and fresh.

A wine for Autumn and Lovers .......... of all things fine

Tarrington Pinot Noir 2004

The vibrant hue indicates a wine of passionate and youthful energy. On the nose, bright and clean primary fruit characters of complex red and black small fruits; accompanied by hints of violet are encouraged by carefully chosen French oak that is sourced from a range of fine coopers across the most classical of forests, with a panorama of toasting profiles that infuse an exotic spice quality to the wine.

In the mouth, assiduous attention to detail throughout all phases of the wines elevage (a French term used to describe the upbringing or rearing of a wine) offers rounded, plump fruits generously balanced with a suggestion of secondary clean earth characters that is sure to prosper for the course of the wine's life. A long and persistent finish, a characteristic of Tarrington, concludes what promises to be a wine that will grow to a confident maturity in some six years.

Tarrington Pinot Noir 2002

Flavours of a sensual earth, reflections indeed of the overt features of the gravely red soils provide the fundamental contact that expresses in the form of the resultant wines. The bouquet reveals fleshy prune, black currant, and maraschino cherry of intense character and absolute ripeness. Floral notes manifest in the form of black violet and rose petal, with the occasional hint of marzipan almond, fresh walnut and latent game. The palate reveals an elegant yet intensely concentrated wine with a lively drive of foresty nuance, that is now, with further bottle maturity developing to rare wild mushroom notes.

The wine speaks articulately and fluently of her origins with the clear thumb print of terroir confirming its place in the complexion of the wine, as minerally notes mingle with opulent and silky small fruits. Firm, natural acid ensures restrain evident in the fruit sweetness, creating a wine of classical style, structure and balance.

De Ireys Syrah 2004

Exceptional! small berries from low yielding Syrah vines grown by James and Jo Earl of Cavendish has produced a wine that is designed for the long term. Initially aged in mature French oak, the wine was transferred to new French oak from Tonnellerie Francois Frere on the basis that the powerful fruit architecture called for the strength of character afforded by new oak. The wine is perfectly clean, made in a classical non-interventionist style and shows black cherry, undergrowth, mulch and brambleberry notes. Wood derived toastiness is well integrated and extends a rich and opulent perfume. Some whole bunch addition to the ferment provides a note of ripe stemminess that balances the succulent fruit profile. The wine will readily cellar for a further 10 years.

In Conclusion ......,

All wines are unfiltered with the Chardonnay alone in receipt of the lightest of bentonite clay addition to ensure protein stability. Partial native yeast fermentation and natural malo-lactic ferments clearly reflect the magical looking glass that is the Tarrington terroir. Minimal sulphur is used and is all that is necessary given that all fruit vinified is presented immaculately to the winery.

Neither any animal product or GMOs are used, an obvious philosophical decision to guarantee the most natural of expressions of the biology of the terroir of origin. Careful thought and observation, in concert with a generous earth permitted to fully receive her celestial influences assists to shape the consciousness of the wines, finally expressed through the fastidious gestures of Vigneronnes Tamara Irish and Dianne Nagorcka.

 

<<Back