2002 Burge Family G3 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre

This is a very concentrated Rhone blend released to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Burge Family wines and three generations of Burge winemakers - PERCIVAL BURGE, NOEL BURGE AND RICK BURGE. The outstanding 2002 vintage fired Rick Burge’s imagination; “Using the 2002 Reds currently in barrel” he pondered, “what is the best red I could bottle - a luxury blend with no restrictions.” After several blending sessions the end result was declared “ an absolute pearl.” The G3 is composed of 52% Grenache which is grown on the 1925 Garnacha Block, 42% Shiraz from the Draycott Block and 6% Mouvedre from the Olive Hill Block. This wine is more substantial than the Olive Hill Block Blend with an extra 0.5% alcohol to boot!

“Totally explosive, mouthfilling palate...”

TASTING NOTES: Totally black crimson colour with black hue and excellent cling to the glass with almost paint like viscosity. The nose is a delightful sniffing experience with lifted notes of violets, liquorice and raspberry having an almost perfumed lift. Totally explosive, mouthfilling palate – layers of blackberry, raspberry and plum fill the mouth. Perfectly balanced with very long aftertaste of raspberry, spice, liquorice and blackberry.
Cellar 4-5 years (2008-2009)
Alc/Vol: 15.5%

RATING: 97/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5

Robert Parker's Review
The awesome 2002 G3 (52% Grenache from 80-year-old vines, 42% Shiraz from 40-year-old vines, and 6% Mourvedre from 10-year-old vines) is a world-class offering that hits every sweet spot on the palate as well as anybody’s G spot. Dense purple to the rim with a remarkably complex nose of black fruits, lavender, acacia flowers, vanilla, and sweet red as well as black fruits, this gorgeous blend sees no new oak, being aged completely in neutral French barrels for approximately one year prior to bottling. Elegant, concentrated, and powerful, it builds incrementally in the mouth offering multiple dimensions in addition to fabulous length. Already approachable, it should continue to evolve for a decade.
(Notes sourced from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #155)
ROBERT PARKER'S RATING: 96 points