2007 Warrabilla Reserve Durif

In 2007, Warrabilla's premium 'Parola's' wines were not made, instead, all of the fruit went into the Warrabilla Reserve wines. The reason was not because the Parola’s fruit was wiped out by birds or disease, but rather that winemaker, Andrew Sutherland-Smith is fastidious when it comes to protecting the integrity of the Warrabilla brand. ”If we aren’t happy with it” states Andrew, “it doesn’t get a Warrabilla label... Unfortunately in 2007, the season just didn’t produce the Parola’s styles”. The upside for winelovers is that the 2007 Reserves combine the fruit from both vineyards as well as the costly regime of new oak barrels, normally dedicated to Warrabilla’s more expensive wines. On top of this, Andrew has resisted the temptation to increase his prices in order to recover costs. The resulting Reserve releases offer the extraordinary weight and power that has had the wines described as “vinous monuments” and earned the winery a five star rating from James Halliday (being only one of two table wine makers in the North-East to receive the accolade - the other is Giaconda). For anyone who has met Andrew Sutherland Smith, Warrabilla’s success will come as no surprise. Apart from being a talented winemaker, he is a bright, energetic fellow who also has a gift of the gab - but unlike most winemakers, when it comes to waxing lyrical about his own wines, he does so with panache and brevity, leaving out the bull. “2007 was a very dry year” he reports. “Not too hot but mighty dry. These are big generous wines full of tannin. The colours are awesome, probably the low yields helped in this regard as well. All our vineyards were cropped at about the 1 tonne to the acre mark. Our barrels are predominately puncheons (450 litres) which allows the wine to age slower than the hogsheads the rest of the industry seems to standardize on. You need to be physically fit and have a bit of weight behind you to work with puncheons.. they’re just too heavy and awkward but it suits our style. All our oak is A.P. John - the Rolls Royce of Aussie cooperages. It’s what the best Barossa wineries use, which is part of the big generous style they make. Some nice cream caramel tones come from these barrels; subtle yet firm and persistent. There is no sappy hard green oak in our wines. Did I ever mention I hate hard green characters? To get down to the nitty gritty about the vintage, these are big generous and full of tannin. These are wines for the long term. Nick’s comments about them are bang on. Colours are awesome, which is after all a tannin thing as well. Probably the low yield helped in this regard as well. All our vineyards were about one ton to the acre mark. Apart from the low yield and better oak, it’s pretty well as usual for us. Warrabilla style is pretty well understood by our customers. They’d tell us mighty quick if we changed direction.”

These are big, powerful, blockbuster reds showcasing what Rutherglen does best

This wine has spent 10 months in new American and French puncheons. A total saturation of colour. Opaque black purple colour with black purple hue and paint like cling. Top note of black cherry, followed by lifted notes of vanilla, liquorice and spice. On the palate flavours of dark chocolate and vanilla are supported by powerful black cherry and black pepper flavours. Slightly chalky but balanced tannins. Very long aftertaste of liquorice, dark chocolate and black pepper. A classic Durif.
Cellar 4-5 years (2012-2013)
Alc/Vol: 16.4%

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