Nose
Heady aromas of cherries laced with red berries and a touch of fresh sage jumping from the glass.
Palate
Leads to a full and rich palate that has those fine tannins in abundance, but great balancing fruit and length. It’s savoury with nut kernel and clove detail, but the lift of acidity freshens and lengthens the wine. Composed, nothing frilly here, though the drinkability speaks with an easy flow underneath the structural, rugged, rustic feel that frames the palate.
Growing Conditions
The growing season in 2011 provided a season which brought the grapes through to ripeness with a warm patch in January and February, followed by a cooling period that ensured the grapes were picked later in the vintage. By extending the season many red wines in Margaret River have generated an extra fine dimension as the tannins became wholly developed and smooth, matching in with fruit flavours that were fully ripe. 2011 will be considered a rich and ripe vintage for red wines in the region and may produce many long lasting and significant wines.
Winemaking
Dave Johnson and his team of workers made an exemplary wine from our second vintage of Teroldego grapes. Minimum handling and winemaker influence is always the order of the day when making a Blue Poles wine and the Teroldego received just such attention. The grapes were fermented in open top fermenters and plunged up to 4-5 times a day to enhance colour extraction and ensuring the wine was saturated with flavour, with ferment completed after 15 days. Stored in new and 1-2 year old French oak barrels for 16 months, with a variety of coopers used to create the complexity we desire, this wine has gained precision and pedigree with the passage of time.
Appearance
The colour is remarkable, almost an obsidian like density
Food Pairing
The richness of osso bucco, and the simple but delightful lasagne. For the more creative have a go at Spanish rabbit and chick pea stew – we can send the recipe J and the food match is just devine.
