Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe Koerner Clare Red has been described as Bordeaux varieties made in a Loire style, alluding to its vibrant, juicy, bright fruits and soft tannins. The premise is that by mixing several Clare varieties grown on cooler sites, you can make something that exceeds the solo version of any single varietal wine. It is an intersting mix of grapes dominated by cabernet sauvignon, with cabernet franc, grenache, malbec, carignan and sciacarello. Red clay on limestone terra rossa is the soil composition structure, all fermented in open-top tanks with 50% whole berries, no whole bunch that is hand plunged twice daily for two weeks. The finished juice is aged in Slavonian foudre for 12 months and racked off to stainless steel for 4 months. A dry season and a short crop help to intensify the wine, which is somewhat richer than the norm, albeit in small production. Look for raspberries, black currants, and mint with some spice and freshness in the finish. The richest of ’20, ’21, and ’22 vertical, but still cooler than the majority of Oz reds. It could be a fine accompaniment to raw beef.Tasted: 11 October 2024Tasted by: Prices:
Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaThe Koerner brothers like to show a neoclassic view of their home, Clare Valley, and it's wines like this, The Clare, that typify their MO. This is their take on a Bordeaux blend. Half cabernet sauvignon, the remainder is cabernet franc, malbec, grenache, carignan & sciacarello from the terra rossa soils of Vivian, Parish, and Gullyview Vineyards, and vines planted in 1930 and 1998. This vintage was 50% whole berry (no whole bunch), native fermented in open top steel for two weeks on skins, and then racked into Slavonian foudre for 9 months. This was returned to steel for 3 months prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered, and with a minimum of sulphur. Sappy plum, tayberry, raspberry fill a sun-ripened palate, with crunchy green branch notes threaded throughout. Tannins are sticky, guiding this medium bodied red through the gently spiced finish. Drinking well now.Tasted: 20 May 2021Tasted by: Prices: