By John Rozentals.
A couple of fine Clare Valley winemakers … Tim Adams and his assistant, Brett Schutz.
Clare Valley winemakers Tim Adams and Brett Schutz — and indeed the whole Tim Adams Wines team — are more excited than usual about the release of a new vintage.
They are particularly excited about their 2015 The Fergus for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the blend of Grenache, tempranillo and malbec has produced a medium-bodied luscious wine with good flavour, structure and excellent acid, providing immediate food compatibility and potential for longevity.
Secondly, the company has refreshed its label design to evolve with the times whilst continuing to reflect the core values of quality, authenticity, regionality, reliability and family.
“Finally, we are thrilled to acknowledge and promote Variety, the children’s charity, on the back label,” said Tim.
“Part proceeds of all Tim Adams wines go to Variety, who support children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.
“To be able to raise awareness and assist such an important charity through joint promotion is extremely satisfying and something we have worked together on for some time.
“Tim Adams Wines have been dedicated wine sponsors of Variety since 2001, raising much needed funds through their event participation, event sponsorship and general involvement.”
WINE REVIEWS
Shaw Vineyard Estate 2015 Vineyard Estate Shiraz ($34): Wow, what a dry red from the rapidly emerging Canberra district this is. Winemaker Graeme Shaw finds it difficult to pick a favourite between this and the Vineyard Estate Cabernet, which I reviewed in my previous column but I’ll always lean shiraz-wards because of the rich, soft flavours.
Gartelmann 2018 Benjamin Hunter Valley Semillon ($27): Dry, light semillon, with potential for graceful aging is a Hunter specialty and it shows here. Like the best of the breed it has had very little oak maturation and relies principally on fruit. It’s fresh, it’s crisp, it’s flavoursome and I like it a great deal. Enough said. Just bring on the oysters, and you can forget about the lemon. There’s enough citrus in the wine.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Tim Adams 2015 The Fergus ($25): This blended dry red may have started as a wine of necessity back in the disastrous Clare Valley vintage of 1993 when a kind neighbor, Fergus Mahon, was good enough to sell Tim his grenache to make up for a shortfall of shiraz, but it has developed into an integral cog in the Adams stable. The blend has changed over the years but its honesty of flavour has earned it a valued place in my list of favourites.
