By John Rozentals.
Bruce Tyrrell: the Heathcote region is nestled between Bendigo, the Macedon Ranges and the Goulburn Valley, 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.
Rich in gold mining history, the Heathcote region is nestled between Bendigo, the Macedon Ranges and the Goulburn Valley, 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.
Wine production first developed in the region during the 1950s, before undergoing significant expansion during the 1980s.
The temperate climate, with hot summer days followed by cool nights, and the deep-red Cambrian soils, are ideally suited to the production of full-bodied, rich and textured red wines; full ripeness is always achieved, but the climate is not so warm as to diminish varietal character.
Consequently, Heathcote has established a reputation for high-quality table wines.
Shiraz wines of unimaginable depth of colour and extreme weight of fruit are now the hallmarks of this relatively young region.
Planting of Tyrrell’s 26 hectares of shiraz and malbec vines in Heathcote began in 1994 and finished in 1997, the year our first Heathcote wine was released.
Situated at an elevation of 160–320 metres on the eastern slope of the Mount Camel range, the vineyard is high enough to be out of the frost zone and is protected from the hot sun in the late afternoon.
WINE REVIEWS
Tyrrell 2019 Beside Broke Road Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon ($20): The grapes for our Beside Broke Road Cabernet Sauvignon were sourced from Margaret River, one of Australia’s pre-eminent regions for Cabernet. Maturation took place in older French oak barrels, helping to highlight the fruit’s vibrancy and structure. This is a full-bodied wine with classic lifted dark cherry and blackberry aromas, along with a hint of violets and olive tapenade. The palate is vibrant and fresh, showing dark fruits and herbaceous varietal notes, silky tannins and a bright natural balance.
Tyrrell 2019 Beside Broke Road King Valley Pinot Gris ($20): The grapes for our Beside Broke Road Pinot Gris were sourced from the King Valley, a cool-climate region in north-eastern Victoria. This is a classic, cool-climate-style Pinot Gris with the lovely fine-grained texture and soft acid finish that are hallmarks of the variety. The bouquet shows lifted citrus notes and hints of pear and ginger, with the palate continuing these citrus and pear flavours.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Tyrrell 2019 Beside Broke Road Heathcote Shiraz ($20): The family sourced the grapes for the Beside Broke Road Shiraz from Heathcote in central Victoria, where the dry climate, cool nights and warm days combine to create one of the best sites for growing Shiraz in Australia. A bright, fresh wine with distinctive of regional character, it has a core of dark plum, mulberry and chocolate flavours, balanced by subtle peppery spice and flinty mineral notes. The palate has the soft, rich feel of a medium-to-full-bodied shiraz.
