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Wine from Thorn Clarke - Terra Barossa
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The Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Estate
The winery owners are David and Cheryl Clarke (born Thorn) and their son Sam is the manager of the winery. The Thorn-Clarke family has a long history in the Barossa - six generations of involvement in the region's world famous wine industry. The Thorns have been grape growers in the Barossa since the 1870's. David Clarke's passion for the wine industry lead to the planting of the Kabininge vineyard outside of Tanunda in 1987, which represents the start of a deeper involvement by the family in the Barossa wine industry.
The Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Vineyards
Terra Barossa pays tribute to the rich, fertile soils of the region which contribute to wines of such great character. The free draining soil structure combined with the continental climate of warm days and cool nights enables them to produce elegant wines with good varietal character.
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Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
The range is named is named in honor of the rich soils in the region which are a major factor in the Barossa’s reputation as one of the great wine regions of the world.
The wine shows a bright red with a purple hue on release. Lifted blackcurrant balances the fresh herb characters on the nose. A hint of eucalyptus is evident. The palate has bright currant characters throughout. Spice and chocolate add to the complexity of the wine. The tannins are ripe and grainy and give the wine good structure.
Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz is made from 100 percent Shiraz
Comments
Deep purple red. Aromas of ripe plums, cherries and earth with subtle notes of vanilla and cloves. The aromas follow through onto the palate with a fruit focus, subtle oak notes and soft, rounded tannins. The wine walks the line between medium and full bodied with a plush mouthfeel.
Vinification Notes
The grapes are crushed and de-stemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter and the ferments are pumped over twice daily to maximise colour, tannin and flavour extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferment temperatures remain in the 22-25 degree celcius range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately seven days after crushing and the wine is then put into predominately American oak to mature.
Review:
"This is a gently spicy shiraz with aromas of red berries and plums, gentle spice and a little perfume and spiced pastry, too. The palate has a supple and fleshy feel with bright and ripe red to dark-berry flavors. Soft, plump tannins. Drink now. Screw cap."
-James Suckling 91 Points
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Vintners Dennis O’Neil and Steph Martin began development of Checkerboard Vineyards in 1999 and retained winemaker Martha McClellan to create a portfolio of wines reflecting the mountainside. The estate includes four vineyard sites of different elevation, exposure and soil composition, providing the foundation for a portfolio that includes Checkerboard Aurora Vineyard, Checkerboard Coyote Ridge Vineyard, Checkerboard Nash Creek Vineyard, Checkerboard Kings Row, Checkerboard Sauvignon Blanc, and Checkerboard Rose. Grapes are harvested at dawn in micro-lots and delivered steps away to the winery where clusters are sorted, discarding any blemished ones. Individual berries are hand-selected for vinification and transferred for fermentation, by hand, to Taransaud wooden tanks, stainless tanks, and individual wooden barrels.
Farming is based on long-term sustainability and includes water conservation and monitoring, permanent cover crops planted in alternating rows, and the use of entomology for pest control and the development of soils with good organic matter and microbiology. Checkerboard Vineyards is a member of Fish Friendly Farming which promotes environmentally-friendly land practices and water quality management. Aurora Vineyard is located in a small valley midway up Diamond Mountain and on a large knoll at an elevation of 1,200 feet. The knoll bulges outward, giving the vineyard full Southern exposure and open light from the East and West and protection from Napa Valley’s summer fog. Six acres are planted in the knoll’s rich, volcanic soils that are riddled with basalt cobble in a loamy red clay. The remaining six acres are planted in a deep gravely mix of volcanic ash and chips of decomposed Rhyolite that were washed down from the steep, rocky crags of Diamond Mountain above.
There's a fresh, sweet aroma to the 2016 Checkerboard Aurora Vineyard that builds excitement and anticipation for what's to come. On approach, the palate is juicy and expansive and explodes with flavors of blackberry, mulberry, dark cherry, caramel, leaf tobacco and green olive. The wine continues with a voluptuousness that's linear and constant yet lifted by natural acidity. The finish is showy, long and lingering with finely polished tannins. An exceptional vintage.
Ti Cuntu… means “I will tell you a story…” in Sicilian dialect and it refers to the ability of the wines made from these native grapes to tell the story of their terroir and of their history. The label shows the dry stone walls and the wild myrtle which characterize their territory.
Frappato is a rare native grape of Vittoria and is almost exclusively grown in Eastern Sicily. The vineyards lie on the sides of Mont Iblei at 300 meters above sea level on a south-west exposure. The relatively infertile terrain encourages the concentrated structure with a light color and beautiful aromatics. Irrigation is generally avoided. There are 4,000 plants per hectare. Agriculture is sustainable and no herbicides or pesticides are used and wild herbs fill the vineyard rows.
Color: Light cherry red with garnet reflections.
Bouquet: A ripe strawberry, black cherry, roses and violets fill the bouquet along with notes of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Taste: Fresh and berry-filled with an intriguing root beer note. The tannins are refined and the acidity lively. The finish is notable and long.
Excellent with cold meats and salamis, seafood and light pasta dishes.
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