Charles Melton Nine Popes GSM 2018 (Barossa Valley)

Charles Melton Nine Popes 2018 vintage has a little toasty flint opening. Quietly sweet, not exuberant but with a real density of aromatic. A hint of anise or liquorice. A generous, but fine, sweetly structured and flavour attack into the mouth. The sweet fruit floods across your tongue but is interlaced with herbs and spices. Let it sit on your tongue for a moment while you differentiate the flavour components and then think about where you would find these flavours, a salty sea breeze with a view, or perhaps a long lunch looking into the village square with the smells of the local market.

"50/48/2% grenache/ shiraz/mataro; 98% estate-grown fruit from Rowland Flat and Krondorf vineyards, 2% Matchoss Vineyard, Eden Valley. All up, 70% 1927-planted bush vines. Matured 30 months in (25% new) 70/30% French/American oak barriques. Charlie Melton's flagship is a complex and characterful take on the classic Barossa blend. The lively, spicy, fragrant mood of grenache leads out, with strong backing from the black-fruit depth and savoury spice of shiraz. Concentrated sweet-and-sour berry fruits meet a veritable spice cart of personality. Dark chocolate oak and plush, finely crafted tannins bring up a long and linear finish."
94 Points - Tyson Stelzer, 13th August 2021, Halliday's Wine Companion