Video tasting: Tim Adams Shiraz, Clare Valley 2005
Posted on February 11th, 2010
Saved in Red wine, Sour Grapes recommends, Video, €10-€15
I’ve tried most of the Adams family; the girls Semillon, Pinot Gris and Riesling and the boys, Cabernet-Shiraz, The Fergus (a GSM Rhône blend) and now for the Shiraz, available from Tesco (€14.05).
This is a super wine, smooth supple, balanced – absolutely gorgeous.
Tim Adams uses a mix of grapes he has grown himself and those bought in from other growers. What’s interesting about the back label is that he gives credit to these growers.
The back label
Our 2005 Shiraz is made from 100% Shiraz grown in the Clare Valley of South Australia, from the vineyards of the Adams, Crawley, Eldredge, Maynard, Smith, Jenner and Ardill families.
Fermentation on skins for seven days preceded pressing, with all pressings returned to the blend. the wine has been aged in American oak hogsheads for twelve months to add richness and complexity. Bottling was in October 2006.
The wine is full bodied with blackberry / mulberry / violet aromas and flavours typical of this variety grown in the Clare Valley. It will continue to improve for a decade if cellared with care. With time this wine may deposit a crust and so should be decanted accordingly.
Good one! And well put as always. The Fergus last time I tried it was an interesting wine(96). The way he used to make it was to ferment the Grenache on the skins of Cab Sav, Franc, Shiraz and then blend with small ammounts of those wines. Resulting in a Grenache with a bit of balls. Must try again. Still saving for a bottle of Aberfeldy. Tonight Tesco finest Samona Chardy and Cono Sur reserve pinot. Maybe a Peroni or two.
The Cono Sur Pinot Noir Reserve is brilliant value. At €10.35 it’s a steal. The Fergus is still going well, had it a few months back.