Over the years, Warrabilla winery has built up a following almost approaching cult status for its bold, full-flavoured Rutherglen red wines. Warrabilla Shiraz and Durif, particularly those bottled under the Parola’s label, push the limit in terms of ripeness and alcohol. The 2009 Limited Release Parola’s Durif was bottled at an amazing 18% ABV, higher in strength than many of the region’s fortified wines! Notwithstanding the high alcohols, Warrabilla’s red wines are balanced and maintain a sense of drinkability. Even for those who take their wine very seriously, there is a sense of guilty pleasure in sipping back on a glass of a Warrabilla red.
Keeping with the house style, the Warrabilla Reserve Marsanne is not a subtle wine. It is a full-flavoured wine that carries the imprint of 10 months in new French and American oak barrels. It is a wine that certainly delivers in terms of flavour and works admirably well with similarly full flavoured cuisine, in this case Chicken & 40 Garlic Cloves, a dish that can overpower many wines. One could imagine it working equally well will marinated bugs or king prawns grilled on the barbecue. Context is all important here; this is a wine that needs to be drunk alongside appropriate food.
As is the case with Warrabilla’s high octane reds, the Reserve Marsanne isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, yet those who like flavour and don’t mind a generous dose of oak (which should integrate with bottle age) might just enjoy this bold wine.
2008 RESERVE MARSANNE
Producer: Warrabilla
Variety: Marsanne
Vintage: 2008
Region: Robinvale, Victoria
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Diam
Format: 750ml
Retail price: $16.00
Date tasted: 6 May 2012
Tasting Note:
Bright golden yellow. Bold nose of yellow peaches, honeysuckle, melon and vanilla oak. Full flavoured, touch of residual sweetness, the characters on the nose follow through on the palate, the oak prominent but not overly assertive, slightly oily in texture. Best enjoyed not too cold.
Score: 15/20
Keeping with the house style, the Warrabilla Reserve Marsanne is not a subtle wine. It is a full-flavoured wine that carries the imprint of 10 months in new French and American oak barrels. It is a wine that certainly delivers in terms of flavour and works admirably well with similarly full flavoured cuisine, in this case Chicken & 40 Garlic Cloves, a dish that can overpower many wines. One could imagine it working equally well will marinated bugs or king prawns grilled on the barbecue. Context is all important here; this is a wine that needs to be drunk alongside appropriate food.
As is the case with Warrabilla’s high octane reds, the Reserve Marsanne isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, yet those who like flavour and don’t mind a generous dose of oak (which should integrate with bottle age) might just enjoy this bold wine.
2008 RESERVE MARSANNEProducer: Warrabilla
Variety: Marsanne
Vintage: 2008
Region: Robinvale, Victoria
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Diam
Format: 750ml
Retail price: $16.00
Date tasted: 6 May 2012
Tasting Note:
Bright golden yellow. Bold nose of yellow peaches, honeysuckle, melon and vanilla oak. Full flavoured, touch of residual sweetness, the characters on the nose follow through on the palate, the oak prominent but not overly assertive, slightly oily in texture. Best enjoyed not too cold.
Score: 15/20
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