Yes, it’s that time again fellow wine lovers!
Just in time for the New Year, December’s Wine of the Month takes us to one of the very best experiences that the Barossa has on offer, Tscharke’s Place.
Damien and Eva Tscharke opened their incredible cellar door in September 2011 and have been going from strength to strength ever since.
The German designed building is a unique landmark in the Barossa and well worth the visit (I might even know a good way to get there!). Just make sure you ask Damien for a look at his underground cellar, you won’t be disappointed.
Tscharke’s produces a number of evolving varieties such as Montepulciano, Savagnin, Graciano, Touriga and Tempranillo as well as Barossa classics such as Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The latter group is where we take this month’s tasting from, the classic Southern Rhone blend and Barossa favourite the GSM, a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre (or Mataro). Although technically a GMS with a higher percentage of Mourvedre than Shiraz, we didn’t let the fine print get in the way of enjoying this lovely wine.
This month’s tasting was once again done with members of the elusive ‘Tool Time’ wine club, a group that has a waiting list of over 10 years!
Regular contributors Mark Calligeros, perhaps the world’s most highly sought after and expensive lawyer; respected wine figure Uby Faddoul, a man regularly confused with famous movie stars because of his brooding good looks, and Adelaide socialite and party boy Paul Bell made up this month’s tasters at one of our regular hotspots, T-Chow restaurant in the heart of China Town in the city. Guest imbiber Patrick Comerford, another ‘man about town’ in the Paul Bell mould was our special guest taster for the day.
GSM’s by nature are fantastic food wines and the Tscharke Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre certainly did not disappoint in this regard. We paired it with just about everything on the menu from entrees such as Salt and Pepper Squid and Dumplings to mains such as Green Peppercorn Chicken, Sizzling Beef, Twin Baked Pepper Pork Ribs and T-Chow Duck, my point being that this is an extremely versatile wine that goes VERY well with many different and varied foods!
Mark described it as an easy drinking GSM with lots of flavour. We both felt it had plenty of pepper on the palate and Mark also commented on the nice berry overtones as well. He felt Grenache was the hero of the blend as you would expect but all in all, a very happy union of the three varieties.
Paul said the wine was very good…
Uby said that once again Tscharke’s had produces a very well structured blend with a wonderfully fruity burst on hitting the palate that is delicately balanced.
This is a great ‘drink now’ wine that will also satisfy those that are patient enough to lay it down for a couple of years (I however, do not fit into this category!).
Ridiculously underpriced at only $22 a bottle, do yourself a favour and get your hands on some of this fantastic blend sooner rather that later. Even better, get up to the Barossa and go and say g’day to the Tscharke’s in person.
Cheers,
Scott
