Read what wine critics are saying about Terroirs of the Granite Belt small batch aged wines, carefully cellared.
HUON HOOKE
THE REAL REVIEW
2010 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Chardonnay
“Deep golden colour, looking like a much older wine, and smelling like it, too: toast, crème brulé/toffee, butterscotch—very appealing despite its premature development. It’s soft, pillowy and open-knit on the palate. It’s fully ready so drink up soon.”
Score: 89/100
Link to the review.
STUART KNOX
2008 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Shiraz
THE REAL REVIEW
“Cherry red core into a brick-red rim. Plum, vegetable stock and nori aromatics. Medium to full in weight, nori, soy and vegetable stock characters with dried fruit underneath show its age but the tannins still offer drive and purpose. Will work best with food to make the savoury umami characters sing.”
Score: 89/100 (Bronze)
Link to the review.
KEN GARGETT
2010 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Chardonnay
WINE PILOT
“From one of the more respected small wineries on Queensland’s Granite Belt, these aged wines were crafted by Peter Scudamore Smith MW. It is not often one gets the chance to pick up a wine of this age, especially a white, direct from the winery and at such a reasonable price. The fruit is 80% from Cottonvale and 20% from Ballandean. The style is a little old fashioned and it is a valid argument that perhaps releasing the wine a few years earlier might have been wise, but many will find it fascinating. A deep pineapple gold colour, this is ripe and rich, with nutty and honeyed notes. Cashews and caramel, opulence rather than elegance. Supple, mature and of mid length, this is certainly a drink now proposition.”
Score: 92/100 (Bronze)
Link to the review.
2008 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Shiraz
“From the Ballandean sub-region of Queensland’s Granite Belt, there would be very few wines of this age available from the winery. Very much the mature red, in colour as well as style, this offers rich, meaty aromas, chocolate, truffles, smoked delicatessen meats and warm earth. Moderate length, soft tannins and a gentle texture. For drinking now.”
Score: 91/100 (Bronze)
Link to the review.
WINSOR DOBBIN
2010 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Chardonnay and 2008 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Shiraz
GOURMET ON THE ROAD
Take a trip back in time. If you are a wine lover who likes to occasionally take the vinous road less travelled then Master of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith has something to tickle your interest.
Scudamore-Smith has released two aged wines under the Terroirs of the Granite Belt label—a pair of small-batch releases from the Settlers Rise vineyard that show how Queensland wines can develop.
So meet the 2010 Aged Chardonnay and the 2008 Aged Shiraz—a pair of wines that might be confronting for wine drinkers used to bright and fruity current releases.
“It has been said that ‘great wine needs time’ and we would agree,” says Scudamore-Smith.
“Many age worthy wines are released too young and well before they have reached optimum maturity. Our approach at Settlers Rise is to give our wines the time they need to age in the bottle before release.
“For this reason, the current release of the ‘Terroirs of the Granite Belt’ by Settlers Rise includes a 2010 Aged Chardonnay and a 2008 Aged Shiraz. Both wines have been deliberately aged and cellared since their production, in order to release them at the start of their optimum drinking window.”
The chardonnay was sourced from 20-year-old high-altitude vines at Cottonvale and Ballandean and was whole-bunch pressed, wild yeast fermented in 40% new French oak and aged in bottle at 15 degrees Centigrade.
This is spicy and earthy with secondary characters in command. Certainly not a wine for everyone, but fascinating.
The 2008 Aged Shiraz is heading into porty, raisiny territory and is one for those who like their reds in this zone.
It is 100% shiraz from 40-year-old dry-grown vines on granite soils at Ballandean. It spent 18 months in 100% new French oak. Intense and assertive with preserved fruit and dark cherry elements on the palate.
A fascinating exercise that will doubtless meet with mixed reactions. Both wines retail for $59 and will certainly find a spot on restaurant wine lists. Both wines are, thankfully, bottled under screw caps.”
Link to the review.
STEVE LESZCZYNSKI
2010 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Chardonnay
QWine Reviews
“Partnering the aged release Shiraz 2008 from Terroirs of the Granite Belt is this Chardonnay 2010. Like its stablemate, this shows some mighty fine form yet doesn’t burn a hole in your back pocket for a 14-year-old wine.
Sourced from Cottonvale (one of the highest points of the Granite Belt region at 920m) and from Ballandean (80/20) the fruit was whole bunch pressed and saw 40% new French oak before 12 years in temperature-controlled storage at 15 degrees.
A wine of layered interest, it opens with creme brulee, praline and the caramel and creaminess from caramel drops. A fine roasted cashew nuttiness and a delicate spice tickle from some ginger nut biscuits step forward with time in the glass. It’s long and snugglable (if that’s a word). Candied lemon and preserved lemons are a constant feature with fine ribbon of lemon juice keeping the tempo. It’s in great form for a Chardonnay of this age, that must be said, with the acid still showing signs of life. Sip slow and embrace the detail.
Drink the next five years.”
Score: 92/100
Link to the review.
2008 Terroirs of the Granite Belt Shiraz
“It’s not every day a 16-year-old sample from the Granite Belt arrives on the doorstep. Given its age and the time it spent in temperature-controlled storage, the $59 RRP seems quite inexpensive. Above all, it’s a wine that is a very good example to learn and understand what aged wine can deliver without burning a hole in your pocket.
“Sourced from a vineyard in Ballandean perched 820 metres above, the vines at the time were 40 years of age. 40% whole bunches were used and the finished wine saw 100% new French oak for 18 months then it was aged in bottle for 13 years at 15 degrees. 150 dozen were produced.
“Think rum and raisin and dense stewed plums, it’s very much in a savoury groove with dried thyme, marjoram, fine spices, tar and some leather. A soft rub of white pepper saunters about without wanting to steal the limelight with cloves and cardamom nipping at the heels. Some time in the glass sees tilled earth rise up. Curiously, the granite minerality that is always a feature in such wines from the district (particularly this unofficial sub-region) doesn’t show. Super fine tannins cap off a very good expression of Granite Belt Shiraz.
“A wine at its peak now, I suggest you rip into this in the next three years to pounce on its best form.
“Drink to five years.”
Score: 92/100
Link to the review.
