MyattsField Touriga 2010

[Waiters Friend]

MyattsField is an innovative small producer in the Perth Hills. In additional to their (substantial) range of wines, they also make quite a few 'one-offs' that get released to their 'Left Field' club initially. This is one of them.

Touriga (Nacionale) is a variety most often associated with Portuguese port. As a table wine, however, it is also an interesting proposition. This has a similarity to some Petit Verdot and Mourvedre produced in the Perth Hills, in that there is a floral lift to the nose, possibly violets and roses. There's also a heavy component of dark fruits, like blueberries and blackberries.

The palate is also fruit-forward, with a flood of fruits coating the palate. There's supporting acid and fine but drying tannins, leading to a medium/long finish.

This will develop in the short to medium term, but is interesting drinking now, especially if you want something outside the mainstream.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

My last bottle of this tonight, and I am surprised I left it this long (nearly 5 year since the last one). It's still very drinkable - licorice, violets, and lots of developed blueberries and similar fruits on the nose. The licorice theme follows through to the palate, which has aniseed, and still grippy tannins.

The finish has shortened somewhat, and I doubt it will improve, but - do any of you have this in the cellar? I didn't think so.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Hi Allan,

I don't think I've got any Australian Touriga in my cellar let alone a MyattsField. Aside from a few ports, the only Australian wine with Touriga that I've had was Sevenhill's STG (Shiraz-Touriga-Grenache) that I tasted at cellar door. It was an inexpensive wine made to be consumed in the near term but the Touriga gave it a certain depth and intensity that I very much liked, setting it apart from the typical Shiraz-Grenache profile. It was one of the wines we bought to drink as we did our drive around.

I quite agree with your view of there being a resemblance to Petit Verdot and Mourvedre. Now those I have in my cellar, one from Pirramimma in the McLaren and the other from Jenke in the Barossa.

Cheers ........................... Mahmoud.

[paulf]

Hi Allan,

I don't think I've got any Australian Touriga in my cellar let alone a MyattsField. Aside from a few ports, the only Australian wine with Touriga that I've had was Sevenhill's STG (Shiraz-Touriga-Grenache) that I tasted at cellar door. It was an inexpensive wine made to be consumed in the near term but the Touriga gave it a certain depth and intensity that I very much liked, setting it apart from the typical Shiraz-Grenache profile. It was one of the wines we bought to drink as we did our drive around.

I quite agree with your view of there being a resemblance to Petit Verdot and Mourvedre. Now those I have in my cellar, one from Pirramimma in the McLaren and the other from Jenke in the Barossa.

Cheers ........................... Mahmoud.

There's quite a bit around now and it is coming from quite a few different regions. I've recently had straight Touriga from Langhorne creek (Vinteloper) and the Hunter valley (De Iuliis) and there is a bunch of others around. There's also a range of different blends about S.C Pannell makes a couple of different blends that are pretty drinkable. Even Yarra Yerring has a very Portuguese looking blend these days in the Dry Red #3

[Mahmoud Ali]

I was impressed with De Iuliis wines when I visited many years ago. I'm not surprised they would do a good job with a Hunter Valley Touriga. I must keep an eye out for it the next time I visit Australia.