TN Kabminye Wines

[n4sir]

The first time I experienced this label was last year during the Barossa Festival. After leaving we decided to take in a few cellar doors, and this was the next one up from Charles Melton. I've consumed a few of their wines in the last 12 months, but this was the first time I'd tasted their full line-up since.

The grapes are sourced from various very old pre-vinepull Barossa vineyards where (increasingly) the growers have lost their contracts with the major players. The wines are made off-site with Colin Glaezter (at Glaetzer), Paul Lindner (at Langmeil) and Christa Deans (at Veritas).

2003 Three Posts Eden Valley Riesling Very-pale straw colour. The nose is restrained and delicate, mineral water washed with lime, and a touch of green-apple and hessian. The palate is very mouthfilling and soft, with stunning length.

2002 Schliebs Block Mataro Carignan Cinsaut Black Frontignac Deep, clear purple colour. The nose is a rich, perfumed but savoury mix of raspberry, spice, smoky meats and dark chocolate, with a hint of white pepper. The palate carries the same complexity in a medium structure, and the length again is stunning with micro-fine tannins. Fantastic with Chinese food.

2001 Irma Adeline Shiraz Mataro Grenache Marsanne/Rousanne/Ugni-Blanc Deep inky red. The nose is even more fragrant and flamboyant than the Schliebs Block, initially with some citrus and apricot notes, but mainly chocolate and marzipan. The palate at entry is richer than the Schliebs Block, slightly porty, but doesn't have the same length. Still a great food wine for rich creamy pastas, maybe even Osso Buco.

2001 Barossa Shiraz Deep red-black. Matured 14 months in new American oak, and unlike last year the coconut-coffee oak characters were obvious on opening. After a while the fruit takes over, with sweet violets, raspberries and blackberries dusted with icing sugar. That palate is rich and soft, again with that hint of dark chocolate.

2001 Hubert Shiraz Deep black-red. The 18 months in toasted French oak was very obvious in this wine. Rich blackberry characters with hints of black olive, menthol and tar/toasty oak. A very different style to the previous shiraz; more savoury and less sweet, but with more weight under the surface.

Cheers,
Ian

[michel]

[quote="n4sir"]

[b]2002 Schliebs Block Mataro Carignan Cinsaut Black Frontignac


/quote]

This wine was written up in the Saturday colour magazine in the Australian a few months ago and sounds wacky and interesting.
Where are they on Krondorf road from Charles Melton?
thanks
michel

[n4sir]

Hi Michel

They are the next cellar door up on the same side of the road. It's a large two storey building designed by owner Rick Glastonbury, which also happens to house the Krondorf Cafe and an art gallery.

Their new 2002 releases are about three weeks away.

Cheers
Ian