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Burge Family G3 GSM. 02 Must Buy Number 2?

Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 12:10 am
by JamieBahrain
Many seem to chase the pinot Holy Grail locally. Personally, good GSM blends in a local mould, with some Rhone influence, my preference. Many fail the attempt but I have found the wines from Rick Burge to be as close to the mark as most.

G3 2002. $45 a Cellar Door. 15.5%

52% Old Vine Grenache, 42% the delectable shiraz fruit from Draycott and the rest some Mourvedre from Olive Hill.

Juicy,sweet raspberry nose, meaty notes too initially. Good time in the decanter essential to bring on the true spirit of the wine. More savoury notes evolve with raspberry,licorice and spice. Some undistracting spirituous characteristics complete the nose.

Full bodied, with an unexpected supple mouthfeel and complex palate dominated by the old vine grenache spicey, raspberry flavours ( maybe the mouvedre here too ). Aswell as some Draycott blackberry/licorice intentsity.

Can't pretend there is no alchohlic warmth. It builds the finish. Carrying excellent flavour persistance with balancing fresh acid and dusty,grainy tannin.

I don't think Rick Burge has much trouble selling his stock, but I think he deserves support for those who enjoy the evolving style of Australian GSM & earth wines. On a Barossa egress, when you are wondering what you may have missed, Burge Family a well positioned last stop near Lyndoch. A bottle or two of G3 02 or Olive Hill 02, I think, will be a welcome vinious surprise in a few years time.

In youth G3 really needs some air! Do decanter as it may seem a little over the top and up front without.

A palate in evolution, but along with Jasper Hill Georgias Paddock, G3 an 02 I will lay down.