Barossa Valley, SA
RRP$22
Trincadeira is a Portuguese grape variety, also called Tinta Amarela, most commonly used in Oporto. Apparently is is quite a tricky variety to manage in the vineyard, and is on the decline in its homeland. I expect it was brought out to Australia early on in our winemaking history, back when everyone was making fortified styles. This comes from a vineyard planted in the 1960s, just as the transition from fortified wines to table wines began. I personally adore grapes from warmer European regions and seeing how they work in Australia. They are heat resistant, drought tolerant...makes so much sense.
This is super cool. The colour is dark garnet/maroon, with a sanguine edge. A powerful nose of dried fig, charcuterie, sage, cardamom, lanolin and rope. It all melds together quite well, and you can instantly tell that this is a different grape from the Aussie standards. It seems more rustic, if I had to put a word to it. The palate is wonderfully complex too, and bursts with flavour. I got intense fruit punchiness of blood plum and sour cherries with bramble and there was tobacco, leather, cardamom again and dried Provencal herbs too. Would I drink it again? In a heartbeat. Great bang for buck too.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Have it with? Good, juicy red meat comes to mind. Chickpea stew as well. Drool.
Classic, weird or funky? Decidedly classic.
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