New vintage from Cigale. Made by the talented Peter Schll of Spinifex fame, the Cigale wines are some of the best value wines around. The fruit is 100 per cent Barossa from the same vineyards as the Spinifex wines, however the wines are a touch more open and forward in style.
"The blend is composed of 63% Grenache, 21% Mourvedre and 16% Shiraz. The fruit was sourced from six different Barossa Valley vineyards. Three old Grenache vineyards (30, 50 and 90 years old) situated in the North and East of the Valley. The majority of the Shiraz was sourced from a Koonunga Hill vineyard (at the northern end of the Barossa Valley) and a younger vineyard on the western extremity of the Valley. The Mourvedre component of the blend was sourced from 2 Valley floor vineyards, one 90 year old bush vine vineyard in the Koonunga Hill sub-region of the Barossa Valley, the other a younger vineyard in the extreme south of the valley. The average yield was between 1 ton and 2.5 tons per acre. Each varietal component contributes different flavours and textures which together work well. The Grenache gives the wine its perfume and aromatic spiciness, the Shiraz structure and weight and the Mourvedre earthiness and complexity. The final blend is aged 14 months in seasoned French oak and the resulting wine offers a beautiful deep garnet/ruby red colour and a bouquet of lifted fruit aromatics: dark cherry, ripe and sour plums. On the palate it is full-bodied with flavours that mirror the aromas; cherry, sour plum, mulberry and currants. Fine, lightly drying grape tannins give the wine freshness on the finish. It is excellent drinking now but will cellar 2-3 years. Another Rhone look-alike and another superb value." - Notes from Cigale.
Reviews of the 2007 vintage below;
"95 Points. This is complex and deep, gentle florals, black forest fruits and gentle spice: some peach. So slippery and sweet fruited, but then gets lovely wholemeal crusty flavours in the middle. I'm gobsmacked by the price for a wine of this quality" - Tim White, The Australian Financial Review, January 2009.
"94 Points. Winemaker-owners Pete Schell and Magali Gely hit the ground running with Spinifex and haven't looked back. Brilliantly clear red hue; an elegant and supple wine with highly expressive, spicy red fruit flavours lengthened by excellent acidity. 63/21/16% blend. From Barossa SA. Drink to 2013 with beef provencale" - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australia, November 14-15 2009.
