Burge Family Clochemerle GSM 2005
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Spectator
Wine
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Vintaged from Shiraz grown on the Draycott block, together with Grenache and Mourvedre from the Olive Hill block and matured in seasoned French and American oak barrels.
A flavorsome, medium-bodied red showing good depth of fruit and palate complexity, giving rise to a supple, entertaining style of red capable of short term cellaring.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Velvety in texture, this is generous with its plum and blackberry flavors, shaded with toasty, creamy notes, finishing expressively. Has fine tannins that don't get in the way. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2015.
Other Vintages
2004-
Parker
Robert
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Parker
Robert
"Rick Burge, whom I visited on my trip to Barossa last year, manages to keep prices in check for his sumptuous wines, which offer extraordinarily pure fruit, and the warmth and intensity of the Barossa. Readers should not confuse these wines with those from Barossa’s Grant Burge. The latter offerings are competent but commercial, simple efforts."
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.