Bleasdale Frank Potts 2005
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Bleasdale, which has 50 hectares under production, produces around 100,000 cases in total. The principal varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec and the white varietal Verdelho. All the red wines produce the distinctive style of upfront fruit with a soft textural feel to them.
They also produce in limited quantities a red blend that is named Frank Potts after the founder and uses all five Bordeaux varietals. It is the winery's flagship wine and for the money represents one of the better values in all of Australia. It is definitely a statement wine and illustrates the high quality of fruit that comes out of the Langhorne Creek area.
Although Bleasdale is firmly connected to its past, it is nonetheless forward-looking with its eye on the 21st century. A new cellar is just now being completed with state-of-the-art technology, alongside a new hospitality area. The old part of the winery is on the National Trust and National Heritage register.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A large, climatically diverse country with incredibly diverse terrain, producing just about every wine style imaginable, Australia has a grand winemaking history and some of the oldest vines on the planet. Both red wine and white wine from Australian are wildly popular and beloved. Most of Australia's wine regions are concentrated in the south of the country with those inland experiencing warm, dry conditions and those in coastal areas receiving tropical, maritime or Mediterranean weather patterns. Australia has for several decades been at the forefront of winemaking technology and has widely adopted the use of screwcaps, even for some premium and ultra-premium bottles. Thanks to the country’s relatively agreeable climate throughout and the openness of its people, experimentation is common and ongoing.
Shiraz is indeed Australia’s most celebrated and widely planted variety; Barossa Valley leads the way, producing exceptionally bold and supple versions. Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia's second most planted variety, can be blended with Shiraz but also shines on its own particularly in Coonawarra and Margaret River. Grenache and Mourvèdre are also popular, both on their own and alongside Shiraz in Rhône Blends. Chardonnay is common throughout the country and made in a wide range of styles. Sauvignon Blanc has recently surged in popularity to compete with New Zealand’s distinctive version and Semillon is often blended in Margaret River or shines on its own in the Hunter Valley. Riesling thrives in the cool-climate Clare and Eden Valleys. Sticky-sweet fortified wine Rutherglen is a beloved regional specialty of Victoria.