Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Shiraz and 9% Merlot, the 2009 Ode to Lorraine has a deep garnet-purple color and aromas of warm cassis, mulberries and anise with touches of prunes, Ceylon tea and tobacco. Full-bodied and voluptuous in the mouth, it has a moderate level of velvety tannins and enlivening acidity, finishing with persistent savory notes.
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Wine Spectator
Dark and spicy, with a distinct black pepper edge to the ripe blueberry, pomegranate and plum fruit, coming together smoothly on the refined, balanced finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
An Old World spin from a New World source, the 2009 Ode to Lorraine dances to the tune to elegance and style. Perfect for the fine food service and a wine that I would serves who enjoy style over power. Medium garnet color; complex aromas of red fruit, dried leaves and sweet earth; medium bodied, neatly textured on the palate, elegant and stately; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; savory, ripe fruit flavors; medium finish, subtle aftertaste. Drinking famously now. (Tasted: November 2, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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.