Kurtz Family Vineyards Boundary Row Grenache 2001
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Most previous vintages of this wine have seen brighter colorwith sweeter candy toned fruit. Here the aromatics are more brooding anddeeper with black berry fruit and reductive cola notes, interspersedwith Asian spice tones and lifted perfume notes. The color does not inthe slightest bit resemble the Grenache of yesteryear - instead it looksmore like shiraz with its purple and blood red hue. The palate is densewith rich and creamy dark fruits - only the absence of lifted tanninssuggest something other than shiraz. The sheer succulence and supplenessof this wine along with the cola notes are indicative of Grenache - butin a more reductive style.
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- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Alfred Bernhard (Ben) Kurtz commenced growing grapes in the sub region of Light Pass in the Barossa Valley in the 1930's and this block is still worked to this day. His son, Bernhard Otto Kurtz, commenced grapegrowing in 1957 at his Light Pass vineyard and his grandson, John Bernhard Kurtz, moved to the existing vineyards in the early 1960's.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
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.