Nepenthe The Fugue 2002
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Robert
Parker
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The main characters present are violets, red berries and earthy notes. The fruit is the dominant feature, with hints—the way it should be—of tar and coffee from the predominantly French oak in which the wines spent their adolescence. The palate is youthful and firm, with even tannins that start early and persist right through the lingering savoury finish. This evenness is something that we actively pursue, and which we associate with genuinely ripe cool-climate fruit.
We confidently predict that the wine will grow in complexity for five years or so—and hopefully then hold its line for a decade.
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- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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2001-
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Up here in the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills, Nepenthe produces some soul reposing potions of their own: uncompromising wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Wines that, strangely enough, have been impressing both critics and consumers with their varietal faithfulness and subtle Adelaide Hills nuances. But wines this good undertake a journey as arduous and epic as Homer's famous hero - a journey that Nepenthe, like the gods, determine with immutable fascination.
Nepenthe's commitment to consistently high quality wine starts with the land. In fact, they're so dedicated to quality that they formed two specialized companies to deal with the demands of their high altitude vines - Nepenthe Viticulture and Nepenthe Irrigation.
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.