Jeremy Oliver 95 points!
Mountain Blue is the jewel in the crown of Rosemount's newly developed vineyard estate in Mudgee, on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. Here, the dry autumns and cool mountain nights allow red grapes of the highest quality to ripen to perfection.
Mountain Blue is an exceptional premium blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon reflecting the regional attributes of the Mudgee terroir. Its densely textured blackberry fruit and impressive tannin richness has made it one of the most awarded wines to hit the Australian and international wine scene in recent years.
Vintage Conditions: The 1996 vintage saw a welcome respite from the dry conditions of the previous two vintages. Consequently, the Mountain Blue vineyard saw the cropping levels rise to around 2 tonnes per acre. The early summer rains gave the vines the necessary boost to develop well in the crucial early growth phase.
The Shiraz was left to macerate for 5 days after fermentation to extract softer tannins. Both wines were then racked into 50/50 new French and American oak for 22 months. An intense, almost impenetrable, deep plum colour The nose is underpinned by the intense blood plum and spice aromas of Shiraz. This is balanced by elements of tobacco leaf and cassis from the Cabernet and subtle oak characters.
A striking wine with great intensity and richness. Ripe berry, dark chocolate and cassis flavours combine perfectly with subtle oak influences and finish with smooth, fine grained tannins.
Awards: Trophy & Gold, 2001 Mudgee Wine Show Peak Drinking: Now - 2010 Alc/Vol: 14.6%. Notes sourced from Rosemount.
Country:
Australia
Region:
NSW- Mudgee
Variety:
Wine Red - Shiraz blend
Size:
750mL
