DAN'S THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW

This week I’ll be reviewing an “oldie, but goodie” – the Joanne Irvine made, IRVINE WINES 2001 ZINFANDEL.

Made round about the time that I first met the affable Jo, when her dad, Jim, was the consulting winemaker at Yaldara Wines (Now there is an inspiring resurrection story for another day though!). Jo had returned from a winemaking stint in California where she had built a strong bond with their flagship variety, ZINFANDEL, and so she persuaded Dad to plant some on his Spring Hill property.

Thus, the 2001 was her first vintage of Australian ZINFANDEL. Right out of the blocks it was a big, lively, exotic wine that seduced the senses. Of the dozen bottles that I bought upon release I only have two left in my cellar, having alas succumbed to temptation too often in the past.

Recently, at a Magnum Lunch with a group of mutual friends, Jo was incredibly generous and brought along her last (or second last) magnum of the inaugural 2001 IRVINE ZINFANDEL. Wow!What a sensational wine it has developed into. Rich, complex and beautifully structured – simply divine and with eons of life still in front of it. It was that impressive and popular that it pipped the magnum of 1973 Chateau Latour as the wine of the day.

Since 2001, Jo has gone on to win the “2006 International Red Winemaker of the Year” and the “2009 Barossa Winemaker of the Year”, as well as becoming one of the “Barons of the Barossa”.

Today, under her recently established label, “LEVRIER by JO IRVINE”, Jo produces a smashing ZINFANDEL with the 2014 being the first release. If this wine develops as brilliantly as her previous 2001 “first release” did, (which I am sure that it will), it will simply support my claim that Jo is Australia’s “Master Zin Maker” – not bad for an ex-operating theatre nurse, huh!

I would strongly suggest that you to seek out the LEVRIER by JO IRVINE 2014 PERITAS ZINFANDEL as it is destined to become a sensational classic wine. www.levrierwines.com.au

Cheers!