DAN'S WINE BLOG- THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW

DAN’S WINE BLOG

THIS WEEK’S WINE REVIEW-

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY- and what better way the celebrate than with a glass- or three of Durif. The big, bold red that was discovered by Dr Durif in Montpelier France in 1868. It made its way to Australia around the turn of that century and settled in Rutherglen. The very first varietally bottled Durif wines seems to have been the 1954 Morris’s of Rutherglen.

For a long time only Rutherglen wineries produced Durif, however eventually it spread out, starting the Riverina, and more recently to the Barossa.

To me it is the quintessential Aussie Big Red with absolute mountains of flavour- or as one of my drinking mates (buddy) said so eloquently many years ago – “A liquid steak in every glass”.

Today’s wine, the sensational Pfeiffer 2021 Rutherglen Durif. Slightly more restrained than the Rutherglen Durif of yore (I have tasted one right up at 18%) at 14.9% alcohol, still a beautiful big bugger. It is deep, inky purple in colour, has gorgeous aromas of ripe plums, black berries, a smidge of chocolate and vanillin oak- quite elegant. The palate is big, concentrated, rich with lashings of complex, cherry ripe and chocolate flavours and a long lingering tight finish. This beauty is but a young pup and has a long life ahead of it, so if you must drink it now, please do yourself a favour and aerate or decant it.

Yesterday I caught up with my old friend Tom Hardy and he had just brough back from France a bottle of Clos Hirissou Durif from the Senouillac Commune in the south of France. Tom was advised by the winemaker that this was the very first varietally labelled Durif bottled in France, as the small amount Durif that is grown there is normally used in blending.

This wine is densely red coloured, has a spicy bouquet with plenty of black fruits. The complex palate has a dash of licorice as well as the black fruit flavours, great depth and density, finishing with long, firm tannins. An absolute ripper wine, with great aging potential!!!

Tom very kindly gave me the rest of the bottle, so I will be enjoying 2-3 different Durif (might add an old Morris Durif) with today’s mandatory leg of lamb. Cheers & HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

DAN T