Samuels Gorge is located on top of a stunningly rustic bluff overlooking a rugged gorge to one side and the southern ocean to the other.  This heritage site has a wonderful history and the “sense of place” is something that definitely makes this vineyard unique.   The original barn housing the renovated winery was built in 1853.  The building was historically an olive pressing shed and a blacksmith workshop before that.

The vision for the winery came from talented winemaker, Justin McNamee.  Justin is a relatively young winemaker hailing from Victoria (Australia), who fell in love with McLaren Vale.  His winemaking work at the highly regarded Tatachilla winery and as a consultant, gave him intimate knowledge of the region and its’ unique growing sites and vineyards.  He has used this vital knowledge to craft Samuels Gorge into a vibrant winery and tourist destination.

Unlike many wineries in the area, Justin chose to focus on just three red varieties Shiraz, Grenache and Tempranillo.  I asked him why he chose those particular cultivars and he gave me different reasons for each.  He says that making Shiraz is a “no brainer” because of its history and track record in the region.  He also loves Old Vine Grenache saying “it’s like warm climate Pinot Noir, delicate (bruising easily), floral yet powerful and intense.  Tempranillo was a variety “that just seemed to make sense”, the warm climate is very similar to Northern Spain and Rioja where the variety excels.  If his 2008 Tempranillo barrel samples are anything to go by, I think the gamble has paid off handsomely.

Samuels Gorge winemaking is very hands on, with open wooden fermentation, maceration by hand and barrel maturation.  Every effort is made in the vineyard to make sure as little intervention is necessary in the winery.  Visiting this winery is like stepping back in time, to a place where things go a little slower, people talk a little longer and the unhurried wines taste a little better. 

Wines from this Winery:

2007 Grenache

 

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2007 Grenache

 

Overt licorice with raspberries, violets, lavender, some dusty oak and fresh leather undertones.  Wonderful complexity and expression of this difficult variety.  The palate is very rich and mouthfilling without significant tannic dryness.  A multilayered, powerful, yet balanced wine with wonderful complexity seen only in the best of this variety.  Made from extremely old and low yielding vines, this is a rare example and a pleasure to taste. 

95 points.

 

2007 Shiraz

 

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2007 Shiraz

 

The bouquet is rich and ripe with plum pudding, dates, cinnamon,  chocolate and black cherries notes.  The palate is massive with relatively high tannin and alcohol but the flavours hold them in check.  An enigmatic range of flavours swirl in the mouth, with equal balance given to the fruit and savoury nuances.  The finish is warm and very long.  A mere babe in the bottle at present. 

94 points.