Portfolio Tasting - Paxton Vineyards - The Living Vine
Date: Apr 27/12, Fri Time: 04:30:00-07:30:00 Style: Drop-In
Portfolio Tasting - Paxton Vineyards - Mark Cuff from the Living Vine returned to FWR with David Paxton for another members exclusive tasting.
David Paxton is one of Australia’s best-known viticulturists and consultants. He founded Paxton Vineyards in McLaren Vale with his family in 1979, and has since been involved in various capacities in the establishment and management of vineyards in several leading regions across the country. Son Michael, a former Flying Winemaker (with 14 years’ experience in Spain, South America, France and Australia), is responsible for making the wines. There are five vineyards in the family holdings: the Thomas Block (28 ha), the Jones Block (22 ha), Quandong Farm (19 ha), Landcross Farm (2 ha) and Maslin Vineyard (3.5 ha). By 2006 all of the vineyards were managed using full biodynamic principles. Paxton has become one of the first members of 1% For the Planet.
www.onepercentfortheplanet.org
David Paxton believes that the people who apply the art and science of viticulture are just as important as the winemaker in the making of good wines. That’s why for three decades the Paxtons have nurtured their prized vineyards, some of which were first planted in the 1890s. Our aim is to showcase the intensity of fruit grown biodynamically.
The wines available to our members to sample were as follows:
2010 Paxton Thomas Block Chardonnay - $24.95
James Halliday = 91 pts "Bright straw-green; a supple, smooth flavoursome chardonnay with stone fruit, melon and fig aromas and flavours, oak playing a minor role. Ready when you are."
2010 Paxton Cabernet/Shiraz "The Guesser" - $16.95
Different batches of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz were fermented and aged separately in small French and American oak barriques. They were blended to achieve our example of the “Great Australian Blend” with full fruit expression from both the varieties and structure specifically from the Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was bottled after 15 months maturation.
2010 Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache - $21.95
The Wine Advocate = 90 pts "A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Shiraz, the 2010 AAA Shiraz Grenache reveals a medium-deep garnet-purple color and a slightly reduced character to begin, giving way to aromas of ripe raspberries and red cherries over tar, black pepper and a touch of tree bark. Full bodied with plenty of ripe warm red berry flavors in the mouth, it has a medium level of grainy tannins, enlivening acid and a long finish. Drink this one now to 2016+" James Haliday = 95 Pts
2010 Paxton MV Shiraz - $19.95
Numerous individual parcels from each vineyard were blended. The majority were de-stemmed with a portion of whole bunches. They were then transferred to individual open fermenters, where a regime of pumping over, plunging and rack and returns was undertaken. After fermentation, the wine remained on skins until it had developed the complexity required. It was oak matured for an average of 12 months in a mix of new and old French and American oak.
2010 Paxton Quandong Farm Shiraz - $29.95
The Wine Advocate = 91+ pts "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Quandong Shiraz offers a pleasant yeasty / bready / savory character over a core of black cherries, blackberries, violets, salami, baking spices and a touch of lavender. Medium to full bodied with a generous concentration of black berry and savory flavors, the flesh is nicely balanced by medium-high acid and a medium to firm level of finely grained tannins, finishing long"
Paxton Jones Block Shiraz - $34.95
The Wine Advocate = 91 pts " Aged for 20 months in a 50/50 mix of French and American oak, 50% new, the 2009 Jones Block Shiraz presents a medium-deep garnet-purple color and intense nose of blackberry preserves, blueberries and Indian spices with a slight floral lift and a dash of black pepper. Concentrated and full bodied on the palate, the dense muscular fruit is well supported by a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and crisp acidity, finishing long and spicy. Drinking now, it should cellar to 2018. "
2007 Paxton EJ 100 year Shiraz - $85.00
James Haliday = 94 pts "The extra years show up in the colour; rich and concentrated, with black fruits, mocha and fruitcake characters corralled by soft tannins and a warm finish."
www.paxtonvineyards.com
