2009 Gibson Eden Valley Riesling
Eden Valley Riesling 100%
Vintage Comments: A mild start gave good early growth and leaf area and a mild November enabled a good set and high flavour potential. There was a heatwave in early February. This Riesling ripened slowly and was picked at it’s peak after some defoliation.
Tasting Note: Brilliant pale straw with green tints. An estery aroma of passionfruit and honeysuckle. Lovely powdery texture and fine lime/lemon flavours with harmonious fresh acidity and lingering green apples and mineral flavours.
2009 Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris
Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 100%
Vintage Comments: This Pinot Gris fruit is sourced from a special vineyard designed and set-up by Rob many years ago. The mild 2009 season brought this fruit to perfect maturity in good weather.
Tasting Note: Typical Gris colour being slightly pale with grey pink in colour. Many complex aromas showing honeysuckle blossom and cut hay abound. The palate is full and round with a nuttiness which lingers as butterscotch. A great wine in harmony with many food flavours.
2009 Gibson Grenache ( Dry Rose Style )
Barossa Grenache 95%, Barossa Shiraz 3%, Barossa Viognier 2%
Vintage Comments: A vintage of ups and downs in temperature. February was quite hot this year. Yeilds were low and the structure in the Grenache was extraordinary this year.
Tasting Note: Pale cherise with apricot notes, this wine shows interesting complex aromas of quince and pomegranate and a charming elegant softness with berry flavours lingering on the palate.
2006 Gibson Merlot
Tasting Note: Medium red with purple hue. Lifted spicy aromas of black fruit followed by a mouthfilling juicy palate full of dried plum/prune flavours balanced with soft dark cocolate tannins.
Lingering flavours of orange rind,prunes and cherries persist.
Medium red with purple hue. Lifted spicy aromas of black fruit followed by a mouthfilling juicy palate full of dried plum/prune flavours balanced with soft dark cocolate tannins.Lingering flavours of orange rind,prunes and cherries persist.
2006 Gibson Reserve Merlot
Barossa Valley Merlot 75%, Adelaide Hills Merlot 10.7%, Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 14.3%
Vintage Comments: a generous Barossa season, being cool in November & December and warm in January. Yields were moderate & styles were generous. The expression of cigar box varietal flavours in Merlot was very good.
Tasting Note: The exciting finesse of a complex Merlot is worth striving for. The wine is deep red in colour with brick tones emerging, with lifted fine aromas of rich tobacco, dark cherries & prune plums. It has a lovely richly textured palate with harmonious layers of complex flavour with perfect poise and balance. The fine dusty tannins on the finish lead to lingering flavours of dark chocolate and cherry liqueur.
2008 Gibson "Darling" Merlot
Barossa Merlot 57%, Adelaide Hills Merlot 43%
Vinatge Comments: A season of 2 parts with ideal moderate conditions early and extreame heat leter in March. The eraly ripening of Merlot helped to some extent to avoid most of the weather. Yeilds were moderate & styles were generous. The expression of fine perfume and varietal flavours in Merlot was good.
Tasting Note: This wine shows lifted aromas of ripe stone fruit with interesting cassis, leather and vanilla notes. A charming balance of generous plum like fruit flavours on a serious framework of tannins lead to lingering dark cherry notes which shows the true vinosity of fine Merlot wines.
2005 Gibson Isabelle Blend
Merlot 49%, Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, Petit Verdot 5%
Vintage Comments: An exemplary Barossa season, slightly warm in November & December, but a very cool January. Vintage was on time! The Merlot ripened well producing complex aromatic characteristics and round palate with supple trade mark tannins.
Tasting Note: Deep opaque with some red tints. Fine aromas of dark berries and cherry with hints of vanilla and spice. A seamless plummy palate with medium body shows ample vinosity. Complex notes of plum and spice intergrate with savoury herb and leather. The wine is well balanced with firm tannin having a decisive finish with lingering sour plum flavours.
** 92 points James Halliday - Wine Companion 2010**
2005 Gibson Wilfreda Blend
Shiraz 50%, Mourvedre 27%, Grenache 23%
Vintage Comment: A warm Barossa season, being warm in November, Decembere & January. Yields were good & styles were fine. Shiraz was more chocolate. The Mourvedre ripened well producing complex aromatic characteristics and the Grenache was exceptional.
Tasting Note: Deep opaque purple colour. Fine aromas of pepper and spice, vanilla & leather. A seamless palate with medium body showing ample complex flavours of quince, tea leaf & leather. The wine is well balanced with natural tannin having a soft lingering finish.
** 92 points James Halliday - Wine Companion 2009 **
2006 Gibson "Dirtman" Shiraz
Barossa Valley Shiraz 97%, Eden Valley Shiraz 3%
Vintage Comment: A generous Barossa season, being cool in November & December, but warm in January. Yields were moderate & styles were generous. The expression of stone fruit varietal flavours in Shiraz was very good.
Tasting Note: Deep red with purple hue. Complex sweet spice Shiraz characters on the nose with interesting notes of bacon fat and anise. The palate is powerful, round & juicy and shows all the hallmarks of good Shiraz treated with good oak maturation to produce a great wine with good aging potential. It shows ample aroma, fruit balance with perfect acidity and fine dry tannins. The balance and finish is harmonious and complex spice and stone fruit flavours linger in the palate.
2006 Gibson Reserve Shiraz
Barossa Valley Shiraz 78%, McLaren Vale Shiraz 11%, Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 11%
Vintage Comment: A mild dry Barossa season, cool in November & December, fine warm in January and heatspike in February. Yeilds were very low & styles were fine & deep. Shiraz was spicy and fruit driven in flavour. Harvested in late March. A much smaller blend than normal.
Tasting Note: Opaque deep red with brick red notes. Lifted mocha, pepper, spice Shiraz characters on the nose with interesting notes of vanilla, orange peel and anise. The palate is powerful, complex & chewy fine tannins and shows all the hallmarks of good Shiraz trested with sensitivity to produce a great wine with aging potential. It shows generous sweet fruit balance with perfect acidity and chocolate dry tannins. The balance and finish is harmonious and lovely stone fruit and dark chocolate flavours linger on the palate.
NV Gibson Sparkling Merlot
Barossa Valley Merlot 74%, Barossa Valley Shiraz 11%, Barossa Valley Mourvedre 2%, Adelaide Hills Merlot 13%
Tasting Note: The lively palate is fruit driven with lovely creaminess & unobtrusive acidity. The flavours of ripe stone fruit & sweet vanilla finish elegantly wih fine drying grape tannins & lingering fruit flavour.
A great one to try with bacon & eggs on a Sunday morning!
2008 Gibson Botrytis Semillon
Barossa Valley (Stockwell) Semillon 100%
Vintage Comments: Old Semillon vines planted 30 years ago produced very high quality grapes which concentrated in hot conditions. They were harvested at 20 Baume which is ideal. Approximately 10% botrytis affected
Tasting Note: Perfectly bright yellow gold colour, complex aromas of pineapple and dusty grain, leads to a lively palate full of lucious dried fruit with great length and a clean finish. Drink it on its own or with dessert. Mix it as a cocktail !