The cellar is well stocked with Tyrrell's wines and a fair few make it through to this site. I can't think of too many producers in the Hunter Valley with an equivalent portfolio of fine wines. It probably shouldn't matter, but there's also a lovely connection one feels when drinking the wine of an historic producer (or region). I guess that's why retro labels live on and, in some cases, are enjoying a resurgence in (presumed) prestige.
None of which has much to do with the liquid in the bottle. Thankfully, it's rather good. After tasting a few new release 2007 Tyrrell's reds lately, I gave in to the urge to try a recent back vintage of the Vat 9. As an aside, I was at Dan's the other day and saw bottles of the 2006 on sale. Didn't this used to have more time in bottle prior to release?
A pungent, forthright nose that has changed considerably through the evening. It started off quite stinky, with perhaps some sulfur in addition to strong regional dirt and a dash of tart cherry fruit. Two hours later, there are cooked meats, almonds and more savoury red fruits, slightly liqueur-like in character. It's like Chianti via Burgundy, but with freshly turned soil that's all Hunter. Good detail.
A flavoursome entry that shows consistent line from nose to palate. There's an edginess here, which is a function of structure tilted firmly towards acid. Not to suggest there are no tannins; in fact, they are a highlight, being fine, ripe and sweetly rich. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The fruit character, as per the nose, is quite liqueur like in its intensity and (contradictorily) its tart sweetness. Very much in the cherry spectrum, without the plummy depth of the 2006 and 2007 models, the fruit shows excellent complexity. Medium bodied, this wine seems to throw itself at all corners of the mouth with the intention of sticking around as long as possible. Acid sizzles along through the after palate, with a seamless segue into the aforementioned tannins. A long, long finish.
Bloody nice wine. The 2007 version is probably better, but I like this one for its transparency and detail. A fabulous wine with food. I'm going to leave the rest of my stash for a few years before retasting.
Price: $A30
Closure: Cork
Date tasted: October 2008
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