It takes a special vintage in both McLaren Vale and Coonawarra for Ben Riggs to even consider releasing his flagship red wine Mr Riggs The Chap.
The Chap is a classic Australian "claret" style - an Alpha blend of McLaren Vale shiraz (68%) and Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon (32%), that it is only made in years that Riggs considers exceptional.
The 2020 vintage was one of those years - and Riggs has made just 912 bottles in total with 2020 joining 2012-2104 and 2016-2018 releases.
Make no mistake, this is a big assertive wine with power and length, but it finishes with soft tannins, just as Riggs likes it. It's assertive but also elegant, with oak supporting but not overpowering.
"This is a wine that can easily be cellared for 1-20 years," Riggs says. "I love the long fine-grained tannins and the powerful structure."
Not a wine for everyday drinking with its $120 price tag, but certainly a wine for a special occasion.
Everything says "Look at Me". There's a heavy bottle, wax and quality cork. On the plate are rich, blackcurrant plum, spice and earthiness
The fruit is a combo of shiraz from Riggs' own Piebald Gully vineyard in McLaren Vale, and the Weatherall vineyards in Coonawarra.
See www.mrriggs.com.au for more info.
No comments:
Post a Comment