Old Plains Power of One Shiraz 2010 (Adelaide Plains, SA)
14%, Screwcap, $28
Source: Sample
www.oldplains.com
Dominic Torzi – he of Torzi Matthews fame – is the driver of this wine, a Shiraz dedicated to celebrating a forgotten part of South Australian wine history – the Adelaide Plains.
The joy of the Plains is as much about its forgotten old vine resource than anything else, with small pockets of very old vineyards (this fruit comes off several 50+ year old plots) scattered all around what is now just the outer suburbs of Adelaide. Indeed one of the vineyard sources for the Old Plains wines has been bulldozed to way for a bunch of 300sqm villa blocks…
Perhaps the only challenge with growing fruit on the warm Adelaide Plains is simply containing that ripeness, the resultant wines sometimes looking more like fruit jam than wine. Don’t come looking for subtlety in red wines from the Plains.
In 2010 though everything came together nicely, the quite moderate conditions making for the perfect environment to craft something special. Couple these perfectly ripened grapes with winemaking designed to emphasise texture – open fermentation, basket pressing, less plunging and 24 months in French oak – and you’ve got something tasty.
The net result is positively decadent too, deep, squid ink purple coloured, the nose very open and inviting and loaded with purple berry fruit. The palate follows with a very rich, silken, molten fruit expression that, whilst it emphasises its warm clime origins with a little warmth, seduces with its plump and quite balanced juiciness, capped off with enough light tannins to bring you back for more.
Voluptuous, gentle and bathed in sunny ripe fruit, this is very easy Shiraz to like with nary a desicated edge in sight. It is definitely not a complex beast but it does the pleasure thing very well.
Drink: 2012-2018
Score: 17.5/20 91/100
Would I buy it? For a fruit hit then definitely. A pizza wine for sure.
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3 Comments
Andrew. I have stopped reading your blog since I saw the two reviews for extemely commercial wine you wrote on Cracka Wines.
These wines (Toro Loco shiraz and Fush'n'Chups sauvignon blanc) are exclusive to Cracka (your part time employer) and you gave them both a 90 points. I have tasted them and they are Wolf Blass Red Label/Rawson Retreat level at best. Your slogan 'no punches pulled' seems to have been ignored when you wrote these reviews.
Of course, you will talk about taste being subjective, etc, but if any wine fan tasted these wines they would know exactly what I meant.
Cue Andrew's friends jumping in to say they have tasted them and they certainly are better than most wines of their price point? LOL
Ha! Feel better now anon? I love comments like yours – rude, snide, anonymous and incorrect which is the best sort of combination. I'll answer your questions regardless.
I'm more than happy to stand behind my positive review of the Fush n Chups. I tasted it as a pre-release and liked it and gave it an 89. The Cracka scoring system is higher than mine so it got an extra point on. I've tasted it since and I may have been a little generous with the 89 but otherwise no qualms.
As for the Toro Loco I don't actually like it all that much (the 2010 at least). Have never reviewed it either – any vintage. Not sure what you are on about?
Regardless I take my objectivity very seriously, as you would have noticed if you've been reading this blog (which I'm puzzled as to how/why you are commenting if you haven't been reading?) and would only put my name to something if I actually thought it represented my opinion.
I'll keep answering any questions openly too, signing off with my name. Unlike you.
Many many thanks to you for this great share.
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