StarForum

[Murray]

Conte Estate are based in McLaren Flat in McLaren Vale. The winery is a relative newcomer being established in 2003; however they have access to shiraz fruit from vines dating back to the 1860’s, but the majority of wine was planted around 1960, so there’s plenty of aged fruit available. Much of the wine is sold however they are listed as a5,000 case producer with a glowing wrap in the latest Halliday guide. Winemaking duties are shared by father and son team Steve and Danial Conte.

Conte Estate Pink Hit Gewurztraminer 2007

The fruit for this wine came from the ‘Home Block’, of mature vines situated 5kms east of the McLaren Vale township. The name Pink Hit comes grape colour as the mature. The grapes were machine harvested at night and the grapes were promptly crushed and pressed before being despatched for fermentation with specially selected yeast strains. Fermentation was in stainless steel, and once completed the wine was clarified and stabilized, then quickly bottled to retain peak freshness. The alcohol is 13.5% and the bottle is naturally sealed in screwcap.

Good straw colour. Good spicey nose with rosepetal and apple. Good palate structure with typical oiliness coming on the mid palate. Good acid good fruit nice touch of spice before a great long finish. Lovely and spicy, great with food.
Drink 2008-2010
93/100 Excellent
RRP $15

Conte Estate The Gondola Grenache Shiraz 2006

The Gondola is a large stainless steel bin with a capacity of 4 ½ tonne which is used to transfer grapes from the vineyard to the winery. For this wine it doubled as an open fermenter. The individual parcels were fermented on skins in small open fermenters for around five days, with a component then despatched to wood to complete ferment. The Shiraz and Grenache then separately spent 12 months in a mix of French and American oak hogsheads before being assessed prior to blending and bottling.The wine is 70% Grenache and 30% Shiraz. The alcohol is 14.5% with the bottle sealed in cork.

Spicey nose with earthy cassis with dutch licorice hints The palate is nicely balanced to the alcohol and brings forward a touch more licorice while broadening nicely across thee palate. Medium firm fine tannins before a good long finish. A nicely structure Grenache Blend that could well handle some cellaring.
Drink 2008-2013
90/100 Excellent
RRP $18

Conte Estate The Numb Hand Pruner Grenache 2006

The name comes from the complaints from the Conte family who were given the tasking of pruning the vineyard when it was planted in to the late 1960’s. For this vintage the fruit was received at the winery at around 14.5° Baume and crushed immediately, with the juice allowed to steep on skins before pressing. Fermentation on skins was carried out in small batch open fermenters for around seven days, with the wine then being despatched to a combination of new (10% American) and prior-use French and American oak hogsheads for extended maturation. Twelve months later, the individual barrels were assessed and the finished wine blended and prepared for bottling. The alcohol is 14.5% and the bottle is sealed in cork.

Dark red-purple in colour. Briar and red cherry aromas with spicey overtones. The palate is bright and ripe with the oak coming through on the mid palate. Softish tannings before a long finish. The wine is not to my style, but the Grenache fans will find plenty to like. The rating is aimed to be an objective assessment of the wine.
Drink 2009-2012
87/100 Very Good
RRP $18

Conte Estate Rock Hill Shiraz 2006

The fruit for this classic Shiraz came from Conte Estate’s ‘Rock Hill’ vineyard – planted in the 1990’s. In 2006 the grapes were received at the winery at around 14.5° Baume and crushed immediately, with the juice allowed to steep on skins before pressing. In what has become a ‘house style’ at Conte Estate, the juice was fermented in small batches, using open fermenters, with some of the juice finishing ferment in barrel to acquire that added complexity. A combination of new and prior-use American oak hogsheads was used for twelve month’s barrel maturation, with a small (5%) component of new French oak contributing a noticeable effect. The individual barrels were then assessed and the finished wine blended before bottling. The alcohol is 14.5% and the bottle is sealed in cork.

Deep red-purple in colour. Black cherry, blackcurrant, spice and white pepper on the nose. The palate is medium weight with the alcohol providing a lift to the medium palate. The oak is evident and not quite integrated to the fruit as yet. Medium weight tannins before a good long finish. Very young yet, and will integrate in the medium term.
Drink 2009-2012
87/100 Very Good
RRP $18

Conte Estate McLaren Vale Reserve Hunt Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

The reserve range is from single variety and single vineyard with selected bunch selection. The Hunt road vineyard dates back to the 1970’s. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit was hand picked with the juice being allowed to sit on skins for an extended period before pressing. Fermentation on skins was carried out in small open fermenters for around seven days, with the wine then being aged in 10% of the oak was new French, 5% American, with the balance being a mixture of two and three year old barrels. Maturation period was just on fourteen months. Alcohol is 14.5% and the bottle is sealed in cork.

Deep dark red in colour. Incredibly young; with incredibly good fruit featuring chocolate blackberry and some red capsicum (reflecting it’s youth). The palate is young and very nicely balanced, not really showing the alcohol, which is healthily welcome. Nicely broad across the palate before a long finish. A great young wine that will be a greater wine as it matures.
Drink 2010-2018
93/100 Excellent
RRP $25

Conte Estate McLaren Vale Over the Hill Reserve Shiraz 2006

The fruit for this classic Shiraz came from what they believe to be are some of the oldest vines in the district – planted in the 1860’s. The vines are located in the “Home Block,” east of McLaren Vale. The fruit was hand picked and delivered straight to the winery where it was crushed immediately, with the juice allowed to steep on skins for a short while before pressing. The juice was then fermented in small batches in open fermenters and left on skins for around a week. The wine then was then despatched to a combination of 15% new French, and the balance prior-use French and American oak hogsheads for fourteen months maturation prior to bottling. The alcohol is 14.5% and the bottle is sealed cork. Price $25.

Deep dark red-purple in colour. Vibrant nose of black cherry plum and white pepper with quality French oak evident. The palate is medium to full weight with the aromas on the nose carrying through to the palate. The palate broadens on the mid palate with the alcohol providing a good degree of lift. Medium tannins before a lovely long finish. A mere pup now, the win will age superbly. Great value for the quality delivered.
Drink 2010-2025
94/100 Excellent
RRP $25

All in all a great range of wines and great value. Thanks to Danial at Conte Estate for the samples and the information on the wines. The winery link is www.conteestatewines.com.au.

Murray Almond StarPanel© December 2007
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Murray Almond
Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends

[Dave Vino]

Can I ask...when you do these tastings I assume they have sent the bottles to you, do you drink the whole bottle? or just a glass?

I like the addition of labels so I can find anything that sprigs my interest quickly.

[Murray]

[Big Dave]

Hi Murray,

Was the Gewurtz completely dry? I assume so from your note. I usually find a bit much RS in many Aussie Gewurtz.

Cheers

Dave

[Murray]

[Dave Vino]

Cheers for that Murray. I applaud your method and the rationale behind it. I think too many times wineries are lucky to get a sniff as a tasting for writeups on their blood, sweat and tears.

I've printed up the screw cap and stuck it around all my cork sealed bottles.

[ChrisH]

So is Bert stocking these Murray, given you are reviewing under the guise of Starpanel ? Otherwise can't quite see the point
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In vino veritas
Chris

[Murray]

[Gary Walsh]

[ChrisH]

Gary, I thought Starpanel, of which you and Josephine were part of not that long ago, was intended to review wines for Winestar. Bert sent the panel members samples for review. That is where my confusion was in relation to Murray's review under the guise of Starpanel.
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In vino veritas
Chris