GUM Blend of Fields Heathcote 2022
- 94
- $40
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95% Viognier grown on Cambrian soils in Heathcote, and 5% direct pressed red varieties picked on the early side. Fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and fibreglass vessels. A sweet scent of apricot schnapps melds with a stony mineral note to cut through savoury wafts of earl grey tea, curry leaf, chamomile, and lemon balm with gentle orange oil in support. This is intriguing and attention grabbing from the start, not to mention completely delicious. A viscous oily texture wraps around apricot, peach, earl grey, camomile, and kumquat with a hit of spice adding to the complexity, and all the while a cooling stony minerality keeping a shot of freshness. Glossy phenolics pair with a nice drench of acid to bring the frame for a spicy, stony finish. This is the real deal in terms of flavour and complexity, all the while weighing in at a breezy 12.1% ABV. A brilliant first release.
Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.
