White Label by Smidge Wines
The White Label wines from Smidge Wines all carry their own names that reflect their varietal character and region of origin. Each wine reveals complexity, flavour and structure - big and bold but with a level of restraint that is the mark of excellent winemaking by master winemaker, Matt Wenk.
"From the subregion of Tatachilla, planted on clay punctuated with ironstone, over a limestone substrata. Hand-picked fruit, no adds and fermented wild in open fermenters. 28 days on skins, all up. 18 months in used French wood. Unfiltered. A great colour: explosive in terms of its pulpy, inky opacity and purple edges. It almost glows! Possibly the finest iteration of this wonderful variety in Australia to date. Everything about it makes me smile. Black-fruit allusions, smoked meats, iodine, ample florals and best of all, a broad dissection of the rich palate by ferruginous tannins: burly, gritty and shaped to draw saliva to ready one for the meal ahead.
- Ned Goodwin, Halliday Australian Wine Companion Feb 2021 95/100
La Grenouille from Smidge Wines is a Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from an immaculate vineyard in the western Willunga area at the southern end of greater McLaren Vale in South Australia. The vines on the block are approximately 60 years old. In the glass, La Grenouille immediately shows its hand with a deep colour, almost black with a magenta rim. The aromas are not shy, with lots of dark cherries, plums, with spice and tobacco. The palate continues the story; the Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale regularly delivers Cabernet with power, elegance and balance. La Grenouille is no exception, exhibiting dark fruits and chocolate with a balance of juiciness and subtle savoury notes, finishing with long fine tannins. Drink now or cellar carefully until 2035.
Aromas of blackberries, licorice, dried herbs, plums and spice. Flavours are full and rich, certainly in the dark fruit spectrum, but there is also a minty coolness to the palate as well as quite grippy and textured tannins and lively acidity that keep the flavours fresh and focused - Aaron Brasher The Real Review 93/100
