Exemplar Heathcote Shiraz 2010 & Exemplar McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010
Exemplar Heathcote
Shiraz 2010
When I told my wife that Melbourne Shiraz enthusiast, Peter Mornement had come
up with the idea of a "virtual winery," she was absolutely delighted - and
suggested that that night I forego uncapping the usual bottle, and instead
taking a "virtual drink" from an empty glass.
Her joy evaporated when I told her that Peter, a highly-respected specialist
wine merchant, had not only achieved his goal, but had bottles of what he (and
others) are convinced will prove to be some of Australia's best-ever Shiraz.
Peter contracted three leading winemakers in areas renowned for their Shiraz,
financed the purchase of 10 tonnes of fruit and 30 new oak barrels for each, and
gave them a free hand from there-on to each produce an ultra-premium drop. He
dubbed his venture Palmarium (Latin for "outstanding,") and registered the
brand-name Exemplar (Latin for "original.")
The first two wines - Exemplar 2010 Heathcote Shiraz from Central Victoria made
by John Ellis, and a South Australian Exemplar 2010 McLaren Vale Shiraz created
by Walter Clappis - have just been released in a 6-pack featuring three of each.
John Ellis made his from fruit off Joe Marton's Heathcote vineyard, and Walter
Clappis used that from his own biodynamic McLaren Vale vineyard.
John's is dominated on the palate by soft chocolate and dark cherry characters
balanced by rustic oak and firm tannins and will only improve over 10-15 years;
Walter's is all about dark berry fruits and spices with tinges of oak and is
soft and velvety, and again one that can only improve over 10-15 years. The
6-pack of three each is a worthy investment at $390 through www.palmarium.com.au.
A second Palmarium 6-pack will contain two each of the 2011 vintages of these
wines plus two 2011 Exemplar Barossa Valley Shiraz made by Kym Tuesner, and will
be released in 2013.
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