Another Notch In The Belt - 2002 Chambourcin, Pendarves Estate

To my knowledge I have never tasted any wine from the Chambourcin grape. But now I have. According to Jancis Robinson et al in her great work Wine Grapes (2012) Chambourcin is a complex hybrid that was first commercialized in 1963. Previously mostly planted in France where it still is one of the most widely planted hybrids, it is also planted in several other places in the world, from USA to Vietnam. This example comes from Australia, where 86 producers (!) make wine of this hybrid.

On to the wine!

2002 Chambourcin, Pendarves Estate
This estate was established in 1986 by Dr. Philip Norrie and on the label "The Wine Doctor´s Estate" is proudly printed. A bottle of this a day, keeps the doctor away...:-)
The nose is intriguing and given this blind I would have been lost. It behaves like a blend of a young Barbera with some Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc in the mix. Red ripe cherries, cranberries, bonfire, rubber and a warm green scent, are some of the notes. I really like it. Rather complex. Very, very good.
The taste is high strung with a high acidity, a medium body and notes of fir, cranberries, red currants, burning rubber and hard cherry candy. A long, lingering, refined finish. Very interesting. It behaves more like a old style Chianti on the palate. This is really good. Bought as a gamble, would love to have more. With its 12,5% alcohol, it is very gulpable. And the 14 years in the bottle doesn´t show at all.
91p   (tasted 2016/06)