MORRIS WINES RUTHERGLEN DURIF 1999
Most week’s I rave on about a new release wine that has caught my attention or “tickled my fancy” however this week I am going on about a truly magnificent 25-year-old wine I was entranced by yesterday.
Those who know me are aware that I have been a Durif tragic since the late 1980’s. initially smitten by the wonders of Rutherglen (Victoria) Durif and more recently by its awesome proliferation to Griffith (De Bortoli Wines & Calabria), the Riverland Wine (Bassham Wines, Spook Hill Wines & 919 Wines) and the Barossa (Kalleske Wines, Atze's Corner Wines & Calabria Family Wines)
The original Durif producers were Morris wines, grape growers in Rutherglen since 1859. Morris Wines has had several owners over its life and it was recently saved from Pernod Ricard oblivion (shut-down) by being acquired by the Casella Family- who have injected a new lease of life into this venerable establishment.
It was third generation Morris- Mick who released the world’s first varietal Durif in 1954. In 1993 Mick retired and son David took over as the winemaker. Last month David retired and his son Madden has now taken over as the winemaker, so I look forward to tasting Madden’s efforts in due course.
In honour of the affable and talented David Morris retiring today’s wine is the amazing Morris Wines 1999 Rutherglen Durif. At twenty-five years old it is just hitting its peak and has a long life in front of it.
Deep, densely coloured for a wine of its age, the bouquet is a gentle melding of the remaining primary fruit aromas with the bottle age complexity. After careful decanting, the palate was simply brilliant, rich, round, with divine flavours, it was almost like drinking liquid chocolate with a hint of anise and a remaining twinge of black pepper. All the flavours have merged so well together to form a divinely delicious complexity that seduces the palate and finishes with a silky smooth elegant, lingering finish. Oh! what a Class Act.
Pardon the expression but Bloody Brilliant!!!!! Thanks David.
The excellent current release Morris wines and their extraordinary fortified wines (some of the very best in the world) can be checked out on www.morriswines.com
Dan Traucki
