2002 Tabali Shiraz Reserva, Limari Valley, Chile
Appearance: deep purple to black, clear rim.
Nose: lots of French oak – was showing too much on this bottle for my taste – but was otherwise very well-made: good blackberry fruit comes out later.
Palate: nice fruit, but too much oak, light chewy tannins which are unexpectedly softened (has this wine been micro-oxygenated?), balanced high alcohol.
Conclusion: Tabali mentions it is the most northerly winery in Chile. We’d been looking for the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva having rated the wine blind at the International Wine Challenge, but were happy to try the Shiraz because it had also been recognized in Decanter and had won a trophy at the Annual Wines of Chile Awards. Has this wine stood out because of its powerful nose and substantial oak? That might be unfair. It will certainly be interesting to follow this winery as well as the fate of the new Chilean regions such as the Limari and Leyda. Consult Peter Richards on Chile.
Rating: 17/20
