{"product_id":"2023-dandelion-vineyards-menagerie-of-the-barossa-grenache-shiraz-mataro-liberty","title":"2023 Dandelion Vineyards, `Menagerie of the Barossa` Grenache\/Shiraz\/Mataro - Liberty","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"MuiPaper-root MuiAccordion-root accordion_accordion__I9cut accordion_producer__roSqQ Mui-expanded MuiAccordion-rounded MuiPaper-elevation1 MuiPaper-rounded\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-root MuiCollapse-entered\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapperInner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"region\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiAccordionDetails-root accordion_producerAccordion__OujSI\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eDandelion Vineyards is the venture of talented winemaker Elena Brooks, and her husband Zar. Their project makes wines from the Barossa and Eden Valleys, Fleurieu, the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eElena hails from Bulgaria. Her mother worked for a local producer, and so much of Elena’s childhood was spent in a winery. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria’s rich winemaking history attracted visiting winemakers from across the globe. As a result, Elena met many international winemakers visiting her mother's workplace. As the only English speaker, she began interpreting barrel room tastings for these visitors at the age of 12. By 15 she was well-versed in the ins and outs of the winemaking process and by 16 she had made her first wine. After formal study and stints making wine worldwide, Elena eventually settled in McLaren Vale with Zar and founded Dandelion Vineyards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eNick Stock, one of Australia’s leading journalists, wrote about Dandelion Vineyards saying, “The approach is remarkably simple and sees Elena making wine from a suite of beautiful old vineyards across that blessed curve that runs from the Barossa, up through the Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills and down into McLaren Vale.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThe ‘blessed curve’ Nick refers to, is at the heart of what Dandelion does. Elena’s ‘Lionheart of the Barossa’ is a classic Barossa Shiraz, and offers remarkable value, while the ‘Menagerie of the Barossa’ is an opulent, Grenache-dominant, field blend. The latest addition, `Honeypot of the Barossa` Roussanne, is beautifully fresh with a savoury, saline finish. Moving up into the Eden Valley, the ‘Red Queen’ is the wine for which Elena has been crowned ‘Winemaker of the Show’, while the ‘Wonderland’ Riesling, from a gnarled and venerable vineyard planted in 1912, is outstanding. The 'Enchanted Garden' vineyard was planted in 1910 and thrives to this day, producing a pure, powerful and elegant Riesling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThe McLaren Vale wines show the tremendous generosity and freshness that marks out this fine region. The ‘Lioness of McLaren Vale’ has impressive purity of fruit, while the ‘Lion’s Tooth’ is given more vibrancy by including Riesling in the blend. The ‘Pride of Fleurieu’ Cabernet has lovely berry fruit and is a reminder of how undervalued this variety is in Australia. Like all Dandelion Vineyards wines, the extremely old ‘Legacy of Australia’ Pedro Ximénez is a real treat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFruit for this wine is sourced from adjoining blocks of old vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro at Gomersal in the Barossa and makes this ‘Menagerie’ field blend of three grape varieties.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiPaper-root MuiAccordion-root accordion_accordion__I9cut Mui-expanded MuiAccordion-rounded MuiPaper-elevation1 MuiPaper-rounded\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-root MuiCollapse-entered\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapperInner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"region\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiAccordionDetails-root\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eWeather conditions during spring were wet and windy which had an impact on flowering and resulted in small crops. Cool and wet conditions continued into early summer, but thankfully the rain stopped around Christmas time to allow the fruit to start to ripen and to keep disease at bay. Harvest started much later than average due to the cooler conditions. While some of the fruit had to be picked around rain events, it mostly ripened well with fresh and vibrant fruit flavours. The 2023 reds have intense, rich and balanced flavours and colours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter hand picking selected bunches, the grapes were left to whole bunch ferment together in open top fermenters with ambient yeasts. Hand plunging took place before basket pressing into old French oak barriques. The wines then spent a further 12 months in the same oak, before blending and bottling with minimal intervention to capture the essence of the vineyards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis wine is deep red with violet hues. The nose is brimming with fresh blackberries and freshly ground white pepper, alongside dried herbs, black olives, and cocoa powder. The palate has flavours of warm, dark fruits supported by fresh acidity and firm tannins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Wine Tasting Adventure","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56682611507578,"sku":null,"price":14.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0527\/4297\/9770\/files\/c688f67d-a294-4cb8-8a36-15362c4833be__250x500_015b102e-9371-48a9-8085-c95834a712e2.png?v=1773409795","url":"https:\/\/www.wine-ta.co.uk\/products\/2023-dandelion-vineyards-menagerie-of-the-barossa-grenache-shiraz-mataro-liberty","provider":"Wine Tasting Adventure","version":"1.0","type":"link"}