Oliver's Taranga Chica Mencia Rose 2023 12.5% 750ML

Oliver's Taranga Chica Mencia Rosé 2023 12.5% 750ML

DESCRIPTION
COUNTRY: Australia
REGION: McLaren Vale
VARIETY: Mencia
ALCOHOL VOL.: 12.5
VINTAGE: 2022
CLOSURE: Screwcap
VOLUME: 750

TASTING NOTES
WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS
With 300 acres of premium grapevines on the Taranga property, the Oliver family has over 50 blocks representing different grape varieties, clones, soil types & vine ages. Each vintage, different varieties & blocks will show their strength and from this has been born the ‘SMALL BATCH’ range. These wines have been handcrafted to speak of both the variety and the vintage in which they have been produced.

APPEARANCE
Pale salmon pink.

AROMA
Turkish delight, honey eucalyptus lollies, red jubes, orange rind, watermelon, hibiscus flower and a touch of fairy floss.

PALATE
Watermelon margarita, prosciutto wrapped rockmelon, honey dew - all the melons! Generously textured and a mouth watering dry crisp finish.

GRAPES/BLEND
100% Mencia.

VINIFICATION
Mencia is a native variety of Spain, in particular the Bierzo region in the northwest of the country. Oliver’s Taranga are the first to plant it in Australia. We decided to get our (mostly female) cellar door team on board to learn about the winemaking process – and as such the ‘Chica’ was born! Our winemaker Corrina uses a fermentation technique called ‘Carbonic Maceration’, which results in a lovely aroma & texture on the wine.
Oliver's Taranga

In 1839 William and Elizabeth Oliver travelled to South Australia from Scotland and eventually settled in 1841 on land at McLaren Vale. Whitehill and Taranga farms, the names given to the northern and southern sections of this land, are located 2 km north of McLaren Vale overlooking the township. Taranga is a corruption of the aboriginal word Tarangk, meaning ‘the middle' which was used by the Kaurna, a local aboriginal tribe. Sheep and cattle were raised and orchards and vineyards were planted immediately upon arrival and the family prospered.

Both properties are still run by fifth generation descendants of William and Elizabeth, with the Whitehill property utilized for cropping and grazing sheep and cattle and boasting a rejuvenated stone ‘Chaff Shed' which is used as a function centre and Taranga, which consists of 100 hectares of land, being planted to many different varieties of red and white wine grapes.

REGION:
McLaren Vale, South Australia
WINEMAKER:
Corrina Wright

EXPERT REVIEWS
RAY JORDAN 93 Points
This Spanish variety is going to make a serious statement in Australia as more winemakers start to explore its possibilities. In this case a thoroughly delightful rose is the result. It’s incredibly refreshing with obvious notes of watermelon and muted rose petals. The palate is deliciously dry and vibrant with a long fine finish. Oh, yes, I could drink a bit of this.

winepilot.com, 23 December, 2022