By: AJ McClellan
R Wines Winemakers is an Australian based wine producing company that has vineyards form all over Australia, the best of which is their Chateau Chateau wines from McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley. R Wines was founded in 2005 by Dan Philips and Chris Ringland. Chris is one of world’s leading and most gifted winemakers out of Australia. He leads teams of winemakers and viticulturalists managing to their upmost potential. The Chateau Chateau wines are the pinnacle of his winemaking career and are all well-made, stylish, compelling, hand-crafted and peerlessly delicious.
Above is the owner of Grateful Palate Dan Philips
2007 Chateau Chateau Chateau – A blended Grenache that may be the pick of the litter in the Chateau Chateau Grenache series, melding of the spice and pepper of Ebenezer, the dark berry richness and chocolate of Marananga, and the solid structure of Stonewell Grenache.
2007 Chateau Chateau Columns – One of the single vineyard icon Grenache in the Chateau Chateau series, from the Roeneldt Family vineyard in the Greenock sub-region of the Barossa. This vineyard is a real star, producing beautifully exposed loose clusters with small berries. The wine is made using exclusively old wood, with an emphasis on expression of fruit and no intervention. The true advantage of the sandy soils in the Greenock area is manifest with the terrific spicy, almost floral perfume the wine displays.
2007 Chateau Chateau My Sun Is Your Sun Stonewall – From the Pfeiffer Family vineyard in the Stonewell sub-region of the Barossa. The vineyard lies to the north of an old creek bed running in an eastern direction to the North Para River. The red brown earth and clay combination of the soil results in a Grenache with a rich, dark red berry, even black cherry, profile. The wine is made using exclusively old wood, with an emphasis on expression of fruit and no intervention. The expression is even more brooding and masculine than Grenache from the Marananga sub-region.
2007 Chateau Chateau Triumphal Arch Light Pass – An elegant, complex Grenache from the Light Pass area of the Barossa and one of the single vineyard icon wines in the Chateau Chateau series. Located in the lowest part of the North Valley sub-region, the area is essentially a small flood-plain for the North Para River as it emerges from the Barossa Ranges. The soils are deep and very fertile. The best red grape vineyards are on the eastern slopes of the Barossa Ranges and the Mader Family vineyard from which the wine is made is roughly half way up this slope. The Grenache is made using exclusively old wood, with an emphasis on expression of fruit and no intervention.
2007 Chateau Chateau Skull – The Chateau Chateau project is a study of the effects of soil and place and Skulls joined the series as classic expression of the Barossa region. The project brief describes the old vine Grenache/Mataro blend as “Sexy, sensual and dangerous, like a Nureyev and Fontayne pas de deux.” The optical play of artist Istvan Orosz’s Ship of Fools illustration captures the mercurial essence of wine.
2007 Chateau Chateau Leaf Turner – This is one of the few wines from Chateau Chateau that is not 100% Grenache. With a blend of 65% Mataro and 35% Grenache this is another superb example of terroir. Aged in French and American oak to add complexity and depth this wine demonstrates an expressive smoke, blueberry, and black berry jam. Very fruit forward with a smooth elegant finish.
2007 Chateau Chateau Pergola – This 110 case production Grenache is an excellent example of the potential Grenache can reach under the right circumstances. With a bouquet of bright cherries, leather, and toasted vanilla bean this wine is uplifting and a delight to drink. The palate is if anything more satisfying than the nose with a brilliant display of rhubarb, raspberries, and sandy soil.