Ben Riggs, Shoofly’s winemaker, is a South Australian native who knows his stuff and where to get it. His roster of grape growers is one of the most sought after contact lists in the country. McLaren Vale’s temperate maritime climate offers reds of rich, ripe fruit character and great acid balance. Langhorne Creek, a “cool desert” situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula, produces soft, fruit-driven wines while the Adelaide Hills enjoys a cool, high elevation, perfect for producing crisp, aromatic early ripening varietals.
Tasting Notes:
We had a yearning for the classic (well in the Rhone anyway) combination of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viogner. Knowing one of our Langhorne McLaren Vale growers had a small patch of mature Marsanne and the famously ‘freckly’ Roussanne in his midst, we went straight to the source and snared all he had. The result is a wine that takes you on a stroll through a summer orchard with aromas of peaches, white nectarines and spices leaping from the glass. Add to this a fleshy, succulent, honeysuckled-kissed palate that fills every nook and cranny and you’re off to the races! A touch of oak coupled with bright acidity is the perfect foil to the preceeding orgy of flavors. A wine to jump into right away.
March 18th, 2011
Shoofly Wine, Wine of Australia
The name of this wine takes me back to my elementary school days when potty humor was the best kind and we loved to sing the "Shoo Fly" song. We'd get to the last line and sing "I'm very busy now." Tacking on "VERY busy now" with that knowing look on our faces.
I purchased this wine from Simply Wine, deciding I needed to after their Facebook post (Hi my name is Wendy and I'm addicted to Facebook). I got the Merlot based on the sellers recommendation and the Freckle, well, because I have freckles and think freckles are adorable. And yes that IS a good enough reason to pick a wine.
Tonight I'm enjoying the Freckle. I do like it which is kind of surprising. It'a fairly oaky and I'm not typically a fan of oaky whites. It's made from the "freckly" Roussanne grape, "and a few friends". The label boasts honeysuckle and peach flavors. It's a fun white and I think it will be a nice deck wine this summer.
Between the buzzing flies and the sweltering heat in South Oz, the team at Shoofly decided they needed a refreshing new wine to help them unwind – one ideally modeled on their fave white varieties from the Rhone. Lucky enough to snare a parcel of Marsanne and Roussanne that a grower mate had hidden in a sneaky plot, they blended it with their crazily aromatic Viognier. The result? The Freckle, named after the famously spotty Roussanne grape.
It's a wine that takes you on a stroll through a summer orchard with aromas of peaches, white nectarines and spices leaping from the glass. Add to this a fleshy, succulent, honeysuckled-kissed palate that fills every nook and cranny and you’re off to the races! A touch of oak coupled with bright acidity is the perfect foil to the preceeding orgy of flavors.
The Dirt: the winemaker: Ben Riggs the blend: Marsanne (40%), Roussanne (37%), Viognier (23%) the winemaking: fermented in stainless steel, 3 months in seasoned French oak the region: McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek & Adelaide Hills - South Australia the alcohol: 14.5%
