CHAPEL HILL
I'm getting the feeling that Chapel Hill has turned a corner. It's not that they have made many bad wines, in fact they have been one of my favourite wineries from McLaren Vale over the last 20 years. But their recent offerings just seem to be a peg higher on the quality ladder. And they have some interesting new varietals to boot. That has to be, at least in part, the influence of winemaker Michael Fragos who has been with Chapel Hill since 2004. He was awarded International Winemaker of the Year at the 2007 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. And so to the wines, one of which wine commentator Campbell Mattison refers to as "Grange-esque"!
Chapel Hill Il Vescovo Sangiovese 2008 - $18.90 is my favourite in their Il Vescovo range. Ripe plum, cherry with spice and astringent tannins giving it backbone. There's a great combination of  fruit and savouriness that makes this a good every day wine, particularly with food. If you haven't tried many Sangiovese, this is a good place to start. Here's another good review:
"Here’s an excellent value from a winery that’s back in top form. Lots of ripe cherry, some dried herb, cola and dusting of vanilla oak. It’s plush and quite full bodied with some spiced oak and plenty of mouth-coating chewy tannins. The impression is of density and a swathe of ripe fruit flavour, but there’s an attractive savoury sweep of tannins and a slight (attractive dried herb) bitterness on the finish. As much McLaren as it is Sangiovese, but so enjoyable. A top drink from top to bottom. Rated 92 Points" - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
"Striking crimson, not usual for sangiovese; a mix of dark and sour cherry, with significant tannins that would not be unusual in Tuscany, and will fuse nicely with age. Drink 2016. Rating 90" - James Halliday
Chapel Hill Il Vescovo Pinot Grigio 2008 - $18.90 - This is an interesting wine. It's hard finding good Aussie Pinot Grigio; too many are flabby and lack character but this one I can happily drink. Very tricky to pick one fruit character out, perhaps peach and pear. But there is a definite minerality and a long dry, savoury finish.
"The 2008 il Vescovo Pinot Grigio displays guava, lychees and nashi pear flavours underpinned by a lingering, spicy, grainy and minerally palate. We have opted for a drier style, as this in combination with the textural mouth feel allows the variety to showcase its nuances as well as ensuringthat the wine can be enjoyed in partnership with food" - Winery notes
Chapel Hill Il Vescovo Savignin 2008 - $18.90 - This is the variety that was known as Albarino - until someone worked out it wasn't! So Savagnin is the correct varietal name for virtually all Aussie wines formerly known as Albarino.
"A name change has done nothing to quash Michael Fragos’ enthusiasm for this variety, and the new vintage is his best yet. Four months on yeast lees has built minerality and texture, giving poise and distinction to its cool lemon zest and mint flavours and subtle orange blossom exotics. 92 points" - Tyson Stelzer - Wine Business Monthly Wine 100, 2010
Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - $28.50 - I really like this wine. Dark deep purple colour. Plum and blackcurrant fruit flavours on the nose with a bit of spice. Really nice fruit and structure on the palate. This is a terrific little Cabernet with the intensity and structure the outstanding features.Campbell Mattison gave this wine 96 points in his Big Red Wine Book but has slightly lowered the mark on The Wine Front website.
"The flavours are excellent. Chocolate, blackberry, spice and earth. A lovely mix of sweetness, ripeness, savouriness and oak. Length and tannin structure are on the money too. In fact, it’s the tannin structure that really elevates the wine above its station. My only query is whether it quite has the stuffing through the mid-palate - there’s a bit of cabernet’s famous dip. Otherwise it’s an excellent red, for drinking now or later. Drink 2010-2016. 93+ points" - Campbell Mattison, The Wine Front
Chapel Hill Shiraz 2007 - $28.50 - Aromas of blackberry, chocolate, and fruitcake. The palate is well balanced showing dark berry flavours, a bit of pepper and spice, chocolate and some toasty oak. Medium grained tannins give length that goes well back. Very satisfying
"The 2004 and 2005 versions of this wine were excellent and this release is right up there with them. If you like the region's Shiraz, you'll love this. It has everything you could ask for: lots of velvety tannin, lots of velvety dark fruit flavour, lots of velvety oak and lots of, well, velvet. You get the drift - it's a cracker. 94 points. Drink 2011-2017" Campbell Mattison, The Big Red Wine Book, 2009/10
Chapel Hill The Vicar 2007 - $57.50 - Colour is inky purple. This is pretty yummy. It's chocolate, spice, liquorice, vanilla, dry ripe berry fruit with good tannins, balancing acidity and great length. It's just all round balanced and good. Give it 5 or so years to really shine and then it should hold its own for another 5-10 years. ONE FOR THE CELLAR
"The 2006 waas very good but perhaps not worthy of the asking price; this 2007 certainly is. It's a Grange-esque style of wine. The perfect warm-hearted, warm-climate Shiraz. It's a monster in terms of its amount of flavour, but it has all been managed to perfection. Talk about being seduced by a wine! Plums, ink, coffee, cedarwood and long coils of satin tannin. This will live for a very long time but, like a lot of great wines, it will be lovely at any time of its life. Drink 2013-2022. 97 points" - Campbell Mattison, The Big Red Wine Book
"The Vicar has become an incredible McLaren Vale Shiraz, oozing the richness of blueberry, liquorice, plum and bitter dark chocolate fruit. Its construction is impeccable, with beautifully poised and textured tannins that are the signature of Michael Fragos. It will improve for 15 years or more. 95 points" - Tyson Stelzer, WBM, Wine 100, 2010
Other current releases from Chapel Hill include:
Chapel Hill Il Vescovo Sangiovese Rose 2009 - $18.20
Chapel Hill Il Vescovo Tempranillo 2008 - $19.90
Not sure which of these wines to buy or cellar? Why not try a mixed pack.
Chapel Hill 'Drink Now' Dozen - $230 - There's the 'drink now' dozen containing 3 bottles each of the Pinot Grigio, Savignin, Sangiovese and the Shiraz. Price is $230 (discounted from over $255 as individual bottles) or
Chapel Hill 'Cellar' Dozen - $370 - The cellar pack includes 3 bottles each of the Sangiovese, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and The Vicar. Price is $380 (discounted from over $400 as individual bottles)
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