Reviewed – 11 October 2011

Christie Schulz, the proprietor of Turkey Flats was in town the other day to show off her current range of wines. I took the opportunity to catch up and try the range as I have been a fan for a long time.

The Schulz family have been growing grapes in the Barossa for over 150 years. Indeed, shiraz was planted on the property in 1846! In more recent times, the current generation moved from grape growers to winemakers, and have expanded the vineyard holdings in the process. All fruit used is estate grown.

This was not a blind tasting so, as always, take my points with a grain of salt.

These wines are a bargain! They represent the best of the Barossa, but at a fraction of the price of other celebrated producers.

Reviewed

Turkey Flats – Marsanne/Viognier/Rousanne – Butcher’s Block – 2010 (17). A lovely nose of stonefruit and apricot nectar. This wine is medium bodied, though with enough savoury components to make it an excellent drink. The texture is a highlight.

Turkey Flats – Grenache/Shiraz/Carignan – Rose – 2011 (17.3). Fresh and vibrant, with bright red fruits and pretty rose water accents. The palate is juicy, succulent, savoury and long. The finish is refreshingly dry (5g/l residual sugar). One of my favourite Australian Roses.

Turkey Flats – Grenache – 2008 (17.5+). This has beautiful perfume on the nose. The palate is succulent and the fruit delicious. There are black fruits, chocolate, coffee and a touch of savoury oak. There are very fine tannins and a long finish. Perhaps a touch warm on the finish, but otherwise and excellent wine.

Turkey Flats – Shiraz/Grenache/Mouvedre – Butchers Block – 2009 (17.5+). I really liked this wine. It has a complex nose with coffee, chocolate and ripe red fruits. The palate is savoury and spicy, with real depth to the quality fruit. Chewy tannins to close make for an excellent food wine. Drink now or in ten years.

Turkey Flats – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2009 (18- 18.5). Lovely nose here. Yes, there are ripe red fruits, but the structure is superb. Mint, eucalypt, perfume and fragrant violets define the nose. The texture is spot on and the palate is dense and very long. This was a big surprise to me as it is an elegant wine that defies its warmer region origin. A great example of Barossa cabernet!

Turkey Flats – Shiraz – 2009 (18.5). Fragrant and spicy nose, this is still a touch reserved. The palate is tight and firm, but the depth of flavour is a revelation. Remarkably elegant and refined, this has superb mouth-feel and texture, and the length is spot on. The fruit for this wine came from vineyards in Bethany and Stonewell.