2007 Durif

Dr Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate (US), December 2009
2007 RUTHERGLEN ESTATES DURIF
'The 2007 Durif is a glass-coating opaque purple colour. Dense and powerful, it has full tannin backed by more than ample fruit. All the right stuff is present, but it will take 10 to 15 years to become civilised. 90+ points'

Stephen Tanser (US), September/October 2009
'Opaque violet colour. Brooding dark cherry liqueur and cassis on the nose, with notes of dark chocolate and cracked pepper adding complexity. Solid, chewy dark fruit flavours provide good palate coverage and are framed by chunky tannins. Just a tad coarse, with strong finishing power and repeating pepper and cherry notes. This would be good with a braised lamb or beef dish. 88 Tanser points'

James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010
DURIF 2007
'Inky purple; unashamedly full-bodied, with prune and blackberry conserve surrounded by firm dusty tannins, which in fact save the wine from itself. Rating 89'

Ken Gargett, Courier Mail, 28 July 2009
SAVOURING THE GRAPES OF WARMTH
'... Rutherglen Estates 2007 (Durif) is a soft, more approachable style with deceptive drip ...'

Tony Keys, The Key Review of Wines, Issue 20, July 2009
RUTHERGLEN ESTATES DURIF 2007
'I always perk up when a Rutherglen Durif is on the bench, rustic or even rugged but always an honest wine. This is no exception; a whole array of dark fruits, with a good dose of chocolate will do for nose and palate, flavour aplenty in all parts of the mouth along with depth and some length. 91 points and well worth $'

09/10 Big Red Wine Book by Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh
RUTHERGLEN ESTATES DURIF 2007
'It needs an extra year or two under its belt, but it's pretty good clobber. It's a bit edgy and unsettled for now, its full-bodied flavours of crushed berry and toasty oak coming across as fresh but grainy and slightly out of tune. Time should fix that. Drink 2011–2016, Value 3 drops, Score 89.'

Lyndey Milan, Australia Good Food, July 2009
BEST BUYS - BOLD CHOICE 2007 RUTHERGLEN ESTATES DURIF
'What's the story? Durif is a red grape variety originating from France's Rhone region that is now widely grown in Australia. Tastes elegant, with intense berry, stewed cherry and fruit spice flavours. Drink with casseroles or roast lamb.'

John Lewis, Newscastle Herald, 13 May 2009
BOTTLER RUTHERGLEN ESTATES 2007 DURIF
'Big, but not brutish, this Rutherglen Durif is multi-layered and thoroughly enjoyable. It is dark garnet-hued and plum pudding and bay leaf scents come through on the nose. Fleshy, ripe blood plum flavour dominates the front of the palate and gamey, spearminty, date-like fruit characters meld with savoury oak on the middle palate. Agreeably firm earthy tannins hold sway at the finish. Barbecued kangaroo fillet, deep-fried veal and olive meatballs or lamb shanks casserole would be excellent food partners. 4.5 glasses'

Fergus McGhie, Canberra Times, 6 May 2009
FOR THE CELLAR RUTHERGLEN ESTATES 2007 DURIF
'Durif lovers are a funny bunch. They prize the variety's heavy tannins and lack of charm as a young wine. You'd usually have to be patient with this grape, but not the Rutherglen Estates Durif. It's already very appealing with mocha and stewed fruit flavours and plenty of youthful generousity. Of course, it will be better with a bit more extra time in the cellar. 4 stars'

Tyson Stelzer and Nick Stock, Wine Business Monthly, May 2009
'Light cherry/berry and chocolate nose here but don’t be fooled – note the dark meaty aromas too. There’s a decent chew of tannin through the back and a downright gutsy side to this deep purple Durif. A big wine with plenty of flavour and ideal for hearty winter drinking. 91 points'

Vintage Direct, The Newsletter of Nicks Wine Merchants, March–April 2009
2007 RUTHERGLEN ESTATES DURIF
'Rutherglen, Victoria. Wow! This wine might even provide a formidable challenge to the voluptuous wines of Warrabilla. Saturated, black purple colour with black purple hue showing paint like cling to the glass – a wonderful sight. Superb lifted nose, filled with violets, morello cherry, spice and liquorice. Big, bold and mouthfilling palate, with flavours of vanilla, morella cherry and spice supported by fine dryish but balanced tannins. A flavour explosion. Very long liquorice and spice. Cellar 4–5 years. Rating: 96 points, Value: 5 stars'

Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 17 March 2009
'A regional staple at a decent price. As with the 2007 Shiraz Viognier it needs an extra year or so to soften and knock off some rough edges, but it’s still pretty good clobber. Full-bodied, fresh, grainy flavours of crushed berry and toasty oak are convincing even though, for now, they taste slightly out of tune. Time should fix that. 89 points'

TROPHY  Best North Eastern District Dry Red Wine Not Exceeding Three Years of Age (Best North East Red)
TROPHY  RL Seppelt Perpetual Trophy for Best District Dry Red One or Two Years Old (Best Rutherglen Red)

GOLD  Rutherglen Wine Show 2009

SILVER  Brisbane Fine Wine Festival 2009
SILVER  Federation Square Wine Awards 2009

BRONZE  Royal Queensland Wine Show 2009
BRONZE  Cowra Wine Show 2009
BRONZE  Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2008
BRONZE  Rutherglen Wine Show 2008
BRONZE  Victorian Wine Show 2008