Print this Wine         1997 Frankland Estate "Olmo's Reward" (Merlot/Franc+++)   FRANKLAND, GREAT SOUTHERN                 January Release   Bordeaux Blends       This is yet another superb wine from Frankland Estate who continue to impress with wine that is both varietally true and correct yet displays an abundance of distinctive regional characters. The blend employs all five Bordeaux varieties with Merlot being the most prominent, followed by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and finally just a trace of Petit Verdot. Wines using all five varieties are very rare in Australia with most producers going for the more obvious varietal characters. This wine is far more subtle and complex by a long way. The appearance shows a deep dark red with glimpses of purple. This indicates concentration of flavour from low yielding dry grown vines. Apart from the early years establishing the vines Frankland Estate proprietors Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam have not watered the vines to get a higher yield. The vines generally produce a consistent amount of fruit which is a good indication that the vineyard location is a most suitable site. The bouquet sees a multitude of nuances blending together. There is an earthy, mineral component that is a trademark of the Frankland Estate vineyard, appearing in other varieties. In addition there are some plum like fruit and rose petals which are characteristic of Merlot, the most important factor in the blend. Other flavors are present with a herbal, aniseed lift courtesy of the Cabernet Franc, and some juicy sweet raspberry overtone attributed to the Malbec. The combination makes this a multi faceted wine. One taste and you are immediately aware that all of the characters present on the nose will translate into the palate. Here the fruit flavors take over from the earthy notes however give the wine a few years and I’m sure that the prominence will be reversed. The most important feature of the palate is the smoothness across the palate and the effortless manner all the differing components seem to blend together and merge into one another. This is a triumph to Barrie and Judi who go through the painstaking tasting and blending exercises to put together the Olmo’s blend which will vary from vintage to vintage. At the finish there is some tannin but at the moment it is hard to detect because of the voluptuous nature of the fruit. The wine can be enjoyed now as the fruit is so up front however the structure is there and the wine will get softer and even smoother and peak after around 6 to 8 years of age. With the combination of fruit and earthiness this is a wine designed for game. Venison or hare would be ideal. The wine is rich enough to cope with the strong flavors of the game and there is enough fruit in the mix so that you will still be able to taste the wine even with a rich reduction sauce that would suit the flesh.         How do I download Hi-Res Labels?

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