Brick Kiln was established in 2001 when Alison and Malcolm left Fox Creek Wines and joined a partnership with fellow Adelaide people and some Canadians to form the Nine Gums Vineyard Partnership. The vision of the partnership is to make a wine to the same level of the Fox Creek Reserve at an affordable price. The eight hectare vineyard in Willunga has Shiraz planted progressively since 1996 (by previous owners).
Their cellar door has only recently been opened in the Red Poles Restaurant and Art Gallery on McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale. The wines are available for tasting from 12 noon to 4 pm Wednesday to Sunday each week.
On the 7th January 2012 Brick Kiln are having a special tasting between 5 and 7 pm – with special guests, wines and maybe some music as well. I may even see you there!
2011 Pinot Grigio ($A16)
Made from grapes from the Sabella Vineyard near the Red Poles cellar door facility and was made by Linda Domas who does her thing at both the Dennis Wines and Parri Estate facilities. I have tasted the Sabella made Pinot Grigio as well as having tried Linda’s offerings over the last couple of years. So I was looking forward to this wine. What I got was a suitable offering that had aromas of grapefruit and lime zest that went to flavours of pear with citrus inspired acid. The mid palate was particularly good. I can see many people enjoying this crisp seafood wine or maybe just on it’s own, but I am still struggling to see what has people excited by this variety.
2011 Shiraz Rose ($A16)
Another Linda Domas offering and made by fruit from the 9 Gums Vineyard. It is all that one expects from a Shiraz rose. The typical red fruit and almost creamy aromas followed by a clean refreshing palate of red fruits, with some extra body from the Shiraz fruit. Not sweet but not fully dry either so it should appeal to many people, particularly during the hot days of summer.
2009 Sparkling Shiraz ($A18)
One of my favorite wine styles when done well so I was looking forward to tasting this offering from the 9 Gums Vineyard. The beginnings were looking good, with aromas of blackberry, dark and ripe plums with oak derived elements. The flavours were unfortunately a little one dimensional as it was only about the plums. The tannins were almost non-existent which lead to the wine being quite short – in other words the flavours just stopped very quickly when you drink the wine. I am probably spoilt by such wines as the 2006 Thope Sparkling Shiraz, but give me a bottle of this any day.
2008 Shiraz ($A20)
The wine was made by Phil Christiansen who is making quite a name for himself making small volume wines for many labels in McLaren Vale. Matured in 65% American oak with the remainder in French oak. The aromas started a little stinky even barn yardy with the coconut one expects from the American oak and the plum you expect from McLaren Vale Shiraz. The tannins are smooth to make what is a good effort from what was a difficult year.
2008 The Grove Shiraz ($A35)
All the best fruit of the 9 Gums Vineyard was saved for the best French oak. I thought the aromas were somewhat short but the flavour profile was a different thing all together. The flavours were an integration of dark plum fruits, good acid levels and smooth soft tannins that provide you with a structured trinity of flavour. I suspect this wine will improve over the next couple of years.