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Tim Adams

Tim Adams bottlesTim Adams' involvement with wine began in 1975 when he took a job as a cellar rat with the Stanley Wine Company. Like many cellar rats, however, Adams had clear aims and aspirations - the job was just a stepping stone to bigger things. Within a year he progressed to laboratory assistant, and by 1981 he graduated with a BSc in Wine Science from the Charles Stuart University in Wagga Wagga, following five years of correspondence study. The following year, just seven years after joining the firm, he was appointed winemaker.

Tim AdamsIn 1984 he made moves to form what would eventually become Tim Adams Wines. Initially he set up Adams & Wray, with local cooper Bill Wray. Their aims were twofold; to provide barrels to local winemakers, as well as to release wine under their own label. Three years later the pair went their separate ways, and Adams purchased his own winery site in the Clare Valley, and 1988 was his first vintage there. Over time the operation has expanded considerably, from the initial harvest of 10 tonnes, to the current typical harvest of 500 tonnes, of which about half is bottled under the Tim Adams label. The fruit is largely sourced from local growers on long-term contracts, with whom Adams is heavily involved in order to maintain quality. These sources (they deserve some recognition, don't you think?) include:

As a result many have become good family friends, and this is illustrated by the names of some of the Tim Adams range. The Tim Adams Grenache blend 'Fergus' is named after Fergus Mahon who was good enough to sell Adams his Grenache in a year when the Shiraz and Cabernet harvests were very small. A more recent change is the labelling of the Semillon as 'Sheppard's Vineyards', after their vineyard manager Frank Sheppard.

Creaming off the best grapes for the Tim Adams label mean that these will never be wines that really belong to a specific site or vineyard, although the wines are generally sourced from the same families year after year. The Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz is the exception, as this wine is sourced from a red loam and limestone vineyard planted by a local family in 1904. Nevertheless, the results are certainly worth experiencing. Take a look through any recent buyers guide and you will find the recommendations peppered with the name of Tim Adams. The Riesling and Semillon are excellent examples of these varieties, but I think it is the reds that hold the most interest - both basic and Aberfeldy Shiraz, and the Fergus, in particular. (30/12/03)

Contact details:
Address: PO Box 219, Clare, South Australia 5453
Telephone: +61 (0) 8 8842 2429
Fax: +61 (0) 8 8842 3550
Internet: www.timadamswines.com.au

Tim Adams - Tasting Notes

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2002

Tim Adams Riesling (Clare Valley) 2002: A very pale and shimmering green-tinged wine. Nose is dominated by the aroma of freshly squeezed lime juice, with nuances of honeycomb and acacia. Firm acidity through the palate, which matches the fresh lime fruit found here also, as well as a touch of apricot. A slightly full, rounded character to the texture. There's none of the honey found on the nose, but I suspect this will develop with bottle age. Although drinking well now, this wine will happily tolerate several years in the cellar. 16+/20 (December 2003)

Tim Adams The Fergus (Clare Valley) 2002: Bottled under Stelvin screwcap. This is Grenache from the vineyard of Fergus Mahon, fermented on a mix of Syrah and Cabernet marc. I found the 2000 to be deep and captivating, if not complex, but this is a different kettle of fish. The nose is dominated by very sweet blackcurrant pastille-fruitgum, aromas, with a little raspberry, but essentially very fruit-driven and one-dimensional. Creamy texture to the palate, but fresh acidity cutting through this and matching the firm alcohol very well. But very fruit-juicy and very simple, which detracts from the overall experience. Merely quite good. 14/20 (September 2006)

2001

Tim Adams Shiraz (Clare Valley) 2001: A young, purple wine. Initially sweet and confected on the nose, but with time in the glass the wine settles down leaving ripe, roasted blueberry fruit and charcoal. Quite full and sweet on entry, with plenty of tannin and structure through the midpalate. It even has some depth and texture. Good acidity. Clean, juicy, tannic finish. If opening now leave in a decanter for a few hours first. Otherwise this will improve in the cellar over the next five years. 16.5+/20 (December 2003)

2000

Tim Adams The Fergus (Clare Valley) 2000: A fascinating wine, dominated by Grenache fermented on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz marc (the left-over skins, pips and so on following fermentation). A good rich colour. Full and open, with plenty of strawberry fruit on the nose. The palate is where this wine really shines though. It has super-ripe tannins, with perfectly poised, gentle acidity, which is entirely appropriate for this medium bodied wine. Brilliant flavours, of strawberries with black treacle, and liquorice too. This is lovely, warm and rounded stuff, and yet nicely balanced. 17.5/20 (December 2003)

1999

Tim Adams Riesling (Clare Valley) 1999: The nose carries lovely floral aromas, with attractive blossom scents. On the palate soft acidity sits with good, lemon-lime citrus flavours. 16.5/20 (August 2003) Label

1998

Tim Adams Semillon (Clare Valley) 1998: A rich, golden hue of maturity. Indeed there is a mature, complex, interesting nose, full of nuts, honey and smoke. But the palate seems at first to be on the way down, with rasping, disjointed acidity suggesting this needs drinking up. It seems rather thin and stretched out, but it still has plenty of character and flavour, and there is a whisper of madeirisation, just enough to add some interest but not at all off-putting. But left for twenty-four hours in bottle, the wine really shone; notes of toffee and honeycomb, and the acidity had faded and seemed more at peace with the mature character of the wine. Despite initial displeasure, this turned out to be a good one. 16.5/20 (November 2004)

Tim Adams Semillon (Clare Valley) 1998: This one has a few years bottle age on it. A rich golden colour, and an intense nose to match. Limes, butter and honey, all melded together and spread over golden toast. There's a touch of oatmeal too - perhaps an aroma of oak. On the palate it is full bodied, with intense flavours mirroring the nose, and plenty of savoury grip and acidity to match. A honey and lemon character on the finish, which has a weighty, creamy texture. Although this has spent time in oak (it is the great unoaked cuvées which age well) I think this wine will improve for a couple more years yet. If you want to experience classic Aussie Semillon at a fair price this is the bottle to go for. 16.5+/20 (December 2003)

1997

Tim Adams Botrytis Semillon (Clare Valley) 1997: Tasted blind; from a half bottle. Lots of information for the geek here; from the Baronga Vineyard, owned by the Ward family. Harvested June 10th, 1997, with 19 degrees potential alcohol and 90 g/l residual sugar. Good age on inspection. Honey and marmalade nose, with evidence of botrytis and a nutty note. Great depth. Full, rich, sweet, structured. Decent acidity. Some depth. Not well integrated and no finesse, with a rather baked character. 15/20 (February 2005)

Tim Adams Riesling (Clare Valley) 1997: A rubbery nose suggests a problem with sulphur - with time, however, this blows off, leaving more typical limey Riesling aromas. Palate is dry and refreshing, with good acidity, leading into a slightly honeyed texture mid-palate. Full-bodied. Lots of length. 16/20 (August 2003)

Tim Adams Semillon (Clare Valley) 1997: Pale golden hue. A classic varietal nose - a combination of limey freshness with rich, lanolin, honey and buttered toast aromas. Surprisingly the palate is very refreshing rather than heavy, with excellent acidity, although a rich unctuousness develops on the end-palate. Flavours of honey and citrus fruit. Good length. 16.5/20 (June 2003)

1996

Tim Adams Shiraz (Clare Valley) 1996: Wonderful red-purple hue. Great nose of ripe fruit, mint, spice and black pepper. and chocolate. Soft, sweet ripe fruit on the palate, with gentle tannins and god acidity. A real fruit bomb of a wine, but with pleasant tannic structure. 16/20 (April 2002)

1995

Tim Adams Aberfeldy (Clare Valley) 1995: A dark, glossy wine. A very expressive nose, led by crushed raspberries on toast and black pepper - classic Shiraz aromas - overlaid by tons of vanillin American oak. There's some complexity as well, with notes of beetroot and pickling spices. A very dense and earthy impression. Full, rich and medium bodied on entry, staying quite restrained through the midpalate, but still with bags of expressive chocolate fruit. A good backbone of firm but ripe and approachable tannins, and quite obvious acidity. Rich, chewy mouthfeel. Should drink well over the next five to eight years. 17.5/20 (December 2003)

Tim Adams Aberfeldy (Clare Valley) 1995: Incredible, opaque purple colour. Initially, like many of the wines, the nose is all sweet blackcurrant and blackberry pastilles, with other complexities developing as the wine aerates in the glass. The nose evolves into a minty, menthol-laden affair, with a rich seam of chocolate. A really smooth palate, rich with more chocolate and mint. Notable acids with a green fruit characteristic, later on a touch sherbetty. The tannins and acid are more prominent on the big, chewy finish. Good length. From an Australian Shiraz blind tasting. 17/20 (March 2001)

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