Rating:

Product Description:

Wine:
"Lush dark berry fruit with striking floral edges combine on the nose of the 2012 Dagger Pinot Noir to create a fresh yet complex attack on the senses. Lifted rich fruit and spice parry along the palate to a finish of fine-grained tannin and bright acidity."

"The Dagger has been honed to create a vibrant, rich, earlier drinking wine displaying all of the hallmark aromas and flavours of Pinot Noir. Drink young while the edge is keen." - Winery

Viticulture:
"The grapes for 'The Dagger' are from Charleston and Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills." - Winery

The Label:
"The dictionary definition of 'Riposte' (pronounced rip-posst) is comeback, reply, retort, or in the context of the sport of fencing a quick counter stroke. After over a decade of confusion about his name 'Riposte' was chosen as an appropriate name for a 'comeback label' by Tim Knappstein." - Winery

Tim Knappstein - History:
"The Knappstein family began making wine in South Australia's Clare Valley in 1894. A third generation vigneron Tim began his career at the family owned Stanley Wine Company. After being named Dux of his year in oenology at the renowned Roseworthy College he went on to win over 500 show awards, gold medals and trophies in his first 10 years as head winemaker at Stanley with their premium brand Leasingham."

"In 1969 Tim ventured out on his own and founded the Enterprise and Tim Knappstein Wines labels in the Clare Valley and established himself as one of Australia's most highly regarded winemakers. An unrequited desire to produce premium cool climate varieties, in particular Pinot Noir, led Tim to plant the first vineyard in the Lenswood district of the Adelaide Hills in 1981. In 1994 Tim severed all ties with the Clare Valley winery bearing his name to live and make wine full time in the Adelaide Hills under the Lenswood Vineyards . These and later Riposte wines continued to gain accolades both domestically and abroad."

"Alongside making wine Tim has been a continuous fixture on the show judging circuit since 1975 and chairs the Cowra and National Cool Climate Wines Shows. He is also a winemaking consultant and is regarded as one of Australia's most informed and experienced cool climate vignerons."

"In 2006 as a response to personal vicissitudes and the inability to use his own name as a brand Tim launched the Riposte label, a small portfolio of complex and striking cool climate wines from the Adelaide Hills. Riposte is a fencing term meaning a quick reply or counterthrust and is Tim's personal reply to the increasingly corporatised world of wine making. Tim's driving passion is to create the finest wines possible from premium Adelaide Hills vineyards. A true family enterprise from its inception Riposte is wholly owned and run by Tim with his wife Dale and son Nick." - Winery