The Classic August Dozen CANOBOLAS-SMITH STRAWHOUSE SHIRAZ 2002 Winemakers Notes Fifteen months in two & three year old barrels (a combination of French and American) has given this medium-bodied wine a fineness and approachability that will see it drinking at its peak in the next three years or so. The ‘02 vintage was very good and the young Strawhouse vines gave us a good small crop. Cellar “Raspberry and black fruits on the nose with only the slightest hint of spice on the palate make this a medium-term cellaring prospect. [Bottled July 2004].” Additional Notes “The wine was made by Murray Smith with fruit from the Strawhouse Vineyard. The Strawhouse Vineyard established in 1997, is owned by Justin Byrne and Meg Simpson and the Shiraz is from cuttings from the original Canobolas-Smith planting in the 1980's. The vineyard is pruned hard each year, is dry-land and crops at about one tonne to the acre.” I apologize ‘just a little’ for what may seem an indulgence, which it probably is. Throughout many vintages now I have worked with the usual blow-ins up in Orange, and it just great to see this wine and the Sauvignon Blanc previously, now able to be enjoyed. I was impressed trying this wine, continually, as I drunk it over four days and it never fell over. It just got better. Availability Cellar Door or please contact me. Winery Details Phone / Fax: 02 6563 6113 Open: Weekends 11 to 5. Address: Boree Lane, off Cargo Road, Orange, NSW, 2800. E-mail: canobolas.smith@netwit.net.au Back To Top GLAETZER BAROSSA VALLEY BISHOPS SHIRAZ 2001 Winemakers Colin and Ben Glaetzer Winemakers Notes After initial fermentation in small, open vats, the wine was aged in seasoned American and French hogsheads for 18 months. The full-bodied wine is made predominantly from 30 to 60 year-old vines at Ebenezer and always contains material from the oldest 80 year-old vines. This ensures the Glaetzer “house” style is evident. Powerful without being overpowering, the nose displays cracked pepper, nutmeg and earthy spice. Rich and full-bodied on the palate with ripe, smooth and supple tannin. Briary fruit intermingles with plums, cassis and hints of fine grained oak. Cellar “A full-bodied yet restrained wine that will benefit from careful cellaring for up to a decade after release.” Additional Notes “Established in 1995, the absolute focus is on creating Barossa Wines that truly reflect the exceptional quality and diversity of the Barossa Valley. This family-owned company is an expression of more than 30 years of winemaking for Colin, and a new chapter for the Glaetzers who have been in the Barossa since 1888. Colin and his winemaker son Ben craft small volumes of super-premium wines, using exceptional fruit from ancient, dry-grown vineyards in the Ebenezer district of the valley. With minimal intervention, they turn this fruit into wines which show Glaetzer’s trademark elegance and complexity.” Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 8563 0288 Fax: 08 8563 0218 Open: Monday to Saturday. 10 to 4 Address: 34 Barossa Valley Way, Tanunda, S.A, 5352. Web: www.glaetzer.com E-mail: glaetzer@glaetzer.com Back To Top HAPPS PF RED 2004 Winemakers Erl Happ, Mark Warren and Anne-Coralie Fleury Winemakers Notes The chief grapes in this vintage are Grenache 50%, Merlot 26%, Tinta Cao16%, Graciano 5% and Cinsaut 3%. A blend of Mediterranean varieties that is intensely fruity and ready for immediate consumption. Intensely purple – a clear indication the wine has escaped the harmful effects of oxidation despite the absence of the antioxidant sulphur dioxide. The aroma is fresh and clean with cherry and dark fruit characters combining with some attractive charry oak. On the palate it is young and fresh with intense berry fruit flavours and savoury confectionary notes. The oak is apparent but the fruit easily matches it. Cellar “PF Red will hold its condition in the bottle as well as wine with ‘preservative.’ A minimum of five years may be expected. A recent tasting of all our PF Reds since 1994 confirmed the point. There is little to be gained however in cellaring it beyond four years of age. It is not our aim to produce such a wine, rather, to produce a wine that can be consumed with satisfaction from release.” Additional Notes I had forgotten for the moment, about Erl Happ and his winemaking activities until recently when in my daily plod I delivered many boxes of his wine. I had to try this wine and did so with another minimalist winemaker who looked on it favourably. I’ve only seen Mr Happ at public tastings in the past, but had read of his exhaustive work on varieties other adventures into winemaking. I read again in Halliday’s’ Wine Companion, that he was a schoolteacher. This may explain a lot, and I’ll bet he was a very good one. It’s worth a look at the Happ’s Website. Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 9755 3300 Fax: 08 9755 3846 Open: Daily 10 to 5 Address: 571 Commonage Road, Dunsborough, W.A., 6281. Web: www.happs.com.au E-mail: happs@happs.com.au Back To Top HEARTLAND DOLCETTO LAGREIN 2004 Winemaker Ben Glaetzer Winemakers Notes Opaque purple in colour with hints of brick red. On the nose there are lifted aromas of mulberry and cassis with a hint of currants. Nuances of dried straw and eucalypt add freshness and density. In the mouth, flavours of cracked pepper, cedar cherries and wood smoke. The palate is rich, balanced by firm savoury tannin. Cellar A drink young wine, now and over the next two years. Additional Notes This wine is the very enthusiastic recommendation from Nick Butler of Winestock, the local wholesaler. According to the Oxford Companion, Dolcetto is “an early ripening, low acid variety cultivated almost exclusively in the north west region of Piedmont, Italy……rarely blended with other varieties.” To the east in Trentino-Alto Adige, is the home of Lagrein. The same source says it can produce reds of “real character.” The wine can do its own talking. 70% Dolcetto and 30% Lagrein, all grapes are from Langhorne Creek. “Heartland Wines was created by a small group of leading South Australian wine identities. All Heartland wines are made with fruit from the director’s own mature vineyards in the Limestone Coast and Langhorne Creek. The directors of this privately owned label are second generation winemakers Ben Glaetzer and Scott Collett, fifth generation viniculturist Geoff Hardy and wine industry professional Grant Tilbrook.” According to Halliday’s Wine Companion the label was set up with export in mind, but it fits into this scheme, as have others of similar persuasion, quite well. Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 8357 9344 Fax: 08 8357 9388 Open: Not Address: Level 1, 205 Greenhill Rd, Eastwood, S.A, 5063 Web: www.heartlandwines.com.au E-mail: admin@heartlandwines.com.au Back To Top Winemaker Mark Messenger Winemakers Notes Pale straw green in colour, this wine shows characters of pear, zesty lime, dried basil and subtle smoky vanillin oak. The palate is refined with a seamless structure, an array of complex fruit and oak characters and finishing smooth and long. Cellar “It has the potential to age for quite some time.” Looking at ‘other’ recommendations this probably means 5 to 8 years. Additional Notes “The grapes were hand picked from the low yielding, unirrigated Estate Semillon vines planted in 1984. To achieve a range of flavours, the vines are grown on vertical shoot positioned (VSP) and Scott Henry styled trellis systems. Harvest was 9 th March with the grapes coming in at 13.0 Baume. After crushing, pressing and settling, 55% of the juice was barrel fermented in new (33%) and one year old French oak barriques with the balance tank fermented. After six months lees contact in both the barrels and tank, the two batches were blended, stabilised and bottled in late September 2003.” Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 9755 9000 Fax: 08 9755 9100 Open: Daily 10 to 5. Address: Harmans Road South, Cowaramup, Western Australia, 6284 Back To Top LIEBICHWEIN TemPt 2004 Winemakers Notes 73% Tempranillo, 15% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Traditional hand plunging of the skins, basket pressing and non filtration, have achieved excellent colour and flavour extraction. Oak maturation of eight months in French and Hungarian oak. A wholly tempting wine blend. Deep, dark red-purple with a blue tinge. A fruit-driven style with pronounced raspberry, mulberry and floral aromas. Ripe berries, subtle oak and mushroom flavours entwine with the soft fine tannins. An elegant and balanced wine. Cellar “Now to five years.” Additional Notes This wine was never really planned for this Dozen. Together with the Canobolas-Smith Shiraz, I regard them both as special cases. I well remember when Ron and Janet planted their Tempranillo in 2000-01. It was a big decision. New varieties were looking like the thing to do, but there is at best a three year wait for any return. About a month ago Janet E-mailed me their latest Newsletter, and is where I saw the TemPt. I felt obliged to find a bottle at Retail, a difficult task these days, and once found, the cap was cracked and the contents filled my glass. Obligation was taken a step further with a phone call to Janet and an order placed. Availability Limited Retail. Cellar Door or please contact me. Winery Details Phone: 08 8524 4543 Fax: 08 8524 4047 Open: Monday to Saturday 11 to 5 Address: Steingarten Road, Rowland Flat, S. A, 5352. Web: www.liebichwein.com.au E-mail: Liebichwein@iprimus.com.au Back To Top PARACOMBE CABERNET FRANC 2003 Winemaker Paul Drogemuller Winemakers Notes We select only the very best barrels to produce this limited release, straight varietal Cabernet Franc. It’s a beauty! Striking aromas of violets, sweet berries and deep earthy notes make an appealing bouquet. The palate displays soft, intense flavours of wild berries, interesting spice and fine tannins with a long, elegant finish. This wine will compliment many styles of fine food. Cellar A wine to develop over the next several years or more. Additional Notes Behind the scenes and all the glamour associated with the more famous varieties, there is serious work going on with Cabernet Franc in its own right. Over the years I have met and befriended one winemaker whose enduring affair with this variety escorted him to a site suitable to grow the other Cabernet’s great cousin. And another individual who came under its spell, a research scientist, turning winemaker, reckons after much specialist investigation, that Paracombe Cabernet Francs are about the best locals he can find. I know this person to be exhaustive in his investigative moods / indulgence. I agree with both mentors, if I can claim them as such. I really enjoy these wines for their attractive aromas as described in Paul’s notes. Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 8380 5058 Fax: 08 8380 5488 Open: Not Web: www.paracombewines.com E-mail: winery@paracombewines.com Back To Top PARACOMBE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2005 Winemaker Paul Drogemuller Winemakers Notes Wow, what a cracker! You’ll be enticed by this wine’s lifted passionfruit and tropical aromas, while the palate delivers fresh, pure, zesty flavours. Delicious passionfruit combines with citrus and mineral notes for a clean, lingering finish. Enjoy this Sauvignon Blanc anytime, anywhere with anybody….or maybe just keep it for yourself. Cellar Typically, this wine is recommended to drink early, in the first couple of years after release. Additional Notes According to records immediately to hand, the last time a Sauvignon Blanc from Paul was included in a Dozen was November 1998. And it appears to be the only time for this variety. A bit of a shock with time really, as I remember including it, the 1998, just after a visit to Paracombe. It was on that trip Paul dragged me through the Sauvignon Blanc rows of the vineyard. He gets excited when he gets on a roll, practically shaking hands with each vine as he explained how he picks each section at certain times to make a component wine as best he can to be blended with the final offering. It was similarly informative to Al Fencaros and his Chardonnay ‘wines’ a couple of years later. Local Sauvignon Blanc wasn’t making headlines at the time, but you had to take notice of Paul’s enthusiasm. I took up the study immediately by way of his charming persuasion. And whether or not he realizes it, just look at this wine. “Wow!” Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 8380 5058 Fax: 08 8380 5488 Open: Not Web: www.paracombewines.com E-mail: winery@paracombewines.com Back To Top PEEL ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2001 Winemaker Will Nairn Winemakers Notes The colour is straw. The nose is quite restrained, exhibiting light stone fruit and vanillin aromas. In the glass it opens up quickly into peaches and cream. The first impression is from the creamy mouth feel that starts right at the entrance to the palate. There are lots of complex lees flavours like butterscotch and some caramel. This is a mature style which shows the benefits of ageing already. The fruit and the wood are nicely integrated. Cellar “It’s harmonious and ready to drink.” Additional Notes “Two important things have happened to Peel Chardonnay: the vines got older and the winemaking team has defined the style. It’s now all about texture and some very special flavours which are cropping up year after year.” To be honest I was intending to use the Peel Estate Chenin Blanc 2000, but it is currently unavailable. Then I was asked to consider this Chardonnay. As mentioned before, there are really good things happening now with Chardonnay wines, a sort of regrouping and defining of styles as other white varieties hit the streets. Now, I try to be more selective almost at a different level with this variety. The opening quote from this paragraph says it all. As soon as you pull the cork out of this wine in a clear atmosphere, you’ll breathe in good thoughts. Availability Available to Retail. Winery Details Phone: 08 9524 1221 Fax: 08 9524 1625 Open: Daily 10 to 5 Address: Fletcher Road, Baldivis, Western Australia, 6171. Web: www.peelwine.com.au E-mail: peelwine@iinet.com.au Back To Top STONEY RISE Limestone Coast SHIRAZ 2002 Winemaker Joe Holyman Winemakers Notes Made predominantly from fruit from the Mount Benson Region, this wine was open fermented using wild yeasts. It then went into about 30% new oak (post Sauvignon Blanc ferment) and the rest of the oak is old. It spends about eighteen months in oak or in bottle before release. With spice and plum fruit on the nose, the wine is youthful and medium bodied. Fruit driven but stylistic, with the aim being complexity and structure rather than tannin and power. As with all Stoney Rise wines, this one is made with food in mind. Cellar Enjoy now, but this wine will develop over the nest 3 to 5 years. Additional Notes As far as I am concerned this wine is a bonus. I have never met Joe Holyman but there have been telephone calls and E-mails. He comes and goes it seems in his winemaking odyssey, Europe – anywhere really. The last time I heard from him was by E-mail when he said he was moving base to Tasmania, but would continue with the Stoney Rise operation. A week ago I saw this wine in a local portfolio and I was told it was to be discontinued from their list. Fruit from Mount Benson is ‘always’ good and 2002, “please send me some.” Availability Available to Retail. Contact Details Phone: 0419 540 770 Fax: 03 6343 2076 Open: Not Address: PO Box 12 Kings Meadows, Tasmania, 7249. Back To Top ULEYBURY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 Winemakers Notes Dark crimson. Lovely dark berry fruit aroma. Excellent fruit flavour and persistence.” And from the back label: “This Cabernet Sauvignon expresses typical varietal characteristics including black olives and anise. It has exceptional balance and firm tannins. Cellar I saw this wine earlier in the year, about May and was very impressed. All it needed was time to settle down a bit. It is at least a medium term: 5-8 year prospect. Additional Notes Other selected information on the back label: “Vines are grown on medium clay over limestone at 260 metres above sea level. The major climate influence in this vineyard is the afternoon sea breezes, which cool the canopy and build complexity.” Unfortunately, due to illness I believe, I couldn’t get any more information on this wine that to my mind was the pick of the offer at cellar door on the day. Availability Cellar Door or please contact me. Winery Details Phone: 08 8280 7335 Fax: 08 8280 7925 Open: Daily 10 to 5 Address: Uley Road, Uleybury, S.A., 5114 Web: www.uleybury.com E-mail: cella@primus.com.au Back To Top WILSON VINEYARD RIESLING 2005 Winemakers Notes The artwork for this label is by Roger Saunders. On the nose, this wine displays a complex blend of aromas, dominated by limes, and supported by passion-fruit, orange blossom, and musk. Those same dimensions flow through to the palate that also displays a touch of spiciness. As in previous years, this is a very dry wine, and has a clean and lingering finish. Cellar As is the way, these wines will live long and develop nicely along the way. Ten years plus. Additional Notes There hasn’t been a Wilson Vineyard wine here since November 2002, the same time as his Profile, something that should be attended to. At the time, John mentioned his son Daniel was making his presence felt in and around his retreat at Polish Hill. I see he is now featured as co-winemaker in Halliday’s Wine Companion, and also has a label of his own: DJW Riesling. Good news for the wine industry. I saw a good write up on this wine a few weeks back, and this made me contact the local distributor, long term associates with the Wilsons. Mal said that Daniel was recently in Sydney, and told him they decided to release the 2005 earlier than usual as it had ‘come up’ quicker than is its usual way. There’s never a wrong time for one of these Polish Hill beauties. Availability Available to Retail. Winery DetailsPhone: 08 8843 4310 Open: Weekends 10 to 4 Address: Polish Hill River, Sevenhill via Clare, South Australia, 5453. Web: www.wilsonvineyard.com.au Back To Top | 