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CABLE BAY WAIHEKE ISLAND CHARDONNAY 2004

Winemaker Neill Culley

Winemakers Notes

“The grapes were hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. The juice was settled for a short period prior to racking to French oak barriques for fermentation and maturation. The wine was aged in barrel on the yeast lees for 10 months prior to blending and bottling. A wine in style displaying layers of flavour and interest as a result of fruit from a range of vineyard sites.”

Cellar

“Will reward careful cellaring for 3 to 5 years.”

Additional Notes

“This wine is produced from grapes grown on six vineyards located on the western end of Waiheke Island. Within these vineyards we grow four different clones of Chardonnay, each contributing different characters to the final wine, resulting in a more complex and appealing wine.” This was a wine seen at the Haviland Wine Merchants Portfolio Show. Neill Culley’s wines are described as “exquisite craftings known for their subtlety, elegance and depth.” That is a pretty good description of this one. This Chardonnay is a real class act that is just opening up now and showing those ‘layers of flavour’ in a wonderful way. Subtle, yes.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 09 837 4790

Fax: 09 837 4791

Address: PO Box 320, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, 1240.

Web: www.cablebayvineyards.co.nz

E-mail: info@cablebayvineyards.co.nz

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CHALKERS CROSSING HILLTOPS SEMILLON 2005

Winemaker Celine Rousseau

Winemakers Notes

“The colour is yellow with green tints. The nose shows lemon rinds, herbs and honey flavours. On the palate citrus and apricot flavours are followed by vanilla flavours from barrel maturation. It has a creamy and lingering palate.”

Cellar

“Best drinking now to 2010.”

Additional Notes

I have seen quite a few of Jill Lindsay’s Hilltops Semillon wines for many years now and was always impressed by their ability to develop so nicely. As said many times over the same period I can’t understand why this variety isn’t more popular. Yet another wine at the Haviland Wine Merchants Portfolio Show, it was close to my favourite on the day. I tried the Chalkers Riesling again with Jill’s wines as a reference and saw in it a similar regional style. And then to the Semillon and it jumped out of the glass in such a ‘look at me bright eyed’ way it was straight into the Dozen.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 02 6382 6900

Fax: 02 6382 5068

Open: Daily 10 to 4

Address: 387 Grenfell Road, Young, NSW, 2594.

Web: www.chalkerscrossing.com.au

E-mail: sales@chalkerscrossing.com.au

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CHRISMONT LA ZONA BARBERA 2004

Winemaker Warren Proft

Winemakers Notes

“The colour us deep plum. Intense plum on the nose together with black cherry aromas. The palate shows a concentration of elegant spicy plum, chocolate blackberries and toast with crisp acidity and soft tannins.”

Cellar

“Now to 2010.” (Taken from the WebPage)

Additional Notes

I was talking to Jo Newton of Bacchus Wines and just recently the local distributor of Chrismont Wines. She was very excited about having these wines as it meant the added presence of the La Zona range. People are becoming far more aware of the Italian varieties confirmed by their presence on more and more wine lists, and not just in Italian restaurants. As was mostly the case in the King Valley this Pizzini family (Arnold and Jo) were tobacco farmers turned grape growers and ultimately wine producers with Warren Proft. The La Zona wine range is made up of Italian varieties and why not start here with the Barbera, that high acid red? The King Valley is so wonderfully Italian.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 03 5729 8220

Fax: 03 5729 8253

Open: Daily 11 to 5.

Address: 251 Upper King River Road, Chestnut, Vic., 3678.

Web: www.chrismont.com.au

E-mail: info@chrismont.com.au

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LANEWAY THE LATIN (ALIAS THE ITALIAN) 2004

Winemaker Mark Lane

Winemakers Notes

“The Italians up the lane are always cooking up treats for the extended family and friends. Art emulates life in this wine packed with flavour and grape varieties. It is a blend of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Graciano with small amounts of Tempranillo and Grenache, matured with 30% new French oak for 18 months. Made for enjoying with your own friends and good food. A touch of 'dolce vita'.”

Cellar

Drink now and enjoy.

Additional Notes

“Alf Russo is an ex green grocer. He emigrated from Italy in the 1960s, and now can’t resist nurturing these euro – variety grapes. Mark Lane our winemaker has been a keen admirer of Alf’s grapes for quite some time. He’s been using them to make his Italian blends since he first arrived in Margaret River over 10 years ago. There was no question that this wine would have a key part to play within the Laneway story.” Talking with Nick Butler of Winestock, the local ‘operator’ of Swings and Roundabouts a premium producer from the Margaret River, he mentioned ‘The Latin’ as part of the experience. And when he gave the blend it all became too irresistible.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 08 9756 6640

Fax: 08 9286 1933

Open: Daily 10 to 5.

Address: Caves Road, Wilyabrup, W.A., 6280.

Web: www.swings.com.au

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MCWILLIAMS MOUNT PLEASANT CLASSIC MERLOT 2003

Winemakers Phil Ryan & Andrew Leembruggen

Winemakers Notes

Dense mid red, hints of purple and brick hues. The aroma is full of ripe mulberry and spice supported with lashings of rich chocolate-like oak. Initial soft, ripe fruit flavours on the palate are followed by layers of fine, velvety tannin and oak. The wine possesses the unmistakable mid palate of Merlot with hints of leafy complexities on the back palate.

Cellar

“Drinking beautifully now or can be cellared carefully until 2008.”

Additional Notes

“Individual parcels of premium Merlot were fermented on skins for seven to ten days, using traditional techniques of draining, returning juice and pumping over in open top stainless steel fermenters. When fermentation was almost complete the wine was pressed from skins, and transferred to new and one year old French and American oak barrels to complete fermentation process. The wine was returned to oak to complete 15 months maturation prior to blending. During maturation, the wine was racked from barrel and returned to maximise the expression of the varietal and develop and develop the seamless integration of fruit and oak.” I recently ran into Glen, an old friend of the Dozens, now working for McWilliams. He said he had a good wine for the cause but thought the Company ‘oversized.’ I assured him that I agreed that in some ways they are, but a good wine was always welcome. In fact I told him the 1997 Merlot was in the November 1999 Dozen and thanked him for reminding me. Always one with definite ideas in wine he described it as: “a delightful wine from start to finish…, more Hunter than Merlot.”

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 02 4998 7505

Fax: 02 4998 7761

Open: Daily 10 to 5.

Address: Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin, NSW, 2320.

Web: www.mountpleasantwines.com.au

E-mail: mtpleasant@mcwilliams.com.au

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PEEL ESTATE CHENIN BLANC 2002

Winemakers Will Nairn & Folkert Janssen

Winemakers Notes

The nose is quite French and very much like a Loire Chenin from a good vintage after a few years in bottle. It’s floral, with honeysuckle and some intriguing damp earth. This is a very complex and attractive bouquet. The palate is velvety and perfectly balanced. I doubt this wine will be better than it is now – but it may hold for a long time. It’s very ripe and quite alcoholic, so it needs food to show it at its best.

Cellar

“Drink now.”

Additional Notes

“All grapes are hand – picked, crushed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Wine is then transferred to French Oak (Nevers), 1/3 1st use, and the remaining, 2nd and 3rd use oak for 24 months. As this wine is made for cellaring, it is always stored in the bottle for as long as it is in the barrel to bring out some of those lovely, aged characters before release.” Food Suggestions: “Put it up against something very rich like pasta with a carbonara sauce or a fish curry, especially one with almonds.” This is another Jo Newton, Bacchus wine and one I have wanted to put into the Dozens for a while, but could never slip it in. Chenin Blanc always stirs my imagination and although this wine has for me, very high alcohol, there’s enough ‘Chenin’ in there to make me wonder why there isn’t more of the stuff around.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 08 9524 1221

Fax: 08 9524 1625

Open: Daily 10 to 5.

Address: Fletcher Road, Baldivis, W. A., 6171.

Web: www.peelwine.com.au

E-mail: peelwine@iinet.com.au

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PIRRAMIMMA MCLAREN VALE PETIT VERDOT 2004

Winemaker Geoff Johnston

Winemakers Notes

The 2004 vintage displayed outstanding ripening ability which produced Petit Verdot grapes with superior varietal flavours. The resultant wine is deep purple in colour with lifted sweet black cherry and delicate violet and floral notes on the nose. The palate displays complex fruit with lingering soft ripe tannins well balanced with American oak.

Cellar

“Excellent drinking now and will reward careful cellaring for 4 to 6 years.”

Additional Notes

While exploring available material on McLaren Vale Cadenzia wines, at the time it seemed a good idea to include the straight varietal of this maker’s Grenache. It was hard not to notice also, very good write ups on this, the 2004 Petit Verdot. The 1995 was in the first Dozen (May 1998) and I remember it was a pleasant surprise for some in which was early pioneering days by Geoff Johnston with this variety.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 08 8323 8205

Fax: 08 8323 9224

Open: Daily.

Address: Johnston Road, McLaren Vale, S.A., 5171.

Web: www.pirramimma.com.au

E-mail: enquiries@pirramimma.com.au

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RUTHERGLEN ESTATES DURIF 2004

Winemaker Nicole Esdaile & Ricky James

Winemakers Notes

Rutherglen Estates’ Durif is deliberately picked at varying stages of ripeness to maximise the broad spectrum of flavours and aromas that the variety can display. The wine is fermented to dryness in separate batches, with each batch exposed to different oak handling and maturation. The resultant wine shows intense varietal berry and stewed cherry notes, mixed fruit spice, chocolate and some sweet vanilla and cedar characters from both French and American oak.

Cellar

Medium term 5 to 8 years.

Additional Notes

“Rutherglen Durif wines display an intensity and complexity of aroma, flavour and structure that is not seen in any other region of the world. This distinctiveness justifies Durif’s increasing recognition as Rutherglen’s icon variety.” I saw this wine also at the Haviland Wine Merchants Portfolio Show. I thought all the Rutherglen Estate wines would be good in the Dozens. The Durif offers along with its great value for money something that is a little different. Then I saw with amusement on their Notes Sheet a quote from Matthew Jukes U.K. Top 100 Australian Wines: “Two years in a row, for this crispy aromatic duck partnering wine. Fabulous value and unashamedly tongue in cheek – this is a cracker (prawn cracker?).” Not completely sure what it all means, but what a good way to approach it all.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 02 6032 7999

Fax: 02 6032 7998

Open: Daily 10 to 4.

Address: Corner Great Northern Road & Murray Valley Hwy Rutherglen, Victoria, 3685.

Web: www.rutherglenestates.com.au

E-mail: cellar@rutherglenestates.com.au

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STEPHEN JOHN WATERVALE RIESLING 2007

Winemaker Stephen John

Winemakers Notes

The 2007 growing season opened with a beautiful Spring and bountiful rain, followed by a very mild summer with cool days and cold nights throughout maturity. The fruit was hand picked, with only the free run juice used for this wine. A classic Watervale Riesling from a fantastic vintage. Lovely delicate green/straw colour. The nose is very elegant displaying delicate floral fruit, whilst the palate is fresh and clean exhibiting classical citrus/lime juice flavours with a clean refreshing acid finish.

Cellar

Excellent current drinking but will do the Riesling Road of bottle development up to ten years.

Additional Notes

This is the fabulous replacement for another Riesling I was unable to organize for this Dozen. No we aren’t seeing things it follows directly the 2006 wine from the May Dozen. And this is after I finally saw its pre – release at the Haviland Wine Merchant’s Show in typical under the counter fashion. It was a return visit to ‘himself’ at the prompting of Paul Sanderson of Havilands. I carried the information back to Stephen that I was now in ‘the know’ of the presence of this powerful darling. Only now while doing the Notes did I discover while reading the back label in what is described as a ‘fantastic’ vintage is their ‘entire crop was devastated.’ This wine being made possible through grapes supplied by friends. Cheers!

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 08 8843 0105

Fax: 08 8843 0105

Open: Daily 11 to 5.

Address: Government Road, Watervale, S.A., 5452.

Web: www.stephenjohnwines.com

E-mail: sjwines@capri.net.au

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ST.IGNATIUS FOUNDERS COLLECTION SHIRAZ 2004

Winemaker Enrique Diaz

Winemakers Notes

The fruit was selectively hand picked from our Pyrenees vineyard and the fermentation was hand plunged at 26 to 29 Degrees Celsius for 13 days, followed by extended maceration on skins. This delightful wine has been aged for twelve months in French Oak Hogsheads of which 40% were new oak. Clarification occurred naturally during barrel ageing followed by light filtering at bottling. This outstanding full bodied Shiraz shows deep purple hues and lifted aromatics. The nose shows layers packed of pure varietal fruit complimented with spicy and earthy tones. This carries onto the palate where firm and dry tannins are added together with a long, subtle and elegant finish.

Cellar

“Best 5 to 10 years.”

Additional Notes

This wine was in the discussion with Silvia for the May Dozen where the Shiraz Merlot was chosen for its ‘earlier drinking.’ An e-mail from Silvia this week (15/8) saying their Shiraz received the ‘Outstanding’ 94/100 rating in Halliday’s Wine Companion 2008 Edition prompted its inclusion now rather than later as planned. Good Cellar Door sales are expected!

Availability

Cellar Door or please contact me.

Winery Details

Phone / Fax: 03 5465 3542

Open: Daily 10 to 5.

Address: 5434 Sunraysia Highway, Lamplough, Victoria, 3352

Web: www.stignatiusvineyard.com.au

E-mail: post@stignatiusvineyard.com.au

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TRAFFORD HILL LIMITED RELEASE RED 2003

Winemaker John Sanderson

Winemakers Notes

Unlike most multi varietal wines, this is not a blend. The grapes were co-fermented and matured for three years in French Oak barriques. After pressing and settling it was bottled in March 2007. Shiraz makes up 75%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20% and Grenache 5%. The colour is vibrant purple with earthy mushroom overtones coming through on the bouquet. The taste is initially dominated by a chocolaty front palate, then vanillin oak and classic Shiraz pepper and spice characteristics emerge.

Cellar

“This wine is fully balanced and ready to drink now but can be cellared for another three years or so, but why wait?”

Additional Notes

“Grapes from this ‘Rhone Style’ wine are estate grown and vintaged using old fashioned open fermentation and hand pressing techniques. Only one tonne of grapes were used to make 600 litres of wine, which after ‘cleaning up’ and maturation resulted in just 750 bottles for valued clients. It will not be on general sale, only available at cellar door with a limit of six bottles per customer.” 750 bottles is just 18 short of a pallet of wine, not much really. John rang to say they released this wine early because there was a run on the 2002, which he believes resulted in ‘word out’ that stocks were running low. On the previous two occasions we saw the Monique (the same wine with twelve months less in wood) first, then later the Limited Release. Circumstances have reversed the batting order this time via John’s recommendation. “This wine won’t make it to November.” His message is clear and received with thanks.

Availability

Cellar Door or please contact me.

Winery Details

Phone: 08 8558 3595

Open: Thursday – Monday P/H 10.30 to 5

Address: Lot 1 Bower Road, Normanville, S.A., 5204.

Web: Not operational at the moment. There is an old version here.

E-mail: traffordhill@ozemail.com.au

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WITCHMOUNT CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 2004

Winemakers Tony Ramunno and Steve Goodwin

Winemakers Notes

Cabernet Sauvignon 85% Merlot 15%. The colour is dense rich garnet. This exceptional Cabernet Merlot exhibits rich red berry aromas with a hint of aromatic French Oak. The palate combines the power of rich, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with the softness of Merlot. The result is a balanced and complex red wine with elegant tannins and great palate length.

Cellar

“Up to eight years.”

Additional Notes

“Fully ripe fruit with intense and complex flavours was crushed and destemmed into stainless steel fermenters with SO2 addition and inoculated with a proven clean fermenting yeast strain. Ferments were allowed to reach 30 degrees C + in order to extract maximum and colour. The wine was matured in French Oak barriques for 14 months prior to bottling.” This wine straight away reminded me of those big brooding Margaret River Cabernets. On mentioning this to the Witchmount people, they said that had been said more than once before. This has to be as good a recommendation as any. I probably, at a pinch, would have gone for the straight Cabernet Sauvignon but in the end went for the blend as it is probably now better for the glass.

Availability

Available to Retail.

Winery Details

Phone: 03 9747 1188

Fax: 03 9747 1066

Open: Wednesday to Sunday 10 to 5.

Address: 557 Leakes Road, Rockbank, Victoria, 3335.

Web: www.witchmount.com.au

E-mail: cellar@witchmount.com.au

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