Small Winemakers Tasting Dozens |
The Classic Autumn Dozen | |
|
ATALAYA LAYA 2015Winemaker Co-op and In – houseWinemaker’s Notes70% Ganarcha Tintorera and 30% Monastrell grapes grown in vineyards in Almansa, a 'smallish' wine region just to the east of La Mancha, the important and large region in central Spain. Grown at between 700 and 1000 metres on sandy soils over limestone, the grapes were harvested and fermented separately in stainless steel. Finally blended and matured for four months in a variety of French oak. Ganarcha Tintorera is known for its deep colour and here it coats the glass and imparts aromas of brooding black fruits, licorice, expresso and pepper. Dense, savoury and rich. CellarTo be enjoyed on release and in the medium term five to eight years. Additional NotesAccording to the books, Ganarcha Tintorero is a synonym, or another name for the Alicante Bouschet grape variety. It was propagated by Henri Bouschet in 1886 by crossing Aramon and Teinturier du Cher with Grenache. Monastrell is one of the most widely planted grapes in Spain, a 'sturdy' variety capable of ageing. (Ref: The Wine Dictionary: Rosemary George and Oxford Wine Companion). What this all means, after a long conversation with Nicholas from Vinsight and listening to the wine tastings he's been going to, where he has been getting familiar with wines others read about, the Laya was one he really got behind. AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. |
| A.T. RICHARDSON CHOCKSTONE RIESLING 2016Winemaker Adam RichardsonWinemaker’s NotesThe distinct floral and citrus flavours that epitomise our Great Western vineyard were matched by great minerality. The three Riesling clones we have planted each displayed distinctly different vibrant characters, really enhancing the structure and complexity of our Riesling. The finished wine displays the delicate aromas of wild flowers and citrus blossom. Hints of guava, kiwi fruit, pear and a distinct minerality flood in and out of the palate. A vibrant natural acidity balanced with just a hint of sweetness provides for a focused and seamless palate. You just have to try this wine with raw oysters or freshly caught seafood. Cellar“This Chockstone Riesling is a pert and refreshing beauty now, but its refined structure and delicate characters will allow it to develop wonderfully for at least another five years. Witnessing it develop over time will be a real treat.” Additional Notes“The typically low yields and harvesting at the perfect flavour profile lead to the delicate flavours and balance that defines our Chockstone Riesling. Once harvested, the grapes were pressed gently as possible, and the juice allowed to work its way through a nice cool fermentation with as little intervention as possible. The fermentation came to rest with just a touch of residual sweetness to balance the vibrant acid profile creating a focused palate and elegant mineral finish.” AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. |
 | CAPE JAFFA EN SOLEIL PINOT GRIS 2016Winemaker Anna & Derek HooperWinemaker’s NotesPinot Gris grapes for this wine were grown by the Koch family in Wrattonbully on their biodynamic managed vineyard, and the winemaking is all about preserving the exceptional fruit quality they provide us. During the winemaking we add back a small component that has been fermented in one or two year old French barrels and that has been aged on lees for six months. This adds complexity and creaminess to the palate creating an aromatic and luscious style of white wine with texture. Deriving from the Pinot family of grapes, this pink skinned variety is picked early in the season and handled very carefully to avoid picking up colour. Aromas will evolve from pear, spice and florals to more savoury notes of apricots and beeswax. The palate is rich and round with generous mid-palate and a slight oiliness to the texture. The savoury nature of the variety is nicely balanced with fruit weight and spicy oak in this wine. Cellar“This wine is drinking well now however it will evolve into a more tertiary and complex style in the bottle over the first two years.” Additional Notes“Mt Benson had one of the driest lead ups to the season on record (noting ours only go back 20 years). This played a role in another early start to the harvest. Then plenty of new year rain. With our free draining soil profile, quality seemed to hold up in spite of the wet. And Pinot Gris, for us, was the front runner in terms of quality in our whites.” AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. Winery DetailsPhone: 08 8768 5053 Back To Top |
| CASTELLI ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2016Winemakers Mike Garland & Andrew HoadleyWinemaker’s NotesThe majority of the fruit was hand picked, chilled overnight and whole bunch pressed direct to barrel, with the other harvest in the cool of the night to retain fruit aromatics. Various yeast cultures were used to provide complexity. Approximately half the ferment was conducted by indigenous yeast. The wine was fermented in 100% French oak (40% new, 40% one year old and 20% two year old) to dryness under controlled temperature conditions. Only a small portion of the wine was allowed to complete MLF to retain its natural acidity and freshness. Regular non-oxidative lees stirring was employed to develop mouth feel and texture. This is another example of restrained yet intense and generous cool climate Chardonnay. Each of our Pemberton vineyards provide different elements of power, complexity and balance to the wine. There is an array of aromatics including stone fruits, pomelo (related to Grapefruit) and grapefruit with some underlying roasted cashew that confronts the senses on many levels. Whole bunch pressing direct to oak and subsequent 100% fermentation in French Oak provides a lovely textural component and nuances of gun flint and creamy richness. Cellar“The finely woven and beguiling palate has a precise mineral core that shows great length and complexity and will suit cellaring over the next 10 to 12 years.” Additional Notes“A relatively hot dry Spring and mild Summer saw early flowering and fruit set. Heavy rain arrived in mid January and with cold nights following. Picking of fruit was fastidious.” AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. Winery DetailsPhone: 08 9364 0400 |
 | FRATELLI NISTRI CHIANTI DOCG 2015Winemaker In – houseWinemaker’s Notes90% Sangiovese with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Canialo and Colorino. The wine shows classic Sangiovese dominance made in a relatively modern style – with bright cherry fruits, light lifted and pure. The tannin is soft and integrated and there is fantastic Sangiovese acidity keeping the wine fresh and making it a fantastic match with a variety of foods. Cabernet and Merlot are only just evident in a bit of fruit density in the mid palate. CellarDrink on release and the next few years or so. Additional Notes“The Fratelli Nistri Winery is one of the oldest in Tuscany, dating back to 1865 when Francesco Nistri set up a wine trading business in Mezzana, on the outskirts of Prato. Today Fratelli Nistri is run by Mario and Peter Nistri (fourth generation) and Massimo and Fabrizio Nistri (fifth generation).” All sorts of infrastructural changes to admin have been carried out as well as “significant investment in winery and production have lifted the quality of Fratelli Nistri significantly.” (From back Label and Notes). AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. |
 | MIRAMAR CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013Winemaker Ian MacRaeWinemaker’s Notes100% Estate grown, the grapes were processed in the traditional way. Crushed into 500L fermenters, eventually pressed and matured in a mix of aged French and American barriques and puncheons. This Cabernet Sauvignon shows youthful signs of a medium brick red core with a crimson edge. Bright and clean Cabernet fruit, medium to full bodied wine but not heavy. Clear varietal character, sweetly scented. Clear flavour throughout the length of the wine and finishing like all my wines, with clean tannin, acid and new flavours that keep on emerging even after you have swallowed the mouthful. Cellar“This wine will continue to develop further complexity, character and flavour in the bottle over the next five plus years.” Additional NotesThis Cabernet Sauvignon was in Ian's latest mixed dozen. There's always a nice surprise in these 'lots,' and I think this is one here. Unlike his white wines,which to me, in particular his Chardonnays and Rieslings are always of a high quality, his red wines often confound me. Always enjoyable, they do seem to be on a journey, almost tidal. Then, just when you think you know what you are pouring into your glass he produces that wonderful 'surprise.' It is distinctly an Ian wine. And in his own words: “a good little wine.” Just a note here, I think he's been retiring for the last 10 or so years, and I found out last week there is no longer a Cellar Door. He is nowadays mostly up a ladder, somewhere he's always prone to be. He does do tastings by appointment. AvailabilityCellar Door or contact me. Winery DetailsPhone: 02 6373 3874 |
 | RALPH FOWLER VIOGNIER 2014Winemaker Ralph FowlerWinemaker’s NotesProduced from the original low yielding Montpellier Clone grown in the rich terra rossa soil and cool maritime climate of our vineyard. Hand picked fruit parcels were gently whole bunch basket pressed to minimise skin contact. Barrel fermentation with 10 months extended maturation on fermentation lees in our Foudre, a 3800L French oak cask made and imported for producing this varietal and employed for enhancing the richness, texture and flavour of the wine. The Viognier is styled to be food friendly, restrained and elegant. The wine is rich, textured and full flavoured with biscuity yeast characters and honeysuckle, citrus, ginger and musk flavours and aroma. Cellar“We recommend cellaring up to five years to best appreciate this wine.” Additional NotesFrom the Website: “Viognier comes from the tiny wine area of Condrieu in the Rhone Valley in the south of France. This is neighbouring Hermitage the famous home of the Shiraz grape and is considered the sister grape to Shiraz. Although a new variety to Australia in the 90s, it is an ancient grape in the Rhone Valley.” There was, as well a very interesting comment to the ageing of a previous vintage of this variety that reminded me of the last in these Dozens, the 2010 in February 2014. “The wine will advance quickly over the next two to three years developing a more golden colour and the characteristic lavender and apricot of Viognier.” The 2010 wine did exactly this, and I would throw in 'pineapple' to the descriptors. The time line is a bit cloudy, perhaps a year, but what a development and most interesting as well as enjoyable. AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. Winery DetailsPhone: 08 8768 5000 |
 | ROS RITCHIE NEBBIOLO 2013Winemaker Ros RitchieWinemaker’s NotesOur third wine made from fruit hand-picked from 20 year old vines at the Timbertop vineyard in the third week of April. Sweet florals of violets and rose, with notes of sour cherry and tobacco leaf, grounded with earthy, savoury flavours. Fine but pronounced grape tannins and a good acidity add to the structure of the wine, which has matured in two to three year old French barriques for 20 months.” Cellar"Enjoy now with beef daubes, pork and game over the medium term three to five years. Additional Notes"The Timbertop vineyard, owned and run by Geelong Grammar School, is the source of our Nebbiolo for the last three vintages to date. Planted on a high, north facing slope east of Mansfield, in the lee of Mt Buller and Mt Timbertop, the fruit ripens slowly and is usually harvested very late in May. The low cropping fruit grown here has very firm structure, fine acidity and savoury, earthy, spice characters." AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. |
 | STANTON & KILLEEN TEMPRANILLO 2016Winemakers Andrew Drum & Simon KilleenWinemaker’s Notes“A small parcel of 100% Tempranillo was selected early in the season to capture bright and fresh notes and was handled gently to keep the palate soft and avoid over extracted phenolics. A short ferment of several days on skins was then transferred to mainly French oak and bottled within 10 months to capture the young and fresh fruit flavours. Ruby red in colour, the nose shows sweet aromas of strawberries and red cherry. The bright fruit on the nose follows through on the palate with notes of strawberry, cranberry and raspberry complimented by soft tannins. This easy to drink wine is perfect with an afternoon platter and was created to enjoy as a young, fresh red.” Cellar“Enjoy now or until 2020.” Additional Notes“Light and bright in style with soft tannins, this easy to drink red is full of red cherry, strawberry, fresh herbs and is perfect with antipasto or a casual pasta night. It's known in our vineyard as the Portuguese 'Tinta Roriz,' however Tempranillo is the popular Spanish name for this wonderfully versatile grape. Wendy Killeen CEO.” I grabbed this out of a mixed six pack received recently and perhaps it was something about the timing. Pleasantly surprised was the initial reaction and it just got better. AvailabilityCellar Door or please contact me. Winery DetailsPhone: 02 6032 9457 |
 | STEVENS SPARKLING MERLOT 2015Winemakers Graham and Carolyn StevensWinemaker’s Notes“100% Merlot, the grapes were harvested on the 27th February in the cool of the morning, and crushed immediately into 1000L temperature controlled open fermenters. The initial fermentation was completed in six days. The ferment was hand pumped twice daily to increase juice / skin contact, and enhance tannins, colour and aromas. The grapes were pressed using traditional basket press methods, and careful attention was paid during the process to ensure no aggressive tannic / phenolic compounds were imparted to the end product by over-extraction in the pressing process. Tirage filled four months after harvest and bottle fermented using the traditional French methods. Matured on lees in the bottle and disgorged after 12 months to reveal a rich fruit driven, semi dry Methode Traditionelle with a lovely yeasty complexity.” CellarEnjoy now. Additional Notes“This Merlot was sourced from a vineyard situated in Currency Creek, chosen specifically for its sandy loam over limestone base, known to be extremely conducive to producing quality Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This vineyard produces exceptional quality grapes, and Graham and Carolyn just could not pass up the opportunity to purchase the quality fruit from the 2015 Vintage to make this award winning wine.” AvailabilityCellar Door or please contact me. Winery DetailsPhone/Fax: 08 8383 0997 |
 | STONY BANK MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2014Winemaker John ForrestWinemaker’s Notes“100% grown in the famous Wairau Valley of Marlborough. Here, in the ancient riverbed stones and gravels the vines struggle to survive, producing only a handful of deeply coloured, intensely flavoured grapes with soft tannins. An elegant soft rounded wine with aromas of strawberries, red cherries and a touch of oak. Red fruits coming through on the palate, delicate spice, clove and nutmeg with nice savoury oak and a lingering moreish finish.” CellarWonderful now and will develop nicely over the next five or so years. Additional Notes“Spring was warm and early with bunch numbers per shoot were high about 15 to 20% above average. Early December flowering was warm and dry. We initiated both shoot and whole cane bunch thinning strategies to gain some control over the potential crop level. Summer growing conditions were perfect, allowing ideal plant growth. Ripening began in February, seven days early, but soon slowed as soon as the plants began to feel the effects of the extra crop. Thank goodness the February to April (veraison) weather was kind. Harvest was around to normal start time of 1st April. Working night and day, finishing on 17th April, just ahead of persistent warm rain.” Great Notes from John. He brings farming to life. AvailabilityAvailable to Retail. Winery DetailsPhone: 03 572 9084 (Local) |
 | STRAWHOUSE ORANGE RED SHIRAZ 2015Winemaker Charles SvensonWinemaker’s Notes“2015 was a terrific vintage, giving us this deep, dark, cool climate Shiraz. Plums, raspberries and a modicum of oak combine well in this stylish red. Hand-picked, sorted and plunged, this wine is an excellent expression of the Strawhouse site. The wine was matured in new and older French barrels for 18 months prior to bottling. The intense palate will match a wide range of foods from your best pizza, savoury full-flavoured vegetarian fare and the full spectrum of meats.” Cellar“As with the vintage, terrific now and will develop over the medium term of five to eight years.” Additional NotesThis comes literally as a 'by the way' wine. I phoned Justin to speak about a 'soon to be' wine release from Stanton and Killeen: the Jack's Block. I planned to order their Tempranillo for this Dozen, and thought he may want to share some. He had a lot to do with the S&K winemaker, Andrew Drum, during his days with Charles Sturt. I was curious to know if he'd heard anything. We ordered a six pack! That dealt with, I said I saw his latest Newsletter from Strawhouse and moved the conversation to the Shiraz. His enthusiasm was sufficient to include it here. AvailabilityCellar Door or contact me. |
|
[Main] [About SWTD] [Other Dozens]
[Profiles]
[Links] Copyright 2014 SWTD All Rights Reserved. All prices on this web site are in $AUD Liquor Licence LIQP24009748 Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. |
