SWTD November 2022
Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, the vineyards are located around the communes of Vouvray and Rochecorbon near Tours. The Vouvray “Excellence” cuvee is made from parcels of grapes on a limestone plateau overlooking the Loire. Gentle pressing and fermentation at a cool temperature (18°C) allows good preservation of the aromas. Second fermentation in the bottle according to the Traditional Method after selection of the best juices. Minimum 24 months ageing before disgorging brings an incomparable finesse of bubble. Light golden colour with fine and elegant bubbles. The nose opens with notes of dried fruit, hazelnut and candied lemon. A light touch of toast envelops the whole. The attack is ample and enveloped with a beautiful evolution all in softness. Beautiful aromatic persistence on the brioche notes.
On release.
“The Chenin Blanc grape variety, harvested gently, sublimated by the chalk terroir, and left to mature in our tufa galleries for more than two years, expresses itself through a very nice aromatic complexity and a rare elegance. De Chanceny, the emblem of our know how in the production of fine Loire bubbles using the traditional method since 1957.” As Christmas approaches all the flutes come out, and I asked Jo Newton firstly about three sparkling wines. She was most definite about this Vouvray.
Available to Retail.
Sydney Wholesaler: Bacchus Wines.
Web: www.bacchuswinemerchant.com.au
Ph 1300 309 773
Web: www.dechanceny.com
Back To TopFrom the Eldorado Road Note Sheet. “The 2019 Onyx Durif is comprised from three different vineyards. Our home vineyard was planted in 2008. A cooler site for Durif allowing us to make a more restrained rendition of this usually powerhouse variety. For the first time, fruit from the Mt Pilot Estate vineyard has made its way into our flagship Onyx Durif. The fruit was the first crop from recently grafted vines. So impressed were we with the result, a couple of barrels made the cut. The fruit showed wonderful vitality and brightness and works as a great foil alongside the more powerful and structured Rutherglen component. Lastly, the largest single component in 2019 came from a proven vineyard in Rutherglen. This vineyard is exceptionally well run, and we have been receiving fruit from there for over 10 years. It always comes in at around at 14 – 14.5°Baumé. This component gives backbone and weight to the wonderful elegance and floral characteristics provided the Eldorado vineyards. A great example of how a combination of fruit from several very good vineyards can produce a wine of exceptional balance.
All parcels were fermented with carefully selected yeast, hand plunge once daily and spent between 13 and 21 days on skins before being gently basket pressed to a combination of new (20%) and seasoned French Oak puncheons and barriques. 18 months in oak on full lees to build texture.”
Drinking nicely as described above and legs to develop up to eight years.
“Durif re-imagined, courtesy of cool climate elegance (Beechworth) mixed with a dose of generosity (Rutherglen) that needs to be tasted by every drinker who was ever scared witless by the grape. This is not scary, rather it's brilliantly delivered as a serious wine of some beauty: aromatic, blueberry, plum, dark chocolate and spice all lifted, fresh and plush. Bravo
Jeni Port 16.8.2022.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 03 5725 1698
No Cellar Door.
Web: www.nomadsgarden.com.au
Address: 1317 Eldorado Road, Eldorado, Vic., 3678.
Web: www.eldoradoroad.com.au
100% Nero d'Avola. Fermented in wooden barrels, 70% crushed and 30% whole bunches. A temperature controlled fermentation to reach 28°C. A natural fermentation without the addition of yeast, which takes around 10 days. Malo-lactic Fermentation starts with skin contact and lasts about a month. Then aged in neutral oak for eight months (No new Oak). A natural wine with a complex nose, which is spicy and packed full of punchy liquorice, chocolate and dark fruits. Crisp, pleasant and persistent in the mouth.
“Early drinking, on release and three years.”
“Fabrizio Vella is a passionate winemaker living and working in Sicily. Proud of the island he calls home he wanted to create a wine range that was personal to him, that reflected where he was from. Working with indigenous varieties of Cattaratto and Nero d'Avola he has conjured four wines using an organic approach and careful winemaking to create wines that are fresh, exciting, moreish and true to their origin. A Sicilian wine through and through.” For this wine: “Grapes were harvested by hand. Yields are naturally low, limited by the winds and climatic conditions on the island. Vineyard sites are situated at an altitude of 350-450m, ensuring cooler night time temperatures which preserve crucial acidity in the grapes. Grapes tend to be harvested earlier than many of their neighbours and consequently the wines are bright and fresh with no jammy or baked flavours.” I was talking to Robert from Vinsight on the 'fresh' description in the Notes and he said: “Thank God it's true. Too many times lightly sulphured, imported wines are heat affected.”
Available to Retail.
Sydney Wholesaler: Vinsight.
Customer Service 1300 048 114
The fruit was crushed/destemmed and fermented at temperatures ranging from 20 to 25°C for 12 days on skins. The ferment was managed by a variety of techniques, including 'aerative pump overs' and 'drain' and 'returns' which assist in extracting colour, flavour and tannin from the grapes. At the end of fermentation, it is drained, pressed and transferred to a combination of new (50%) and three and four year old French hogsheads to undergo Malo-lactic fermentation. The wine is medium red in colour and the nose shows dark cherry and savoury flavours. Vibrant kirsch, with a brooding, savoury mid palate and a spicy, lingering finish. A sensual, yet exuberant wine. This Montepulciano, an Australian expression of this Southern Italian variety, is teasingly textured, whilst bursting with 'Shirazamatazz' flavour.”
“Drink up! But also an 8 to 10 years proposition.”
“Fruit is from Kersbrook in the northern Adelaide Hills – 340 m above sea level on complex sandy loams over shale. A warmer than usual spring and early summer led to quick healthy growth and a good fruit set. Together with a dry season, this led to an early start to vintage despite mild conditions and welcome rainfall in January. As a result, although harvest progressed quickly, phenology kept pace with sugar levels, leading to full flavoured wines with good acidity and ripe tannins. A fantastic follow up to 2015.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 0488 299 233
Open: Wed. to Sat. 10.00 to 4.00.
Address: 30 – 38 Barossa Valley, Nuriootpa. S.A., 5355.
Web: www.firstdropwines.com
The standard Note: “98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier from Hilltops, NSW. Cold soaked pre-ferment, then a fourteen day co-fermentation followed by barrel ageing in new and used French puncheons and barriques for 12 months. Colour is deep dark red with purple tinge. The nose is aromatic, perfumed, spicy with sweet dark berry and plum nuances. A bright medium bodied palate with concentrated forest fruits; juicy and succulent with supple, velvety tannins. Youthful and vibrant with well integrated fine cedary oak. The Viognier provides a silky sheen to the supple texture.”
“Good Release drinking and long life, 10+ years under screw cap.”
This Shiraz and the Eldorado Road Durif are the two wines I had recovering concerns on, as they both had recent earlier siblings in the Dozens. I was worried about it being 'too soon.' I got over it. In each lot I try to include the 'Classics,' Shiraz of course is one. And Jacki Osborne said this was one of the new releases she had been impressed by. Hilltops Shiraz is consistently applauded by writers, as is this one. On checking vintages, this one went from 2019 to 2021, which probably means no 2020 after bushfires.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 02 6382 6222
No Cellar Door
Web: www.moppity.com.au
Sydney Distributor: Young and Rashleigh
Phone: 02 9967 5900
Parcels of Merlot, Tempranillo and Barbera were used to create the ultimate European blend of France, Spain and Italy! Each variety lending its varietal signature to this unique blend. We look now at this blend as very much a 'house style' with bright fruit and savoury tannins. Bright and vibrant blue fruits, with cherry, blackberry and raspberry fruit. The soft tannins lend length and a mouth fill finish to the wine.
Medium term three to five years.
Almost two months ago I received a phone call from Nicholas Gibson to say he was opening some new Mudgee Ridge releases, including a new Barbera with a more sensible alcohol. At the tasting my first thought was to go with the Barbera as all agreed (three of us), the Enzo, more recently bottled was pretty closed. But, talking as you do, the wine was opening up in front of us. So, 'almost two' months later I asked Nicholas how it was now. 'Settled a lot,' he said, and that was enough. It also gives the Barbera a few more months before approach. “Our soils are extremely suited to viticulture, being generally volcanic; they vary from shallow topsoils with basalt and quartz rock to deeper loams over neutral clays. Moderately fertile, the soils are very friable and well drained. The North to North West aspect is a well ventilated slope. And with careful management of vine canopy, together with fruit thinning, ensures even ripening and fruit intensity.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 0418 161 132
Open: Daily 11 to 4.
Address: 577 Burrundulla Road, Mudgee, NSW, 2850.
Web: www.firstridge.com.au
After gentle crushing each batch was fermented on skins for ten days. After basket pressing off skins, the wine was then aged in older French oak hogsheads for eight months prior to bottling. The wine shows a medium intensity ruby red core with a bright crimson hue. The nose is lifted red cherry, bright and varietal turkish delight. The palate is medium bodied with a supple mid palate texture, showing bright cherry and raspberry fruit intensity and lovely chalky tannins that enhance the vibrancy and length of flavour.”
“Drink now, however it will continue to drink beautifully over the next three to five years.”
“After two consecutive years of extreme weather conditions at flowering, late spring was calm and uneventful. This allowed great fruit set and healthy canopies carrying slightly above average crop load. Some well timed rainfall in late January replenished the soil profile before a cool, dry March allowed slow and steady ripening and development of mature tannins and dark fruited Tempranillo.” As well from the Notes: “Hill and Valley wines showcase the great diversity of the regions surrounding our winery, from the cooler Adelaide Hills to the elevated Eden Valley vineyards, to those situated on the Barossa Valley floor. Sensitive winemaking techniques allows the wines to express a sense of place and character.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8565 9555.
Open: Visit by appointment.
Address: Para Road, Tanunda, S.A., 5352.
Web: www.peterlehmannwines.com
Grapes were sourced from a range of elevations to increase potential fruit complexity. Other varieties are also used to increase the aromatic intensity of the wine. Partial Malolactic fermentation and residual sugar play a role in creating a 'Gris' texture on the palate whilst remaining fresh. Deeper yellow colour than most young wines. Moderate aromatic intensity typical of Pinot Gris but lifted by floral, citrus and spice of Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Palate weight more Gris than Grigio.
“Always best young and fresh. However, it will gain some additional richness and palate weight with short to medium (three years) cellaring.”
With the extra white wine in the two 'summer' Dozens I purposely went looking to the hills of Orange for something like this. A wine that reminds us of summer even if it’s not really being delivered, yet. I have heard consistently of a 'shortage' of white wines in the system as a result of the 2020 bushfires. I saw a very good write up of this wine's stable mate at a significantly higher price level and later saw an equal rating for this one. And with another thumbs up from the supplier, it eventually made its way here. It'll be interesting to see how the hot and fiery European summer affects imports.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 02 6366 8422
Open: Mon. to Fri. 3.00 to 5.00; W/E 11.00 to 5.00
Address: 208 Nancarrow Lane, Nashdale, NSW, 2800.
Web: www.printhiewines.com.au
The wine is a clear, bright and deep red with a crimson hue. The nose shows strong varietal definition, including blackberry and cassis fruits with well integrated cedary oak. The palate is medium to full bodied with typical sub district blueberry, olive, mint and spice characters. A dried herb finish is well supported by fine grainy tannins and French oak.
“This wine has the capacity to continue to develop 10 years from the release date.”
“The vineyard is located in the stunning Willyabrup sub region of the Margaret River wine district, home to some of the earliest established Margaret River vineyards. The first vines propagated at Rosily in 1994, using cuttings from the nearby Moss Wood vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon, regularly producing a strong and structured wine, is grown on the challenging top-of-hill gravels.” Also: “Rosily believes that the process of organic certification for the vineyard is a testament to looking after the land. After two years of trials, followed by three years of conversion, Rosily Vineyard is now an ACO certified organic vineyard.” Adding, it is also very good value whoever the consumer.
Available to Retail
Phone: 08 9755 6336
Open: Daily December and January 11.00 to 5.00
Address: 871 Yelverton Road, Willyabrup W.A., 6284.
Web: www.rosily.com.au
The Pirouette – meaning spin, twirl and swirl – is a complex Chardonnay. The first aroma is of that 'distinct struck match,' followed by aromas of ripe white nectarine, green melon, pear and buttered toast. Aged for eight months in 25% premium new French barriques (medium toast), stirring the lees to take the wine to the next level. This is an outstanding wine, mixing old school Chardonnay winemaking technique with new world fruit characters, we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
“The high natural acidity of Tumbarumba fruit gives this wine a cellaring potential of eight to ten years.”
Part of the inclusion of this Chardonnay has a touch of serendipity. Nicholas Gibson phoned me to tell me he had a 'ripper' Chardonnay for the next Dozen. “They” are great phone calls. He and long term work mate, Ian, whom I met when I was 18 and was the 'Gun' wine rep in Sydney at the time, both approached Carla in the Bungendore Cellar Door, and they set up a distribution link. I met Carla during a vintage in Orange (2003?) when she was recently back from England. She had started the Winemaking course at Charles Sturt Uni and planned to buy land in Braidwood and plant grapes. Good to catch up with this wine.
Available to Retail. (Now).
Full contact details currently being set up. For now contact me.
Phone: 0410 770 894
Cellar Door: 50 Molongolo Street Bungendore 2621.
Weekends 11.00 to 4.00.
The 2022 Inigo Riesling comes from three unique blocks on the Sevenhill property, with harvest taking place from the 1st to 4th March. The grapes were crushed and chilled prior to gentle pressing. Each block was fermented separately using three different yeast strains. Cool fermentation temperatures, followed by attention to detail prior to bottling, have helped maintain vibrancy and fruit purity. A bright aroma of lime, citrus, mineral and orange blossom. The palate is very fine, with delicate acidity, defining the palate. Clean white nectarine fruit flavours, balance and complete the wine nicely.
Nothing in the Notes. Obviously very good drinking on release and historically will develop over at least ten years.
“A true reflection of provenance, this Riesling is named in honour of Inigo of Loyola who was co-founder of the Jesuit Order whose members built Sevenhill. The 2022 Vintage had the ideal foundations: healthy vine canopies and adequate soil moisture, thanks to good winter and late spring rains. The summer months were predominantly dry, particularly closer to and during harvest. 2022 was very mild and the cooler nights played a very important role in the ripening of the fruit. Moderate yields rounded out what is one of the best vintages in recent years.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8843 5900
Open: Mon. to Fri. 9 to 5 & Weekends 10 to 5.
Address: 111 College Road, Sevenhill, S.A., 5453.
Web: www.sevenhill.com.au
100% Semillon, single vineyard, old vines. Whole bunches were promptly processed, chilled and drained, retaining only free run juice. Juice is cold settled before a clean rack to ferment. Inoculated, then cool fermented in stainless steel. Soon after fermentation is complete the wine is stabilised and bottled to retain freshness and vibrancy. Aromatics of lemon grass, ginger, spring blossoms and classic lemon and lime. Fresh citrus flavours and tight, vibrant acid structure are the hallmarks on the palate. The finish is clean and long with fruit and acid working in harmony. Always rewards patient cellaring.”
“Will drink beautifully any time over the next few years and up to 10 years.”
“Planted in 1936 by fourth generation Herbert Bernard Scholz. The old Semillon block has seen many seasons come and go, and is a consistent producer of high quality fruit, grown on a mixture of deep alluvial soil and red brown loam over clay on the banks of the North Para River. The 20/21 was an exceptional wine vintage. Favourable growing conditions through all four seasons rewarded with high quality fruit and good yields. Mild summer days and cool nights in January and February were perfect ripening conditions. The result was pristine fruit, great natural acidity and flavour. Hand-picked 3rd February.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8562 1080
Open: Wed to Mon 10.30 to 4.30
Address: 310 Light Pass Road, Light Pass, Barossa Valley S.A., 5355.
Web: www.thewillowsvineyard.com.au
All prices on this web site are in $AUD
Liquor Licence LIQP24009748
Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Under the Liquor Act 2007, It is an offence to sell or supply to or to obtain liquor on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years.
You will be required to provide proof of age before any goods are shipped.
