TAMING OUR BIG AND JAMMY DURIFS

Wc05Aug13

REFINED from days "when you needed
a knife and fork to drink it."

David Ellis

BACK in the 1980s Colin and Malcolm Campbell of Campbells Rutherglen Wines decided to move their Durif away from the big, jammy, full-bodied and loads of tannin of Australian Durifs, and to give them a more refined structure and balance.

"Durifs in those days were so big, some used to joke that you really needed a knife and fork to drink them," Colin says now. "We wanted a more refined expression of the grape, and so started in the vineyard in the late 1980s… Malcolm encouraging the fruit to grow more slowly, and to fully ripen before picking for greater refinement."

Then in the winery Colin further "tamed" that resultant fruit by building layers of complexity and length, something he calls "thorough breeding," and following this with slow extended barrel maturation using a mix of 3 year old French and American oak.

The first "new look" Campbell Durif was labelled The Barkly and released from the 1992 vintage; now the 2010 vintage has just been released, the 15^th The Barkly label (allowing for three vintages in which Colin and Malcolm felt fruit wasn't up to The Barkly quality.) This one's all about abundant and powerful dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavours, with added earthy and ironstone characters, and good oak.

GREAT Chardonnay from cool-climate
600 metre high NSW vineyards.

At $54 its one to truly savour with a baked loin of venison, or slow cooked lamb or beef.

ONE TO NOTE: PETER Logan can be justifiably proud of the 2012 Chardonnay he's released under his Logan label, and which he believes is "the most complete Chardonnay we've made in years… a wine with a long fresh palate, delicate texture and a mix of savoury and fruit flavours."

The Orange region of NSW's Central West where this one hails from is gaining a well-deserved reputation for Chardonnays generally, the cool climate in the 600 metre high ranges here really suiting the variety, and this Logan is a beautifully rewarding example.

At $25 it goes wonderfully with a Sunday chicken roast, or try it with crab cakes.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

                                                    

Mudgee: Lowe Wine School

source: supplied

Attention class!

Go to the top of the class with the best in your glass at the David Lowe Wine School in Mudgee.

The evening classes at Lowe Wines are informative and fun with the first roll call on 19 July.The sessions reflect the certified organic vineyard’s cellar door tastings. With tasting “flight placemats”, students are taken on a journey of differentiation of 12 wines, incorporating the three vineyards of Lowe wines and exploring elevation and meteorology.

The first three wines are white with David showcasing the varietal characteristics, quality and at the same time how to simply taste. The second batch of three wines are different examples of the same white varietals, but masked. The objective is to identify wine is which, with a bit of humour.

Wine 101 with David Lowe

The next phase studies reds. Like the whites, there will be mystery reds presented and tested. The classes have been designed by David for a fast, fun and educational experience.

You can follow up on your new skills the following evening at the Winemaker’s Table dinner (20 July), a food and wine dinner in the vineyards.

Bookings are essential for both events. Other Wine School classes, costing $45 per person, will be held from 5.30 – 7pm on 16 August, and every Wednesday during September.
As well as preparing for these major events, Lowe has released its yearly calendar and extended its cellar door to further upgrade outside tasting experiences.

The winery has also entered the Inland Tourism Awards, after achieving bronze last year in the State category behind Wyndham Estate and Bimbadgen. Lowe wines is holder of the triple crown of organics, best Mudgee organic wine, best NSW organic wine, and best Australian, NZ organic wine.

To learn more about what’s happening in Mudgee’s food and wine scene, tune into ABC Central West every Saturday morning for updates with David Lowe and the vineyard’s acclaimed chef, Kim Currie.

Burch Family International Pinot Noir Tasting & Lunch 2013

media release


A CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR

Tickets on sale from Thursday, 15th August 2013. [doc]

Pinot Noir lovers are yet again invited to the highlight of the year to join Burch Family Wines celebrate the intriguing variety at the International Pinot Noir Tasting & Lunch to be held at the picturesque Howard Park Winery, Margaret River on Saturday, 5th October 2013.

A very impressive line-up of 20 Pinot Noirs will be featured, with highly regarded and interesting producers from around the world including France, Argentina, USA, Germany, New Zealand and of course our very own Australian producers who are working away at this very complex grape variety.

This event evolved from the opportunity to present the diversity of Pinot Noir, to experience Pinot from various terroir and to listen to esteemed experts in the field. The collective of guest speakers include Huon Hooke, Ken Gargett and David Wainwright.

Herb Faust, West Australian chef personality will send guests on a mesmerizing journey of food and wine utilizing the best of this season's local produce complimented with a careful selection of new-release Howard Park wines. All in all, a day of total engagement and celebration of all good things that accompany wine – delicious food, iconic wines, informed speakers and great music.


HOWARD PARK INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR TASTING & LUNCH

Date: Saturday, 5 October 2013

Venue: Howard Park Winery, Margaret River

Time: 10.00am arrival, for a prompt 10.30am start, till late afternoon.

Cost: $420 per person (inclusive of tasting and lunch).

Bookings: Through the Margaret River winery: (08) 9756 5200

Tickets on sale from Thursday, 15 August 2013.

________________________________

About Burch Family Wines

Burch Family Wines produce Howard Park, MadFish and Marchand & Burch wines in addition to a range of other high quality labels. The family owned winery began with the Howard Park label and now, 27 years later, crafts wines of distinct regional character from the renowned regions of Margaret River and the Great Southern. The simple philosophy of producing wines with a strong focus to quality from the vineyard to the bottle.

www.burchfamilywines.com.au

ONE WORTH WAITING EIGHT YEARS FOR

Wc29Jul13

RICH, elegant, opulent and great with
slow-roasted lamb: what more can we say ?

David Ellis

FOR just the third time, Rymill has released a limited parcel of wine that came from an exceptional vintage, and was then carefully cellared in ideal conditions for up to eight years, in this case the wine being its Rymill Coonawarra Maturation Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.

And the more-interesting is that this wine was one of the first made at Rymill by now-Senior Winemaker, Sandrine Gimon, who described it back in 2005 as "unapproach-able" – but who could see then the potential it had if, with its cool-climate backbone, it could be allowed to slowly evolve through its full spectrum of secondary fruit flavours.

That decision to give it the time it needed has certainly proven rewarding, both for Sandrine and her team, and consumers eager for wines of the richness, elegance and opulence of this one: vibrant ripe black cherry and dark chocolate flavours melt onto the palate with subtle exotic spices, notes of almonds and well-balanced acidity.   

At $45, with its full body and wonderful tannins it's a great wine to put with a special-occasion slow-roasted lamb with root vegetables, or duck ragout with fresh pasta. And

DEVELOPING an almost-cult following,
perfect with grilled lobsterbasted with olive oil,
lemon juice, dill and salt and pepper.

whilst its already had 8 years in-cellar, it'll develop even more nicely over another 10.

ONE TO NOTE: BLUE Pyrenees is gaining itself something of an almost-cult following with its cool-climate Viognier from Victoria's high country, and its just-released 2012 already has devotees rushing to this luscious white that's all about upfront fruit flavours.

So much so that while it was originally intended for cellar-door sale only, with buyer reaction it's been decided to release it through major liquor outlets as well. Chief Winemaker, Andrew Koerner believes the 2012 is one of his best-ever Blue Pyrenees Viogniers, nicely luscious with sweet pear and nutty confection flavours, a quite rich creamy texture and a hint of sweetness.

Pay $18 and team it up with grilled lobster basted with simply olive oil, lemon juice, dill, salt and black pepper.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com )

A month till the fun kicks off at Taste Orange @ Sydney 2013

Media Release

 There is only a month to go till the much talked about Taste Orange @ Sydney is set to kick off on Wednesday 21^st August and Thursday 22^nd August. Back again in 2013 by popular demand, Sydneysiders will have the chance to taste some of the Orange region's finest food and wine right at their doorstep.

 

In 2013, the two day event in the of heart of the Sydney CBD, Martin Place, will feature both day and night festivities - whether you're keen to take a trip to Orange in your lunchbreak between 11:30am-2:30pm or pop up after dark at the Pop Up Wine Bar from 5pm-8pm ...or both! With FREE entry, wine and food tastings, giveaways, cooking demonstrations plus live music & entertainment, Taste Orange @ Sydney has something for everyone.

 

Offering 22 of the Orange and District region's finest wineries, Taste Orange @ Sydney is a wine lover's delight with wines on show from Angullong, Bantry Grove, Belgravia, Borrodell Vineyard, Brangayne, Cargo Road, Charles Sturt University, Cumulus, De Salis, Faisan Estate, Heifer Station, Highland Heritage Estate, Logan, Monument Vineyard, Orange Mountain, Patina, Philip Shaw, Printhie, Ross Hill, Sassy and Stockman's Ridge plus Small Acres Cyder!

 

Sydneysiders will have the unique chance to transport their tastebuds with the opportunity to indulge in some of the most delicious offerings the region has to offer. In true country hospitality style, chef Kate Bracks will be just one of the friendly local faces around to chat to, with winemakers, tourist representatives, businesses and industry all eager to share their love and pride for the historic region.

 

But wait there's more... while you're indulging in the freshest produce from one of the most enviable regions that NSW has to offer and your other hand full with a tasting, groove on down and chill out in the Millamolong Polo lounge area.  While you're there don't forget to enter into the exclusive competition to win a weekend for you and 9 mates travelling in the 'Rock Star' bus to Orange to visit the 2014 Millamolong Polo Carnival!

 

Join us for this not-to-be-missed regional showcase of some of Australia's finest food and wine, cultivated from the cool climate and high altitude that this scenic region boasts. So whether you're longing to escape the office for an hour or two, an aspiring sommelier, chef or musician or just after mid-week catch up drinks with friends in a very cool Sydney-style fashion, Taste Orange @ Sydney has it all.

 

Click here to get a feel for what Taste Orange @ Sydney is all about... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haI6NlVWJq8

 

 

NICE REWARD FROM AN UNUSUAL TASSIE BLEND

Wc22Jul13

TASSIE tempter worth the extra freight
costs (enjoy with a hearty beef stroganoff.)

David Ellis

WE don't often get the opportunity to try wines out of Tasmania, and when offered not only a Tassie drop but one that was a quite unusual blend too, we jumped at it.

And how surprisingly rewarded we were. Grey Sands vineyard is in the foggy Tamar Valley in Tasmania's north, just 3.5ha in size and since being established in 1988 has produced a range of reds, with particular success with Merlot that was planted there in 1998. Then after a visit some years ago to New Zealand where he was impressed with blends he tasted that invariably included Malbec, Grey Sands winemaker Bob Richter decided on his return home to add that varietal to his vineyard as well.

Those vines took seven years to produce any appreciable crops from the low-fertility grey sands (that give name to his vineyard,) and when they finally did in 2012, he blended 45% of that Malbec with 45% of his Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, calling the resultant drop The Mattock.

This is a beautifully deep-red wine with purple hues, rewarding plum and cherry flavours, silky tannins and some background savoury oak; its great value at $30, and worth investing in the delivery fee (particularly to enjoy with a hearty beef stroganoff.)

SAVOUR this Canberra surprise with puddings,
cheesecakes and rich fruit cakes.

To order, give Bob a call on (03) 6396 1167 or email info@greysands.com.au

ONE TO NOTE: BOTH Hungary and Germany claim to have been the first to produce –albeit accidentally after fruit was left on the vines too long – dessert wines that are now made from fruit that's deliberately left beyond normal harvest to be attacked by Botrytis Cinera, a fungus that sucks much of the water from that fruit, leaving it withered and with deep concentrations of natural flavours and often added tones of honeyed apricot.

NSW's Riverina produces some world-recognised dessert wines, and now Shaw Vineyard in the Canberra wine district has released a delightful 2012 Botrytis Semillon that is beautifully fruit-flavoured, sweet, and ideal to enjoy chilled with traditional puddings, cheesecakes and rich fruit cakes. Excellent buying at $25 for a 375ml bottle.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

RIESLING THAT LIVES UP TO A BOLD CLAIM

Wc15Jul13

David Ellis

 

THE tiny village of Watervale in South Australia's Clare Valley – population just 246 – has an enviable reputation for producing some of Australia's finest Rieslings, so when a maker lays claim to a particular vintage having produced possibly his best Rieslings in a decade, he must be talking about some very, very good wines.

 

Jim Barry Wines' Chief Winemaker, Peter Barry made just such a claim recently about his 2013 Watervale label Riesling, and while we can't say we've tried every one of his past ten vintages, we can certainly agree that the 2013 is an absolutely fantastic drop.

 

A traditionally Clare style with crisp natural acidity and a very dry finish, it's the product of conditions that saw warm and then cool spells that allowed for excellent flavour ripening and good natural acidity. And with a wonderfully full palate highlighted with excellent lime, grapefruit and citrus, fruit sweetness and a natural acid backbone, this is just the drop to match-up with a nice lobster salad.

 

The more so when you find its just $19 a bottle.

 

ONE TO NOTE: ANOTHER gem from South Australia we had the opportunity to taste recently was a 2012 Merlot from the small St Mary's Wines, owned by the Mulligan family who've lived in the Penola/Coonawarra area for over 100 years.

 

The Mulligans planted their St Mary's Vineyard 16km out of Penola in 1937, and while it's on internationally-famed Coonawarra terra rossa soil over limestone, most parts of it are stony – and some virtually pure rock – with the result the vines produce relatively small tonnages of fruit compared with local district averages.

 

But that fruit's wonderfully full-flavoured, the Merlot resulting in the 2012 being a wine with soft, ripe red cherry flavours, elegant spice and soft tannins, coupled with pleasant oak from its time in French barrels. Excellent value at $30 to enjoy with tomato-influenced Italian dishes; if you can't find it at your local liquor outlet, go onto www.stmaryswines.com for the name of your nearest distributor.

 

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

 

[] AN excellent drop to enjoy with lobster salad – and it's just $19.

[] TOMATO-influenced Italian dishes make an ideal match with this one.