News June 2011

New Releases: We have four new releases. The first two, the 2008 Pinot Noir and 2008 Chardonnay, will be previewed at Melbourne and Sydney Good Food and Wine Shows (early June and July)and officially launched at a wine dinner Etch Restaurant in Sydney on the 6th of July (see below for more details of this event). Both these wines may now be purchased at cellar door  but will not be available for tasting in cellar door until July.

The elegant 2008 Pinot Noir has a nose of maraschino cherry and a palate of strawberry and red cherry fruit, sweet vanilla from the well integrated French oak, silky tannins and a pleasant, round mouth feel.  Made in an elegant style- lightly presssed, we opened our crusher head and did some whole berry ferment in the primary ferment, which slowed the ferment process down and gave added complexity. It was selected for the Wine Australia Visiting Sommelier's Programs and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Duck Crawl and has earned some great accolades. 13.0% Alc/vol

The 2008 Chardonnay, which scored 94 Halliday points, was whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented in new French Nevers oak. The palate has white peach and lime overlaying vanilla, gentle ginger spice and a hint of butterscotch. A partial malolactic fermentation (25%) and lees stirring add palate weight and creamy texture.  13.5% Alc/vol

We are also releasing the 2007 Quatrain this month. Our reserve Bordeaux blend 2005 Quatrain is down to the last half pallet and Graeme has reserved the balance for museum stock. The new 2007 Quatrain, currently being released to cellar door in June is a superb Bordeaux blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot 3% Cabernet Franc. This wine has a nose of blackberry, tobacco leaf, toasty oak and spicy licorice, a well rounded mouth feel and a complex palate of blackberry and blueberry, dark chocolate and dusty tannins. A wonderful complement to beef fillet, game, lamb and hard cheeses. 13.4% Alc/vol

The 2006 Shiraz: This is being released to cellar door in June. Matured in American oak, this Shiraz has a nose of ripe berry, coconut, cedar and mocha and a palate of intense blackberries and mocha. It has well balanced acidity, firm tannins and good palate length. Well suited to game, veal, lamb, spicy vegetable dishes and hard cheeses. 13.1% Alc/vol

Limited Stocks and sell outs: We are now completely sold out of the 2005 Chardonnay. We have a very limited amount of the 2005 Quatrain reserved for mailing list customers and will sell out quickly.  We have now finished the 2005 Shiraz (gold medal winner at the Concours des Vin) and remaining stock will be reserved for museum stock.  We have a lovely follow up coming in the 2006 Shiraz.

The Shortest Lunch: the Festival of the Smaller Wineries of the Yarra Valley, returned on the shortest weekend of the year 18^th and 19^th of June. This is a progressive feast of  great wine, superb food (generous entree sized dishes) and live music around the boutique, family owned wineries of the Valley.

At our venue Graeme again made his famous hearty chickpea, chicken and vegetable  soup and Bernie  provided a wonderful Yarra Valley Pasta of caramelised onion, goat cheese and almond, with rocket salad, both meals served with crusty ciabatta bread. At the Festival customers enjoyed comfort and warmth and delicious meals  matched to elegant Yarra Valley wines. Yarra Valley soprano, balladist and Celtic harpist, Barbara Jeffrey, of the National 10 Sopranos fame, wprovided wonderful live music and entertainment. Remember not to miss this wonderful event next year:  www.shortestlunch.com.au

Sydney Good Food and Wine Show: We will be on stand E21 at Sydney Good Food and Wine Show, to be held on Friday the 1^st of July 10am-6pm, Saturday 2^nd of July 10am-6pm and Sunday 3^rd of July 10am-5pm. The venue is the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, at Darling Harbour.  Graeme will feature in the Riedel Wine Theatre , showcasing two of our wines, with times and sessions to be confirmed, so check the show guide on arrival. We are delighted that our two winemakers, Graeme and our Assistant Winemaker Shaun Crinion, will both be at the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show, so come to stand E21 and meet the winemakers in person. The Show will feature wineries from around Australia, the Wine Theatre, Master classes and great celebrity chefs. Our Sydney Wine Dinner which we were looking forward to, has unfortunately has been cancelled due to other commitments.

New winery Dog Dusty: While we could never replace Kerry, our beautiful pointer who died in February, the place just wasn't the same without a winery dog. New winery team member Dusty (Woodych Midnight Cowboy i.e. Dustin Hoffman), joined us from South Australia in April. He is learning the ropes and growing at an almost alarming rate. At seven months on the 6th of July he is already the size of a mature female German Short Haired Pointer.