Winestate Magazine Annual 2011

SCA10422TC SCARPANTONI ESTATE GROWN - FAMILY MADE Tempest Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc ½ - Winestate, Best of SA The family estate is in good hands. Since 1958 we have led with viticulture and vineyard innovation. We produce our wines with our own hands, every bottle is treated like one of our family! McLaren Vale Grape Growers since 1958 - Estate Winemakers since 1979 Cellar Door open: Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm, Weekends & Public Holidays 11am to 5pm Scarpantoni Drive, McLaren Flat, SA. Phone: (08) 8383 0186 [email protected] www.scarpantoniwines.com

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australiaTaylors Eighty Acres Bird in Hand Nest Hugh Hamilton Bethany Barossa Rosemount ShowClare Valley Egg Adelaide Hills The Scoundrel McLaren Cabernet Franc Rosé Reserve McLaren ValeChardonnay 2008 HHHH Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Vale Tempranillo 2009 HHHH Traditional 2007 HHHHVery fresh nose of melons Lemon essence-like aromas 2008 HHHH1/2 A serious well made wine Rich and chocolaty noseand candied citrus. Lovely with delicate floral notes. Big, dark, dense colour and with distinctive floral with hints of herbs. Verylength and intensity of peach/ Lovely gentle palate, very rich and meaty nose. The characters mixed with nice savoury palate.nectarine flavours on the juicy in the mouth, with a palate is brimming over with almond characters on the Powerful extracted tannins.balanced, creamy palate. $15 long, lingering, fresh oaky excellent flavours. Subtle use nose and balance of acidity Very interesting style - will finish. $60 of oak has created a perfectly and fruit gives a crisp, fresh, need time. $19.99Jamiesons Run Penfolds Reserve balanced wine. $24.50 fruity palate. $18 Minnow Creek TheLimestone Coast Bin 08A Adelaide Hills Banrock Station White Pindarie Bar Rossa Black Minnow McLarenChardonnay 2009 HHHH Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Shiraz 2009 HHHH1/2 Barossa Valley Vale SangioveseStone-fruit/melon bouquet Complex, oak-driven nose Fresh, lifted, raspberry Tempranillo Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignonedged with oak. Fresh, and long, fresh, creamy confectionery nose with very Shiraz 2008 HHHH Malbec 2008 HHHHbalanced palate with good palate with savoury textures fresh and appealing vibrant Spicy/savoury nose and Sweet, lifted spicy/cherryvarietal definition, well- that, according to one judge, berry flavours and refreshing lovely fleshy palate that’s fruit aromas leading on tohandled oak and crisp acid. “makes you hungry”. $89.99 acidity to balance. Lovely lively with flavour and layered a quite savoury palate thatNeeds time. $15.99 Krondorf Symmetry long, fruity finish. $9.50 with soft tannins. Would be has some lovely soft and Barossa Chardonnay Blackbilly great with venison pie. $23 persistent blood plum-like 2006 HHHH McLaren Vale McLean’s Farmgate flavours. $19 Attractive toasty aged Tempranillo 2008 HHHH barr-Eden Eden Valley Nepenthe Adelaide aromas but still plenty of Soft and savoury nose Mataro Shiraz Grenache Hills Tempranillo freshness. Tightly structured with floral traces and hints 2007 HHHH 2008 HHHH palate - quite complex - with of fennel. Nice meaty “A really lovely drink,” Vibrant aromas of buttery/peachy flavours and palate - very savoury. Some thought one judge. Excellent blueberries and tomato crisp acidity. $29.99 CM sweetness on the long, integration of lively, sweet, leaves and a lovely juicy Goose Island by lingering finish. $22 dark berry fruits, some very blood plum and passionfruit Serafino Adelaide good oak and bound together palate with some great Unoaked Chardonnay Running With Bulls with savoury tannins. $35 tannin interaction. $25 2009 HHHH Barossa Tempranillo Nepenthe The GoodBlack Wattle Lysander Well-made chardonnay with 2008 HHHH Doctor Adelaide HillsMt Benson Chardonnay delicate peach aromas and Lifted aromas of spices and Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH2009 HHHH light fig complexity. Clean, licorice. Medium-bodied Complex, gamey style:Obvious white peach/melon fresh palate with good citrus palate; soft and long, with long and savoury and stillaromas with a fresh, crisp intensity and well-handled great depth of fruit richness showing good plum fruitvarietal palate of rockmelon, phenolics. $10 and savoury tannins. Quite freshness, with nice juicypeach and citrus. Quite hot. $18.95 tannins on the finish. $38austere and very Chablis- other red Patritti Barossa Valley Koonara Belle Amielike. 3-5 $16.99 CM varietals & blends Saperavi 2008 HHHH Coonawarra Pinot Noir Vividly coloured, fresh and 2009 HHHHQuarisa Treasures Madeleines Nangkita lively wine. Earthy notes to Earthy savoury nose withPadthaway Chardonnay Single Vineyard the raspberry aromas and lovely perfumed lift. Very Katnook Estate2008 HHHH Southern Fleurieu nice balance of subtle oak, gamey palate with a hint of Coonawarra MerlotRich, bright, golden wine with Primitivo 2008 HHHH1/2 silky-soft tannins and lovely strawberry. Has fine-grained 2008 HHHHpowerful varietal fruit, soft Very complex nose with a big fruit. “Exciting stuff!” $12.50 tannins and dusty oak. Classy wine with savoury/toasty/roasted nut-like oak hit of pepper and spice, and Norton Summit Needs time. $20 earthy characterselements and a long, lingering an extraordinarily complex Vineyards Estate Wolf Blass Gold Label dominating the nose andfinish. 3-5 $14.99 palate loaded with flavour Adelaide Hills Pinot Limestone Coast Pinot an oaky palate with nice and with more of those spicy/ Noir 2007 HHHH Noir 2008 HHHH persistence of someRichmond Grove peppery characters. $22 Big, gamey wine with a very Big, smoky oak nose with excellent ripe fruit flavoursLimited Release pungent, meaty bouquet beetroot-like complexity and in the background. $40Adelaide Hills Vineyard and the full pinot flavour followed by a big-bodied, full-Chardonnay 2008 HHHH spectrum across the entire flavoured, savoury palate with Flint’s of CoonawarraFresh, toasty, buttery palate. “Has ‘pinocity’,” fine tannin backbone. $24.99 Tricky Gatearomas and long, complex, suggested one judge! $30 Coonawarra Merlotsavoury flavours with 2008 HHHHlingering creaminess. Rich, Big, bright, fruit-driven -fine and a little funky. $17.99 lovely crimson colour with purple hues. Has subtleStarvedog Lane cedary oak and long, silkyAdelaide Hills tannins. Good cellaringChardonnay 2008 HHHH potential. 5+ $18Complex, lees-influencedaromas leading to a long, DiGiorgio Familysoft palate with oak flavours Coonawarra Emporiositting on top of the lemony 2006 HHHHvarietal fruit. $29 Complex savoury/earthy aromas with woody notes and a rich blood plum/dusty oak palate that fills the mouth with flavour and has a fine tannic end. $25.99102 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

south australiagrenache & blends d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings McLaren Vale Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2007 HHHH Lovely clean, well-made, classic grenache. Generous aromas and well-structured palate. Big volume of fruit, good texture and tarry notes. $65Claymore Wines You’ll Hardys Oomoo McLarenNever Walk Alone Clare Vale Grenache ShirazValley Grenache Mataro Mourvedre 2006 HHHHShiraz 2008 HHHHH Very interesting style. Racy,Gorgeous aromas of plums herbal nose and flavour-and licorice, cassis and loaded palate with flavourspices, with a perfumed and excellent texture. “Servelift. Medium-bodied sweet with beef,” suggested onefruit/licorice palate - soft judge. $18.50and flavoursome and with Lake Breeze Langhorneexcellent tannins. $18 Creek Old VineRosemount Show Grenache 2009 HHHHReserve GSM McLaren Simple musk, plum andVale Grenache Shiraz juniper berry aromas. Light,Mataro 2006 HHHHH sweet and flavoursomePowerful wine that’s ageing on a palate showing somebeautifully. Rich and complex richness. Quite hot andcherry cola-like bouquet, racy. $24followed by a long, complex The Old Faithfulpalate with plenty of Northern Exposuremouthfilling tannins. $19.99 McLaren Vale Grenache 2006 HHHH Big, full-bodied wine with a chunky berry fruit nose and slightly hot, tannic palate that’s sweet in the middle and has great tarry characters. $55 La Curio Reserve McLaren Vale Bush Vine Grenache 2008 HHHH Beautifully lifted raspberry bouquet with some traces of spice and chocolate. Rich, sweet fruit on a palate that’s not excessively alcoholic. $27 Yelland & Papps Delight WINES Barossa Valley Grenache McLAREN VALE Shiraz 2008 HHHH Lovely nose - smells like fruit cake. Ripe palate with mouthfilling sweet fruit flavours across the palate with juicy tannic support. Quite warming alcohol. $19.95III Associates Four Score Yalumba HandpickedMcLaren Vale Grenache Single Site Tricentenary2008 HHHH1/2 Vineyard Vine ValeGreat colour! Spicy, rich Grenache 2005 HHHHbouquet with a lovely Big, brooding monsterearthiness. Wonderful with earthy, barnyardymouthful of sweet red fruits aromas layered with floraland savoury tannins. Long notes. Rich, complex palateand slippery on the finish. $30 overflowing with varietal fruit. Drinking well now. $75 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 103

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australiaYalumba Hand Picked Bremerton Tamblyn cabernet sauvignon Pepper Tree Aramis Vineyards BlackSingle Site Habermann Langhorne Creek 2009-2007 Wrattonbully Label McLaren ValeVineyard Bethany Cabernet Shiraz Malbec Coonawarra Cabernet SauvignonBarossa Grenache Merlot 2008 HHHH Berton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 HHHH1/22005 HHHH Rich, well-balanced and Reserve Coonawarra 2008 HHHH1/2 Fresh, earthy and smellingDark cherries and violets very dense red wine. Lovely Cabernet Sauvignon Gorgeous deep crimson of roses! Powerfulshow through the developed, chocolate/mint nose and 2008 HHHHH wine with a spicy rhubarb/ blackcurrant flavours mixedearthy nose. Nicely balanced persistent flavours on a rich Huge, dark, dense, inky wine plum bouquet and lovely with interesting herbal-likepalate with good tannin and palate that has loads and with an “impenetrable” rich varietal fruit leading elements. Has plenty ofacid structure. Rhone-like loads of oak. $18 crimson colour. Dusty oak the well-structured palate. cellaring potential. $24.99style. At its peak. $75 The Musician by Majella mingles with blackberry fruit Nice dusty/vanillin oak, good Ingoldby McLaren Vale Coonawarra Cabernet aromas and the palate shows acidity and fine tannins. Cabernet Sauvignoncabernet blends Shiraz 2009 HHHH lashings of blueberry fruit. 2008 HHHH Big and soft with loads of Quite tannic but it’s balanced 3-5 $18 Serious, powerful, masculine lovely bright cassis/plum Majella Coonawarra style with dense, brooding varietal fruit balanced by 5+ $18.99 Cabernet Sauvignon mocha nose and lovely long, the powerful toasty oak and 2008 HHHH1/2 juicy cabernet flavours. supported by a silky tannin Very intense and very Definite keeper with a few backbone. Years ahead of it. classy, almost black, years in it yet. $19.99 cabernet. The nose has a Maglieri of 5+ $17 lovely perfumed/violet-like McLaren Vale Cabernet lift and the palate is bursting Sauvignon 2008 HHHH with dark, minty fruit and Very varietal. Lovely spicy oak. $35 freshness. Bright, lifted Leconfield Coonawarra blackcurrant-like nose and a Cabernet Sauvignon bold and earthy, ripe varietal 2008 HHHH1/2 fruit palate. $21.99 Rich, opulent, dark bramble bouquet and lovely big, classic cassis/choc mint palate backed by cedary oak and velvety tannin structure. Lovely lingering finish. $33.50The Malleea by Scarpantoni Estate Wolf Blass Grey Label Parson’s PaddockMajella Coonawarra Reserve McLaren Vale Langhorne Creek Langhorne CreekCabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet SauvignonShiraz 2008 HHHHH Shiraz 2008 HHHH 2007 HHHH1/2 2008 HHHHDeep crimson wine with Oak-driven style with Big, chocolaty nose with Pretty, youthful nose withan intense, perfumed interesting smoky/chargrilled traces of berries. Palate has nice new oak characters.bouquet and an incredible capsicum-like aromas and flavours of mulled fruits with Long, rich, sweet blackberry/depth and length of cassis a generous palate that great tannin balance. Needs cherry fruit on a palateand blueberry-like flavours has plenty of mouthfilling too breathe a while before lingering with charry oak andbalanced by excellent cedary flavours. $36 Raidis Estate drinking. $42.99 nice earthiness. $13.99oak. The palate has softness Yalumba The Scribbler Billy Coonawarra Lake Breeze Reilly’s Clare Valleyand texture. 5+ $66 Barossa Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 HHHHMeritage by Bleasdale 2008 HHHH Classic example of ripe 2007 HHHH1/2 Intense concentration ofLanghorne Creek Soft and gentle wine that varietal fruit here - all cassis Gorgeous fragrant, perfumed dark cherry aromas with aCabernet Sauvignon would be just perfect served and juicy dark berries bouquet with an ethereal, pleasant leafy lift. Rich, ripeShiraz Malbec with cheese. Intense sweet seamlessly balanced with briary lift and a huge jammy/prune flavours with2008 HHHH1/2 fruit flavours balanced by fine, dusty, cedar-like oak; mouthful of oaky flavours a subtle touch of oak. NiceLovely big, rich and delicious ‘sensible’ oak and a tannic good level of astringency. on a palate with delicate drink. $18wine - very oaky for now, end. $19.95 Just needs time. $21 blueberry nuances. $23 Jim Barry The Coverbut there’s an abundance of Paracombe Adelaide d’Arenberg Drive Clare Valleyluscious blackcurrant fruits Hills Cabernet Franc The Coppermine Cabernet Sauvignonunderneath. Lifted aromas 2007 HHHH Road McLaren Vale 2008 HHHHand persistent flavours. Lovely perfumed nose - Cabernet Sauvignon Intense leafy/berry bouquet.$25.99 CM smells of violets. Beautifully 2007 HHHH1/2 Palate quite herbal, with balanced palate with Chocolaty, European style sweet blueberry flavours and classy fruit, great oak and with lovely bouquet and some savoury characters. good level of acidity. Lots long, attractive, savoury Finishes firm. $19.95 happening. $27 palate with seamless balance between acid and tannins. Nice leathery notes. $65104 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

south australiaRosedale Wines Cat Audrey WilkinsonAmongst The Pigeons Winemakers SelectionCat Walk Barossa Wrattonbully CabernetValley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 HHHHSauvignon 2008 HHHH Developed, savoury noseLots of cassis aromas lift off and nice classic varietalthe nose, followed by a soft, palate with the oakfleshy palate with generous seamlessly balanced withvarietal flavours supported raspberry fruit and big tanninby nice acid and tannin structure. $30structure. $15 Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra CabernetYelland & Papps Sauvignon 2007 HHHHBarossa Valley Smells of cassis fruit with aCabernet Sauvignon subtle touch of cedary oak2007 HHHH and some menthol notes.Abundance of ripe dark fruit The fine, velvety palatehas been perfectly blended has an abundance of purewith some well-handled varietal fruit with a balanceoak and supported by a soft of some well-handled, verytannic spine. $30 delicate, oak. $24.99 Wehl’s Mount BensonJamiesons Run Vineyards CabernetLimestone Coast Sauvignon 2007 HHHHCabernet Sauvignon Opulent cassis nose with a2009 HHHH lovely minty/leafy character,Nice fresh, light to medium some fruit sweetness onweight vibrant crimson the palate mixing with grippycabernet with clean, perfumed tannins and spicy oak. Robustfruit, some earthy/herbal mid-palate. $19.50 CDnotes and lovely silky-smoothtannins. 5+ $15.99Quarisa Treasures cabernet sauvignonCoonawarra Cabernet 2006 & olderSauvignon 2008 HHHHPowerfully rich, ripe, full-flavoured varietal with loadsof cassis and blackberryfruits, a big hit of dustyoak and a mouthful of finetannins. $14.99Flint’s of CoonawarraGammon’s CrossingCoonawarra CabernetSauvignon 2008 HHHHQuite a savoury/oaky noseshowing hints of orange rindand spices. Classy palatewith fresh, bright varietalfruit and good firm tanninbackbone. 3-5 $22Jacobs Creek Reserve Grant BurgeSouth Australia Corryton Park BarossaCabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon2008 HHHH 2005 HHHH1/2Eucalypt/menthol complexity Excellent varietal definition ofto the cassis nose. Full- violets and blackberries, heldbodied palate with simple together with some greatbut powerful varietal fruit oak. Wonderful palate length,and plenty of it. Good tannin with fine tannic structure.structure. $18.49 “Definitely needs steak,” decided one judge. $40Pepper Tree CalcareCoonawarra CabernetSauvignon 2007 HHHHDark oaky aromas with sometraces of mocha, spice,menthol and berries. Similarcharacters echoed on thelong, lingering palate - goodlevel of tannins. 3-5 $35 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 105

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australiaSaltram Winemaker Koonara Bay of Orlando Jacaranda shiraz blendsSelection Barossa Valley Apostles Coonawarra Ridge CoonawarraCabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley Estate2004 HHHH1/2 2006 HHHHH 2005 HHHH E Bass Barossa ValleyExcellent wine that’s still Powerful classic with Big, rich, ripe cabernet with Shiraz Tempranilloamazingly fresh with an intense cassis/dark berry an abundance of cassis fruit, 2005 HHHHHattractive varietal nose fruit characters showing a chocolaty/cedar oak and Excellent wine! Soft andshowing a spicy lift and lip- distinct minty lift and lovely attractive earthy/forest floor mature, yet still has vibrancysmacking chocolate/mocha earthy complexity. Velvety complexity developing. $62.99 and freshness. Lovely spicyflavours. Lovely soft texture soft in the mouth with fruit, long, soft tannins andin the mouth. $74.99 great varietal fruit flavour Koonara Ambriel’s Gift clever balance of oak, withYalumba The Reserve persistence. $20 Coonawarra Cabernet the addition of leathery/Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 HHHH tobacco complexity. $20Sauvignon 2002 HHHH Koonara Angel’s Peak Not a complex wine but has“It’s seven years old yet Coonawarra Cabernet seamless integration andstill a baby,” remarked one Sauvignon 2006 HHHH balance between the purejudge. Slightly perfumed Classic cassis/choc mint varietal fruit, firm tannins, Tributary Vineyardscassis aromas and lovely bouquet with earthy savoury oak and acid. Oaky The Tribute Eden Valley Karanto 100 Langhornepalate structure. Has poise. complexity developing, all of on the finish. 3-5 $30 Shiraz Cabernet Creek Shiraz AglianicoNeeds pheasant! $149.95 which follows through onto 2006 HHHH1/2 Primitivo 2007 HHHHBen Potts Lenny’s the palate. High in acid with Pepper Tree Elderslee Wonderfully complex wine Excellent richness andBlock Langhorne Creek fine tannins. 3-5 $15.95 Road Wrattonbully that’s ageing beautifully, great depth of flavour withCabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon with years ahead of it yet. plenty of berry brightness,2006 HHHH Koonara The Temptress 2006 HHHH Nice berry core, great oak a savoury balance and firm,Excellent varietal fruit Coonawarra Cabernet Nice intensity of cassis/ depth and soft, rounded drying tannins. 3-5 $25expression. Complex nose Sauvignon 2006 HHHH black olive-like varietal fruit tannins. “Would be perfectwith licorice and light minty Lovely elegant style that’s characters. Oaky nose and with beef.” $20 St Hallett Gamekeeper’scharacters. Youthful, oaky full of flavour. Excellent big, bold, sweet palate that Reserve Barossa Shirazpalate with fruit beneath. $40 seamless balance between feels soft and velvety in the Amicus McLaren Vale Grenache TourigaSaddler’s Creek the acid, varietal fruit, mouth. $35 Shiraz Malbec Cabernet Nacional 2008 HHHHLanghorne Cabernet tannins and oak. Long, 2006 HHHH Savoury young thing with2005 HHHH lingering, tannic finish. Complex and developed wine lovely fresh, lifted aromas andBig style; still very oaky but Brand’s Laira The with abundant sweet blue/ lively spicy/peppery palatethere’s powerful jammy 3-5 $19 Patron Coonawarra purple fruits, some very lively with just the right amount offruit underneath. Has years Cabernet Sauvignon oak. Excellent quaffer. $14ahead of it yet to really DiGiorgio Family 2006 HHHH tannins and a good level ofachieve its potential. $60 Coonawarra Cabernet Cedar and vanilla aromas acidity. 3-5 $25 Sauvignon 2006 HHHH mingle with the varietal Dark, savoury style, fruit characters. Powerful Bleasdale Petrel huge colour and leathery yet elegant palate with ripe Reserve Langhorne complexity. A balance of pure fruit and fine oak/tannin Creek Premium varietal fruit, dusty oak and balance. $74.99 Shiraz Cabernet Malbec drying tannins with a long 2006 HHHH lingering hot end. $25.99 Smells like chocolate ripple biscuit. Shows good bottle age. Palate lovely and soft, with flavours like black pepper/ olive tapenade. A keeper. $29106 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australia shiraz Bleasdale Bremerview 2009-2008 Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Generous, well-balanced style smelling quite oaky with a light raspberry edge and prune-like complexity. Good palate weight with great texture and structure. $18Grant Burge Daly Karatta 12 Mile Vineyard Sylvan Springs Hard Tilly DevineRoad Barossa Shiraz Robe Shiraz Cabernet Yards McLaren Vale McLaren Vale ShirazMourvedre 2008 HHHH Sauvignon 2006 HHHH Shiraz 2008 HHHHH 2008 HHHH1/2Lovely example of a Big, rich, plum pudding of a Stick your nose in this one Sweet and slightly portyshiraz blended with a nose and an oak-dominated and you’ll get sweet, damp nose, followed by a verycomplementary variety. Plums palate - very cedary but has earth, plum and cedar rich, chocolaty palate withand spices on the nose and enough fruit weight and elements with a perfumed lingering plum and licoricewonderfully ripe fruit palate sweetness to match. Drying lift. Long, lingering flavours flavours supported by a goodwith well-handled oak. $22 tannins. $15 of licorice and fresh fruit ripe tannin profile. $41.50Wallace by Ben Glaetzer Wolf Blass Gold Label with lively tannins. Has Aramis Vineyards BlackBarossa Valley Shiraz Adelaide Hills Shiraz poise. 5+ $14.99 Label McLaren ValeGrenache 2008 HHHH Viognier 2008 HHHH Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2Delicate floral lift to the dark, Vibrant, juicy wine. Quite a Maximus Premium Pikkara McLaren Vale Excellent concentration offruity nose. Attractive cassis perfumed nose of violets McLaren Vale Shiraz Shiraz 2008 HHHHH rhubarb, spice and prune-likeand black pepper palate with and anise and a rich, ripe, 2008 HHHHH Bright rich, red wine with characters on both the nosea nice balance of sweet oak jammy fruit palate with long, On the nose there’s vanilla attractive bouquet of light and in the mouth. Full-bodiedand grippy tannins. $20 velvety tannins. $24.99 and malt mingling with spicy earthy/forest floor elements. palate has tight tannins andSt Hallett Gamekeepers Audrey Wilkinson complexity and black fruits. Silky-smooth palate with fine acid finish. $24.99Barossa Shiraz Winemakers Selection Full and fleshy in the mouth, excellent acid/fruit/oak One Planet LocalGrenache 2008 HHHH Wrattonbully Shiraz with ripe, bright varietal combination and balancing Hero McLaren ValeBlackberries on the nose Viognier 2008 HHHH fruit balanced by the oak. tannins. $25 Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2and a dark fruit core with Perfumed aromas - almost Excellent palate weight. Rich crimson wine. Intense,firm tannins running through orange blossom-like. James Haselgrove dense aromatics - hintsthe palate, balanced by the Acid tending to dominate 5+ $24.99 Wines Futures of prunes, rhubarb andoak. Soft and supple in the the palate for now with McLaren Vale Shiraz cedar. Oak dominates themouth. $14 blackberry jam-like fruit and 2008 HHHHH palate for now but is well a rich oak background. $35 integrated with some ‘cool’ fruit. $14.95 Deep, dense, bright crimson wine with lovely perfumed oak nose and amazingly fine, silky palate with tannins and fruit in perfect balance. Drying on the finish. 5+ $55 Winestate — July 2010 - 2008 Maximus Premium Shiraz “... full and fleshy in the mouth, with ripe, bright varietal fruit balanced by the oak. Excellent palate weight. 5+ years.” Available fromMelbourne Perth Brisbane Adelaide SydneyCloudwine Cellars Cellar on Preston The Wine Emporium Burnside Cellars Vintage Blue CellarsJimmy Watson Cellars Liquor Baron Sth PerthDynasty Fine Wines Wine Experience Arkaba Hotel The Oak BarrelRandell Wine Merchant CanberraBurwood Cellars Stewarts Wine Co Buckingham Arms Wine Odyssey Canberra Cellars Grand Central Cellars Watermark Hotel www.maximuswinesaustralia.com.au Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 107

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australiaLa Curio Reserve Wynns Coonawarra The Wine Society Bishop by Ben Glaetzer Fox Creek Short RowMcLaren Vale Shiraz Estate Coonawarra Regional Premium Barossa Valley Shiraz McLaren Vale Shiraz2008 HHHH1/2 Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Selection McLaren Vale 2008 HHHH 2007 HHHHHThe nose is a lovely Classic shiraz fruit obvious Shiraz 2008 HHHH Dark, dense and brooding At the moment the oak isintegrated complexity here. Smells of spicy Bright, vibrant, fleshy style wine with layers of inky tending to dominate theof oak, briary fruit and plums - very green and with generous new leather, dark fruits and licorice. black fruit aromas. Palateraspberries. Well-textured, fresh. Palate has elegance prune and licorice-like Excellent oak, big tannins rich and generous, withsavoury palate with and structure with big rich characters. Nice tannins and warming alcohol nicely great varietal expressiongreat flavour depth and mulberry-like flavours. High and good level of acidity. balanced by the acidity. $35 of black fruits, mocha andconcentration and long, ripe in alcohol. $19.99 Bird in Hand Adelaide black olives. $28.50tannins. $31 Flint’s of Coonawarra 3-5 $12.99 Hills Shiraz 2008 HHHHH Paper Eagle Linchpin Rostrevor Coonawarra Delightfully fragrant McLaren Vale ShirazTaylors Clare Valley Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Terra Mia McLaren Vale wine, quite warm, dense 2007 HHHHHShiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Dark, inky and earthy on the Shiraz 2008 HHHH and brooding, with an Lovely fleshy wine - still veryInky/oaky, crimson shiraz nose, with sweet blackberry Lovely lifted oak sweetness abundance of black cherries tannic but there’s underlyingwith rich, spicy, fruit-cake notes. Same inky density to on the nose, followed by and minty cassis characters quality varietal fruit. Thecharacters showing a certain the palate, with ripe, licorice- a sweet, creamy palate nicely balanced by some nose has minty notes andsavouriness. Nice toasty like flavours and strong brimming over with ripe, subtle oak. $30 the palate flavours of fruitoak and grainy tannins. Has vanillin oak. Powerful wine prune-like fruit and good level Deviation Road Reserve cake and spice with alength and balance. $18 but consumer-friendly. $20 of tannin. 3-5 $16 Adelaide Hills Shiraz savoury edge. $35Thorn-Clarke Morambro Creek 2008 HHHHSandpiper Barossa Padthaway Shiraz Dense, brooding style with Madeleines NSXShiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 2008 HHHH1/2 the savoury oak tending Nangkita Single VineyardAbundant fresh, sweet plum Very nice drinking. The Oxenberry The Star to dominate the dark Southern Fleurieu Shirazand cassis fruit characters plummy nose has subtle of Greece McLaren Vale varietal fruit - for now. Very 2007 HHHHHheld together beautifully by dusty oak and hints of Shiraz 2008 HHHH flavoursome. $28.50 Huge, thick, dense winechocolaty oak, good level of orange rind and there’s soft, Oaky nose with a touch of Quarisa 30 Mile SEA that’s still a baby and willacid and big, drying tannins. supple, sweet fruit on the rhubarb and spice. Fleshy Shiraz 2008 HHHH need lots more time in the“Very nice indeed!” $15 palate finishing with a big, plum/licorice palate with Vibrant ripe berry notes lift off cellar. Big, briary/blackberryLeasingham oaky hit. $27.95 some savoury interest and the licoricey nose. Generous bouquet and big, oaky,Jam Shed Clare Valley Ingoldby McLaren Vale nice earthy/spicy notes. $35 fruit flavours with chocolaty tannic palate. 5+ $48Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Shiraz 2009 HHHH development. Firm tanninsLovely ripe, jammy fruit This nose is, according to Stalking Horse McLaren and a long finish. $9.99 Kimbolton The Riflemanand ‘timbery’ oak with a one judge, “a mind meld of Vale Shiraz 2008 HHHH Jamiesons Run Langhorne Creek Shirazpowerful acid backbone and dark fruits and toasty oak”. Big, generous wine with Limestone Coast Shiraz 2007 HHHHHgrainy tannins. Sweet berry Rich, full and savoury in the pleasant, creamy, savoury 2009 HHHH Bright crimson wine with aaromas and long, lingering mouth with powerful fruit. elements on the nose and Elegant, cool-climate green delightfully earthy, chocolatyflavours. $19.99 “Excellent wine.” $19.99 delicious malty, fruit-cake bean nose with subtle oak nose. Vibrant palate burstingKirrihill Single Patritti Wines Old Gate characters on the palate. and a peppery lift. Same with fruit, well supported byVineyard Tullymore McLaren Vale Shire characters follow through to a fine tannic backbone. $42Vineyard Clare Valley Shiraz 2008 HHHH 3-5 $20 the palate, which featuresShiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Smells of prunes with a quite a hot finish. $15.99Great colour. Big, lifted berry lovely dusting of oak. Bigbouquet. On the palate are and bold, oak-driven palate shiraz 2007abundant intense plum fruit with generous fresh, fruityflavours with threads of flavours. $16 Ulithorne Frux False Cape Aramis Vineyards Blackchocolate, strong oak and an Frugis McLaren Vale Ship’s Graveyard Label McLaren Valeacid finish. $18.99 McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz 2008 HHHH Kangaroo Island Shiraz Shiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 Langhorne Creek Shiraz Brilliant red wine with 2007 HHHHH Excellent minty/malty 2008 HHHH richness and style. Great Gorgeous minty fruit aromas bouquet with cedary oak Spices mingle with rhubarb varietal fruit expression. with layers of smoky oak traces. Fine palate - not too and a dash of pepper on the Smells and tastes of plums, and a sprinkling of nutmeg. big, with loads of spicy fruit, nose. Palate oak-dominated with smoky/vanillin oak to Spicy, chocolaty palate, lovely texture, great tannins but has some dense, quite chewy, with savoury and good acid. $24.99 expressive fruit underneath. notes and textured tannins. 3-5 $45 5+ $18 balance. 3-5 $45 Bremerton Selkirk Beelgara Springview Langhorne Creek Shiraz Clare Valley Shiraz 2007 HHHHH 2008 HHHH Rich, unctuous, crimson Oak-driven style with plums wine with lovely vinosity. and mulberries on the nose Still tight - needs more time and intense sweet varietal to achieve its potential. fruit on the palate, laced with Gorgeous sweet plum/ chunky, drying tannins. $40 rhubarb fruit and long, silky tannins. 3-5 $22108 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

There is no substitute for hard work. Thomas Edison SILVER MEDAL 2010 International Wine Challenge - The World’s Biggest Wine Competition 5 STARS Winestate Magazines McLaren Vale Langhorne Creek & Fleurieu tasting. SILVER MEDAL 2009 Winegrapes Australia McLaren Vale Wine ShowMajor Retailers Sylvan Springs Estates is a proud McLaren ValeFassina (SA) boutique wine producer.Cellarbrations - Tappy’s (SA) Our philosophy is toVillage Cellars (SA) concentrate all of ourMcLaren Vale Hotel (SA) resources into a smallTonsley Hotel (SA) range of wines and doTorrens Arms Hotel (SA) it well!Baden Powell Cellars (VIC)wineboss.com.au T: +61 8383 0500 [email protected] Stores (VIC) [email protected] Cellars (VIC) www.sylvansprings.com.auFinest Drop Cellars (VIC)Chippendale Cellars (NSW)Platinum Liquor (NSW)D’Vine Cellars (NSW)Criss Cross Cellars (ACT)Walkabout Tavern (NT)squashedgrape.com.au

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australiaPaper Eagle Rarefied ekhidna she viper Haselgrove HRS Wyndham EstateAir McLaren Vale Shiraz McLaren Vale Shiraz Reserve McLaren Vale George Wyndham2007 HHHH1/2 2007 HHHH Shiraz 2007 HHHH Founder’s ReserveGenerous shiraz with a dark Big, dense wine with a Scented bouquet has Langhorne Creek Shirazchocolaty bouquet that complex malt/spice bouquet elements of plums, rhubarb 2006 HHHH1/2has pretty, violet aromatics giving off hints of lavender. and chocolate with a minty Lovely crimson wine withand rich, chocolaty flavours Firm and fleshy in the lift. Big, ripe palate with dark, brooding, briary fruitsupported by silky tannins and mouth, with plenty of red powerful chocolaty/oak bouquet layered with tightplenty of acid. 3-5 $90 fruits. 3-5 $17.50 influence. 5+ $25 oaky characters. Long and lively palate - still very freshThe Old Faithful Top of Hardys Oomoo McLaren blue fruits with good tannicthe Hill McLaren Vale Vale Shiraz 2007 HHHH support. 5+ $22Shiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 Good spicy plum fruitsRich, lively wine offering linger on the quite complex Aramis Vineyards Thearomas and flavours that nose. Palate firm, simple Governor McLaren Valeare a stunning mix of and quite meaty/savoury, Syrah 2006 HHHH1/2red fruits, chocolate, tar, with some powerful Dense complexity of cedary/licorice and blackcurrant tannins. 3-5 $18.50 mocha-like aromas followedcharacters. Powerful Serafino Sharktooth by a powerful dark fruittannins. 3-5 $55 Blackbilly McLaren Vale McLaren Vale Shiraz palate with lifted floral/violet Shiraz 2007 HHHH 2007 HHHH highlights. Has structure andWolf Blass Gold Label Complex integration of dark, Deep inky/oaky aromas. balance. “Yum!” $55.99Barossa Shiraz brooding fruit and toasty oak Big, youthful palate with2007 HHHH1/2 aromas. Full, but still closed, good depth and richness of Ben Potts Fiddle’sTightly structured wine, palate with good fruit and coffee/mocha-like flavours Block Langhorne Creekwith great freshness of fruit slightly ‘angular’ tannins. $22 and some up-front tannins. Shiraz 2006 HHHH1/2pulling the wine together. Sweet vibrant fruity/Cherries and mint on the DogRidge Shirtfront 3-5 $60 malty bouquet. Bright andnose and plums on the McLaren Vale Shiraz Wolf Blass powerful tannic palate butpalate, with good acid and 2007 HHHH Grey Label McLaren has a certain elegance. Nicegrippy tannins. $24.99 Dense chocolaty nose with a Vale Shiraz 2007 HHHH weight and density of varietal rhubarb-like edge. Generous Anvers McLaren Vale Subtle and pretty fruit and fruit flavours. 3-5 $40Wehl’s Mount palate rich with flavour. Nice Shiraz 2007 HHHH oak bouquet. Nicely texturedBenson Vineyards big tannins, good acid and Tight and spicy on the nose, palate brimming over with Oliver’s TarangaShiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 slightly warming alcohol. with a bright berry lift. Soft flavour - tastes of sweet Vineyards HJ ReserveVery ripe, bordering on and silky in the mouth, with fruit layered with coffee oak. McLaren Vale Shirazporty, nose and a huge and 3-5 $25 a good hit of varietal fruit 2006 HHHH1/2astringent palate with intense, and some nice tannins. “No 3-5 $42.99dark, inky fruit and a big, Chateau Reynella negatives.” $28 Gorgeous nose - smells likepowerful hit of toasty vanillin Basket Pressed shiraz 2006 fruit-cake layered with rumoak with a drying, tannic finish. McLaren Vale Shiraz and raisin chocolate. Complex 2007 HHHH palate with generous berry/ 3-5 $20 CD Blockbuster for the cellar! mocha flavours and crisp acid Very pretty sweet fruit nose finish. 3-5 $48Malone Wrattonbully and big tannic impact to a Saltram No 1 BarossaShiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 palate with sweet, ripe fruit Shiraz 2006 HHHHH Dorrien Estate Bin 1Very complex and classy waiting to show through. Distinct black pepper-like lift Barossa Valley Shirazshiraz with lovely dark to the nose. Quite a mouth- 2006 HHHH1/2crimson hues. The fruit is 5+ $54 puckering, tannic palate Vibrant dark red fruitbright and fresh, the tannins - good structure with great freshness to the nose, withare soft and supple and the depth and concentration of good oak support. Palateoak gives perfect seamless sweet, dark berry fruits and offers layers of dark berrybalance. $25 loads of fresh acidity. $74.99 fruits, bright acid and soft, rounded and well-integrated The Old Faithful Cafe tannins. $41.99 CM Block McLaren Vale STAR RATINGS  Angas Plains Estate Shiraz 2006 HHHHH Balthazar of the Emily Cross Langhorne “Very, very good wine!” Barossa Barossa ValleyThree-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of Creek Shiraz 2007 HHHH Developed, complex Shiraz 2006 HHHH1/2excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. Briary/blackberry compote aromas - nice blackberry Vibrant blackcurrant andAll wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry of aromas with malty/cedary edge. Fabulous palate - very plum fruit charactersprofessionals and are compared in peer notes. Good fruit weight on flavoursome, with complex seamlessly integrated withclasses by three judges. the palate. Needs time for bottle-aged characters and an some very well handledCM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, the tannins to soften. earthy/spicy character. $55 oak. Complex aromas anda major mail-order business. “A very good wine.” $39.95 softness in the mouth, withCD Cellar door price. Tintara McLaren Vale great flavour depth. $49CDO Cellar door only. Shiraz 2006 HHHH1/2SO Sold out. Excellent crimson-hued wine$N/A Price not available at time of printing. with a big, complex, prune- Annie’s Lane Copper 2 Mates McLaren Vale like nose. Palate rich, ripe Trail Clare Valley Shiraz Contact information pg 166. Shiraz 2007 HHHH 2006 HHHH1/2 Big, alcoholic style but and tannic but has the fruit Beautiful aromas of spices RECOMMENDED cellaring (years). weight to balance it. Nice and mulberries lift off the nose there’s also an abundance savouriness. 3-5 $27 with a big hit of oak. Rich, full- of succulent fruit, nice oak bodied palate brimming over complexity and good level of with sweet berry fruit and tannins. 3-5 $27.50 vanillin oak. $53.99110 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

south australiaStep Rd Langhorne Shanahans The Old DogCreek Shiraz 2006 HHHH Barossa Valley ShirazVery developed aged, 2006 HHHHchocolaty aromas with hints of Chunky old style with big,plum. The big, savoury palate sweet cherry and blackberryhas lingering flavours and aromas showing olive andloads of vibrant acidity. $21.90 licorice notes. Huge, sweet palate with layers of fruit,Kay Brothers Hillside alcohol and tannins. $30Amery VineyardsMcLaren Vale Shiraz shiraz2006 HHHH 2005 & olderExpressive fruit nose withmocha and cedar tracesand subtle black fruitaromas. Lovely palate - veryflavoursome, with good earthycomplexity. 3-5 $40Kimbolton LanghorneCreek Shiraz 2006 HHHHSlight dusty oak nose withhints of plums and berries.More plums and berries Farmer’s Leapon the palate. Balanced The Brave Padthawayand complex, with a nice Shiraz 2005 HHHHHsavouriness. 3-5 $20 Amazingly complex aromas of black olives, ripe plums,Clos Clare Old Road cedar and chocolate. GreatClare Valley Shiraz oak on the big, ripe palate2006 HHHH with plum pudding-likeDeveloped, licorice-like sweetness and flavour.aromas with some plums Lovely silky-smooth tanninand mulberries peeking finish. $25through. Velvety-smooth Yalumba The Octaviuspalate with nice primary fruit Old Vine Barossa Shirazand plenty of oak. $48 2005 HHHH1/2 Beautifully balanced andWolf Blass Platinum complex style with a massiveLabel Barossa Shiraz oaky/sweet fruit nose and a2006 HHHH palate brimming over withDark, inky and brooding dark sweet plum/cherry fruitwine that still has plenty of characters and excellentfreshness and vibrancy and tannin support. $99.95shows excellent dark fruit, Barossa Valley Estategood oak and a grippy tannin Ebenezer Barossa Valleystructure. $164.99 Shiraz 2005 HHHH1/2 Lovely plum pudding-like aromas with rich, chocolaty edges and evolved earthy characters. Much the same on the palate, with its rich, complex flavours. Has balance and structure. $32Yaldara Farms Farmer’s LeapBarossa Valley Padthaway ShirazShiraz 2006 HHHH 2005 HHHH1/2Big, intense fruit nose with Developed and bordering ona cabernet-like lift. Perfectly porty, with colour showingcomplete palate - has the slight brown edges. Menthollot. Nice touch of black lift to the nose and good solid,olives and dill and a firm, plummy flavours with overtgrippy, tannic finish. $70 but refined cedar oak. $18 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 111

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australiaDogRidge MVP Kay Brothers Hillside sweet white & fortifiedMost Valuable Player Amery VineyardsMcLaren Vale Shiraz McLaren Vale Shiraz2005 HHHH 2004 HHHHLovely nose - smells of Simple, elegant and very Penfolds Bluestonecherries and white chocolate. flavoursome wine that’s Grand Tawny NV HHHHHLong, lingering flavours - ageing beautifully. Minty lift Excellent example of asweet, fruity and fresh, with to the nose and fine tannins tawny style. Complex nutty/a good level of tannins in on the palate. 3-5 $40 fruit/oak aromas followedsupport. 3-5 $65 by an intense complexity Shingleback D Block Geoff Merrill of aged toffee/raisined fruitYalumba Handpicked Reserve McLaren Vale Henley McLaren Vale flavours that linger on andSingle Site Swingbridge Shiraz 2005 HHHH Shiraz 2002 HHHH on. $23.99Vineyard Craneford Lovely big, matureEden Valley Shiraz Mix of cassis and wine with a leathery/ 919 Classic Muscat2005 HHHH chocolate-like aromas with malty bouquet and still a NV (500ml) HHHHHFresh, lifted aromas of a hint of mint. Rich, ripe surprisingly youthful palate As the name says - a classicberry fruits and oak. Palate palate, soft in the mouth, with silky-smooth tannins style! Beautifully freshexhibits slightly porty with attractive sweet fruit and vibrant fruit. $150 complex muscat bouquet Oxenberry The Right Nutcharacters but has lovely flavours. 3-5 $59.95 with floral highlights. 20 Year Old McLarenbalance of plums and spicy Lusciously rich flavours Vale Liqueur Muscat NVflavours with good acid James Haselgrove Orlando Lawson’s resembling aniseed and (500ml) HHHHHbackbone. $80 Wines McLaren Vale Padthaway Shiraz raisins. Very fresh - very Very attractive rancio/ Shiraz 2004 HHHH 2003 HHHH intense. $35 almond aromas with lovely Malty chocolate bouquet Still fresh for its age, with brandy spirit lifting out theJim Barry The McRae with ethereal aged notes ripe plum pudding characters glass. “Yummy”, luscious,Wood Clare Valley and hints of cherries. Simple showing minty notes. rich and aged palate withShiraz 2005 HHHH palate structure. Good Silky-soft in the mouth with lots of fruit. ExcellentLovely nose of chocolate, tannin/fruit ratio. Holding up intense flavours and good example of style. $30licorice and black figs. well. 3-5 $20 tannin length. $62.99Some leathery fruit andcoconut oak on a seamlesslyflavoursome palate. $49.95112 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 south australia Saltram Mr Pickwicks Bethany Cordon Pruned 919 Classic Tawny Particular Tawny Select Barossa Late NV (500ml) HHHH NV HHHH1/2 Harvest Riesling 2009 Rich spicy/chocolaty nose Classic aged tawny that (500ml) HHHH with hints of citrus and smells of fruit cake with Austere style with big rose spices. Great caramel/toffee lovely rancio notes. Beautiful petal and lime juice nose flavours, some rancio and palate - on the sweeter and lovely oily complexity to spicy aged fruit. Quite hot style - with flavours of figs the honeysuckle and spice with a drying finish. $30 and walnuts. Finishes sweet palate.. Nicely balanced Penfolds Club with drying spirit. $71.99 residual sugar. $22 Reserve Classic Tawny 919 Fino NV Gomersal Barossa Valley NV HHHH (500ml) HHHH1/2 Vintage Fortified Shiraz Smells of spices and Fresh, nutty nose with a 2005 (375ml) HHHH marmalade. Soft and complex nice yeasty lift. Palate fresh, Developed, complex wine in the mouth, with an elegant nutty and dry, with lingering that’s a lovely marriage structure and showing lovely persistence of sweet lemony/ between lifted fruit, leathery orange rind and raisined fruit seaside flavours. Very long, age, good spirit and nice oak. flavours. $14.99 dry finish. $25 Warm brandy finish. $20Serafino McLaren Vale 919 Vintage Fortified Peter Lehmann Barossa d’Arenberg The NobleVintage Fortified Shiraz 2006 HHHH1/2 Valley Botrytis Semillon Prankster Adelaide Hills2005 HHHH1/2 Smells of brandy and 2008 (375ml) HHHH Chardonnay SemillonTarry/licorice/prune-like blackberry jam. Tastes of Some attractive botrytis hints 2008 (375ml) HHHHbouquet with heady licorice and blackberries - to the nose and showing Gorgeous, luscious andspirit. Palate full of sweet rich, complex and spicy. $35 a nice VA lift. Enticing, lingering ‘sticky’. Beautifulblackberry flavours with luscious almond blossom/ balance of honeycomba viscous mouthfeel and honeysuckle palate with sweetness with apricots androunded tannins. Still very crisp acidity to balance. $40 touches of lavender. $20youthful. $25 wines of distinction “Peter, what’s the best wine you’ve ever made?” AND THE TRUE INNOVATOR’S ANSWER:- ‘I HAVEN’T MADE MY BEST WINE YET?” DISTRIBUTORS Melbourne - Westwood Wine Agencies Ph: 03 9686 9125 Tasmania - David Johnstone & Associates Ph: 03 6234 9999 Sydney - Australian Partners in Wine Ph: 02 96015896 To see full list of international distributors go to www.denniswines.com.au Cellar DoorKangarilla Road, McLaren Vale, follow the signs from Town Square. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Sat, Sun and Public Holidays 12noon-5pm phone (08) 8323 8665 fax (08) 8323 9121 email [email protected] website & orders www.denniswines.com.au Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 113

Balgownie Estate view from the Mecure Resort and Spa. victoria THE BEST WINES OF 2010 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Shiraz Blends, Shiraz, Fortified.

CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGES The Victorian year in review, by Jeni PortW H E N V I C T O R I A N W I N E M A K E R S talk about 2010, one word Winegrowers. “Everybody went significantly backwards. Growers weren’t even close to getting costs back.”generally arises: “Challenging.” It covers so much about another extraordinaryyear in wine. The state definitely experienced some climate-associated With average prices for red grapes at $311 a tonne and white grapes at $283 a“challenges”, from severe storms and flooding in winter to a plague of locusts tonne, the market saw an accelerating exodus of growers. In the past two seasonsin spring to State Government-funded burn-offs just when the industry least 4000 hectares of grapes have been ‘decommissioned’ - a term that has comeneeded them - near vintage. to simply mean vineyards being abandoned - and 500 growers have left the industry. The Murray Valley is expecting another 1000 hectares to go this year. During the year between 30 and 40 wine producers and hundreds of growersleft the industry and 30 cellar doors closed. Liquor licence woes with escalating And, as is generally the way, the industry now realises some grape varietieslicence costs and crackdowns designed to quell inner-city violence snared will be in short demand going into the 2011 vintage. “A serious over-correctionmany an unsuspecting producer, often the smallest. has occurred,” says Mark. “The one shining light is gordo.” Financially it was tough but by year’s end another challenge, much bigger, Gordo, a multi-purpose grape (it’s both a wine and a table grape) that hasfaced winegrowers and winemakers; something that will require all the been used extensively in the past for cask wine production, is now attractinginnovative drive and willingness to embrace change winemakers can summon. some of the healthiest prices as producers scramble to snap it up for moscato, the fruity sweet fizz that keeps on rising in consumer demand. In August the State Government released the Climate Change White Paper as apreview to the introduction of a Climate Change Bill that will legislate to cut Victoria’s It’s not the only surprise as the industry heads into the 2011 vintage.greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. The 20 per cent target is the Chardonnay is in short supply while cabernet sauvignon, a grape that washighest set by any government in Australia and is the precursor for massive change. no one’s friend two years ago, is now back in demand. “It’s the hottest item in reds and it’s dragging merlot along with it,” says Mark. Pivotal to the plan is the creation of a Victorian Carbon Exchange toencourage the ‘voluntary’ trading of agricultural offsets. Winegrowers and For the rest of Victoria’s grapegrowers and winemakers the 2010 vintage broughtwinemakers and other agricultural businesses will be asked to promote offsets with it a reprieve: a reprieve from the heat and bushfires of 2009, a reprieveby carbon sequestration, measuring and monitoring carbon emissions and from the burden of another insurmountable harvest of grapes and, importantlydeveloping renewable energy projects. for quality, relief from the short, sharp and condensed vintages of recent years. At a time when the industry needs a strong voice to relay its thoughts, aims In the Yarra Valley, producers believe the year will be a stand-out, especiallyand ambitions to government, the Victorian industry was silenced, temporarily, for chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet. In the Alpine Valleys winemakerswith the resignation in October of Joanne Butterworth-Gray, chief executive had a cool, late season with a slow ripening for reds. That’s good news forof the Victorian Wine Industry Association (VWIA). shiraz. In fact, 2010 shiraz from across all regions appears, from early reports, to range from good to outstanding. In her last interview before departing, Joanne expressed her feelings aboutthe challenges ahead as Victoria moves towards a low-carbon economy. “I Poor fruit set for chardonnay in Geelong reduced yields of the grape inthink it’s those who are going to be the most innovative and ready to adapt that that region but the same varietal was the highlight in the Macedon Ranges.will succeed in the future,” she said, “and that’s across environmental planning, Meanwhile, the Grampians winemakers are talking up riesling. Now they onlybusiness planning and across all channels to the market. I think agriculture is need more people to drink the wine.generally going to become much more about business than lifestyle. It’s timepeople considered wineries a business and not an opportunity to make a little Mornington Peninsula saw its earliest start to vintage in 10 years, when grapeswine on the side or fulfil a passion or something to write off as a tax deduction.” came on-stream in late February but most are confident that pinot noir and chardonnay off some individual vineyards will be exceptional. The agricultural offset scheme will come into effect in July this year. In the lead-up to its introduction, Victorian winemakers will be able to take advantage of a One of the more heartening aspects of the 2010 vintage for producers ofunique enviro-mapping scheme that was in development for most of 2010 and will fortified wines has been the quality of grapes such as muscat a petits grainsprovide a visual image of a winery, vineyard and its natural resources and features. and muscadelle used in the production of muscat and topaque (aka tokay). Environmental issues are never far way from the winegrowers and winemakers Sometimes we forget that fortified winemakers also rely on good vintages toof Victoria’s inland, irrigated region, the Murray Valley. The extensive rainfall put down some great base wines to be used later in blending. Susie Campbellover catchments in 2010 brought good news and bad. The good news was of Campbell Wines at Rutherglen is enthusiastic about the quality of grapesthat for the first time in five years all systems along the Goulburn and Murray from 2010. “The fortifieds are showing great potential this year to be somethingrivers received water allocations. The bad news was it came too late for some. really special,” she says. “This is really exciting as it looks like it could be a year to put away some base material for higher classifications (like) grand and rare.” Grape prices were in free-fall following a tough trading year. “This yearwe hit rock bottom,” says Mark McKenzie, chief executive of Murray Valley In a good vintage year, which 2010 has been, even the fortifieds are promising something out of the box. Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 115

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 victoriasparkling Silent Range Estate Blue Pyrenees Viognier riesling chardonnay Sarah Kathleen 2009 HHHH Glenrowan Sparkling Spicy apricot aromas. Lovely Granite Hills Giant Steps Shiraz 2008 HHHH texture to the full-bodied Macedon Ranges Sexton Vineyard Yarra Smells of plums and shows a palate with its abundance of Riesling 2009 HHHH1/2 Valley Chardonnay hint of leathery development spicy, aromatic fruit flavours Very pretty wine with gentle 2008 HHHHH with a minty lift, leading to and just a suggestion of oak. aromas of limes and lantana Serious wine with loads a very pleasant, fruit-driven flowers. Bone-dry palate of character and excellent palate. $28 1-2 $18 with lovely delicate, spicy potential. Aromas of flavours and juicy acidity to lemon curd, barrel fermentBalgownie Estate other white Tahbilk Nagambie balance. $22 characters and fragrant oak. varietals & blends Lakes Central Victoria Harcourt Valley Beautifully balanced, creamy Viognier 2009 HHHH Vineyards Bendigo palate with great depth ofBlack Label Bendigo Bright honeydew melons on Riesling 2009 HHHH flavour. $35Heathcote Sparkling the nose with an apricot lift. Smells of honeydewShiraz 2008 HHHH McPherson Basilisk Lovely palate - a tad simple melons and apricots. Up- Seville Estate Yarra Central Victoria and quite warm, with a front fruit on the palate, Valley Chardonnay“Smells like a good shiraz,” silky-smooth texture in the with hint of sweetness 2008 HHHHH mouth. $21.50 balanced by good acidity. Well-made, powerful varietal Very European-like. $16 with great funky characterssaid one judge. Lovely Marsanne Viognier Water Wheel Tahbilk Nagambie and plenty of cellaring 2007 HHHHH Lakes Central Victoria potential. Spicy/floral nosepurple hues. Great length Golden wine with a great Vineyards Memsie Riesling 2009 HHHH and sweet fruit palate withand power of rich, spicy, Bright varietal nose - intense balancing smoky oak. A touchsweet fruit. Palate quite nose - very Rhone-like. Homestead Bendigo and citrusy. Light, fresh and hot from the alcohol. $30 White 2008 HHHH aromatic in the mouth, with Tahbilk Nagambietannic. Needs lots more Smells of marmalade and Golden straw wine with nice spicy thread running Lakes Central honeysuckle. Fresh orange through the palate. A touch Victoria Chardonnaytime. 5+ $29 blossom flavours with nutty attractive grassy/lime hot. 5+ $16.45 2008 HHHHH Chrismont King Valley Very well made wineThe Wine Society notes. Great weight, length bouquet and big, soft palate Riesling 2009 HHHH developing lovely complexDr Gilbert Philips with creamy texture and Sweet tropical fruit nose; a aromas; floral fruit over oak.Late Disgorged Vintage and balance to the palate. lovely balance of oak and touch floral. Rich palate with Great balance between fruitBrut 2003 HHHH “Give me more,” said one great length of peachy/bath and oak on the palate withAttractive yeasty bouquet judge. 5+ $17.95 fruit. 3-5 $14 salts-like flavours and nice its nice buttery texture.with slight herbaceous minerally finish. $16 A touch alcoholic. $16.45character and some Tahbilk Nagambie Seppelt Jalukahoneyed notes. Creamy Lakes Central Victoria sauvignon blanc Drumborg Vineyardpalate with sweet berry fruit Marsanne 2009 HHHH1/2 Henty Chardonnayflavours that linger long. Very well made wine with 2008 HHHH1/2 freshness and complexity, Interesting nose, with spicy 3-5 $19.99 balance and length. The oak and herbal complexity nose is quite lemony and merging seamlessly. Very the palate is loaded with Galli Estate La Famiglia youthful palate - zingy and flavours of lemons, with Range Sunbury Pinot hot, with lovely intensity of hints of honeysuckle Grigio 2010 HHHH citrus fruit flavours. $26.99 showing through. $15.65 Very fragrant nose smelling of violets and rose petals. Tahbilk 1927 Vines Very good soft, sweet/ Central Victoria crunchy fruit palate with a Marsanne 2000 HHHH1/2 slight savoury finish. $20 Honey blossom fragrances De Bortoli Estate lift off the nose. The palate is Grown Yarra ValleyBrown Brothers complex and yet amazingly Viognier 2008 HHHH Yarrawood Tall TalesMethode Traditionelle still youthful with lovely Light, fresh, minerally style Yarra Valley SauvignonKing Valley Pinot Noir length of acidity and just a with good varietal aromas Blanc 2009 HHHHChardonnay Pinot suggestion of oak. Has plenty with a warm and silky palate Layered and complex wineMeunier NV HHHH left in it. 3-5 $45 that, according to one judge, more interesting thanFruity nose and fresh, “Has somewhere to go.” $25 the obvious fruit bombcomplex, yeasty palate, Chrismont La Zona McGuigan Victoria styles. Fresh apples andwell liquored and with good King Valley Pinot Grigio Pinot Grigio 2009 HHHH passionfruit with grassylength and persistence 2009 HHHH1/2 Quite an almond character notes. Drink soon. $17of flavours and good acid Lifted nose shows excellent to the nose, which followsbackbone. $22.90 varietal intensity of apples, through to the palate and Warrenmang PyreneesSam Miranda King pears and quinces with a mingles with pear and Sauvignon BlancValley Chardonnay floral touch. Lovely palate apricot flavours. Long, fresh 2009 HHHHPinot Noir 2008 HHHH has flavour, texture and acid finish. $15 Pretty wine with grassyPersistent bead and aged, weight, with great fruit and aromas and nice tropicalcomplex, ‘bready’ nose with zingy acid. $22 notes threaded through.a good weight and length of Good varietal palate with anrounded flavours and good excellent acid spine and lovelylevel of acidity. $30 King River Estate minerality. 3-5 $25 King Valley Vermentino 2009 HHHH Very good citrus blossom- like aromas with some wild ferment characters. Palate nutty and textured, with ripe pear/nectarine flavours. $25116 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

victoriaSeppelt Drumborg De Bortoli Estate Killara Estate TemptationVineyard Chardonnay Grown Yarra Valley Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Resistant2007 HHHH1/2 Chardonnay 2008 HHHH 2008 HHHH Wine CellaringRefreshing, oak-driven style. Delightful wine with an Slightly volatile, fragrant,Quite toasty on the nose, interesting complexity of perfumed nose and pretty Your wine is a valuable andwith a vanillin edge. Spicy in lantana, curry leaf and dried combination of currant/ treasured asset,the mouth, with melon and herb-like aromas. Very pretty blackberry fruit and toasty too important to risk beingcitrus fruit underneath. Has nutty oak palate with good oak flavours. Good example ruined by poor storage...elegance and length. $44.99 acidity. $30 of a lighter style of pinot. $25 • Climate controlledWarrenmang Estate Yering Station Clyde Park • 7 Day AccessVictoria Chardonnay Yarra Valley Reserve Geelong Pinot • Alarmed & CCTV2008 HHHH Chardonnay 2007 HHHH Noir 2008 HHHHGood commercial style. Generous oaky style Very well-made, powerful, with Digital RecordingIntense aromas of quince, but the oak is in balance full-bodied, thick and chewy • Conveniently Locatedgrapefruit and melons. Well- with the austere, apple wine with delicate fruit, • 6 Cases up to Hundredshandled oak balances the floral blossom-like fruit. Ageing velvety tannins, nice oak • No Handling Feesfruit flavours. Built to last! $25 nicely, with complexity useage and strong acid • No Access ChargesKinloch Wines building. 5+ $28 spine. $49 • No Fixed ContractsMansfield Chardonnay Toolangi Yarra Valley2008 HHHH merlot Pinot Noir 2006 HHHH AdelaideDelicate, elegant wine with Nutty nose with earthy/spicyyouthful complexity. Citrus Blue Pyrenees Merlot notes. Very pleasant savoury Thebartonand melon aromas mingle 2008 HHHHH palate showing some age. 08 8443 8022with spicy notes. Soft and Alluring chocolaty bouquet Has fruit sweetness andbalanced in the mouth. $22 with rich, Christmas fruit-like good oak balance with a Brisbane characters standing out. pleasant finish. $35Galli Estate Artigiano Nicely developed palate. Still Coldstream Hills MiltonRange Sunbury has plenty of acidity, which Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 07 3217 5555Chardonnay 2009 HHHH balances an abundance of 2008 HHHHVery pretty minerally/citrus sweet fruit and is supported Solid, dark red wine with Sydneynose and sweet and simple by spicy oak. 5+ $18 brooding stewed fruitjuicy apple/citrus palate aromas and a big, powerful Artarmonwith subtle toasty notes. Coldstream Hills palate that shows balance 02 9413 3377Ageing gracefully, with Yarra Valley Merlot and restraint with a goodyears ahead. $30 2008 HHHH tannic finish. $34.99 Brookvale Good solid varietal fruit Tollana Robinson 02 9905 1177 with lovely chocolaty oak to Family Vineyard balance. Smoky notes on the Mornington Peninsula Camperdown nose and attractive drying Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH 02 9519 3799 tannins on the palate. $34.99 Warm, well-made wine with well-handled fruit and Rozelle pinot noir oak. Lots of lovely cherry, 02 9555 1099 fresh dates, plums and Giant Steps spicy characters with funky, Waterloo Sexton Vineyard earthy elements. $39.99 02 9699 9333 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Giant Steps Tarraford 2008 HHHH1/2 Vineyard Yarra Valley Melbourne Earthy/spicy nose - quite Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH truffle-like. Rich, chewy Bright, light and perfumed Abbotsford palate with good depth and rhubarb nose with a lovely 03 9417 1477 complexity of sweet fruit creamy palate - silky-smooth and oak, excellent tannin in the mouth, with good Huntingdale structure and lingering varietal fruit and nice long, 03 9543 8099 finish. $40 wide tannins. $45 IvanhoeLindenderry Mornington Underground 03 9497 5900Peninsula Chardonnay Winemakers Thug2006 HHHH Mt Eliza Pinot Noir Port MelbourneVery interesting nutty/ 2008 HHHH 03 9646 7766nougat-like nose layered Big, ‘New World’ style withwith wild ferment ripe, vibrant, fruit-driven nosecharacters. Spicy oaky and rich, robust, flavoursomepalate, quite warm, with palate. Still youthful. Plentysome funky complexity of cellaring ahead of it yet.showing. $25 3-5 $22 Ph: 1800 658 855 www.kss.com.au Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 117

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 victoriaother red Scion Wines Rutherglen cabernet sauvignonvarietals & blends Durif 2008 HHHH & blends Great purple colour with aKinloch Wines rich concentration of spicy McPherson BasiliskMansfield Pinot oak on the nose, and big, Central VictoriaMeunier 2008 HHHH1/2 sweet, mouthfilling fruit Cabernet MerlotCrimson wine with a fruity flavours with good tannin 2008 HHHHHnose showing hints of figs. length. $29 Dark red, beautifully balanced,Long, subtle, spicy fruit fruity, leafy, minty style. Lovelypalate with a hint of residual Witchmount Estate lifted fruit aromas followed by Balgownie Estate Blacksugar. Finishes a tad short. Tempranillo 2009 HHHH a full-bodied palate that’s soft Label Bendigo YarraVery elegant style. $23 Rich, chocolaty nose with and velvety in the mouth and Valley Cabernet MerlotTaminick Cellars a spicy lift. Dense and inky has great supporting tannin 2008 HHHH1/2Glenrowan Durif on the palate, with rich structure. Plenty ahead of it. Bold, bright purple wine2007 HHHH1/2 berry fruit, smoky oak, firm, with dusty/peppery aromasLifted nose smelling of dark savoury tannins and loads of 5+ $17.95 and very nice black jube fruitberries and cracked coffee acid. $29 flavours with some licoricebeans, and big, savoury showing through. Finepalate that’s warm and bold Water Wheel Vineyards Mount Alexander tannin structure. Lots ofwith big concentration of Memsie Homestead potential. $24berry fruit flavours. $16 Bendigo Red 2008 HHHH Winery Cabernet Harcourt ValleyDe Bortoli Windy Peak Shiraz 2008 HHHHH Vineyards SightingsVictoria Sangiovese Distinct smells of Gorgeous looking crimson/ Cabernet Sauvignon2008 HHHH1/2 maraschino cherries and Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Eagle Range EstateVery aromatic nose and showing a strong licorice purple wine with intense black Oak mingles with lifted, Wines Candy’s Runlovely dark, leafy berry fruits. A touch sweet and fragrant berry aromas. Great Alpine Valley Cabernetaromas with a minty lift. character. Palate offers a spicy and supported by some weight and length to the Sauvignon 2008 HHHHSoft, long, fully textured rich mouthful of sweet and palate, with excellent flavour Interesting balance ofpalate with sweet fruit from spicy fruits. Good cellaring very subtle oak and layers intensity of varietal fruit pastille-like fruit, savourybeginning to end. $14.90 of firm, ripe tannins. Great edged with capsicum. $20 stock cube characters andChrismont La Zona potential. 3-5 $14 flavour persistence. Very good Killara Estate some minty leafiness. SoftKing Valley Tempranillo Yarra Valley Cabernet and very drinkable. $202009 HHHH McPherson Basilisk wine. 3-5 $20 Merlot 2008 HHHH1/2 Yering StationLeaner style with a bright, Central Victoria Nicely focused blackcurrant/ Yarra Valley Cabernetperfumed berry nose and Tempranillo 2008 HHHH Blue Pyrenees Cabernet tarry/mocha aromas. Long, Sauvignon 2008 HHHHlong, well-structured palate Quite earthy on the nose, Sauvignon 2008 HHHHH balanced palate brimming Quite meaty nose withwith savoury tannins and a with aromas of cherries and Deep red wine with over with soft, juicy, cherry some spicy capsicumdrying finish. $24 figs pushing through. Big, gorgeous purple hues. and spice flavours and a nuances. Complex spicy/Chrismont La Zona chunky palate with intense Black and inky nose. Long, dash of pepper. Mid-palate licorice palate. The wineKing Valley Barbera sweet fruit subtly balanced weighty palate is sweet and sweetness. $25 improves with some air,2009 HHHH by oak and tannins. $17.95 ripe with an excellent tannin Giant Steps so decant before drinking.Smells like Ribena and has structure and lip-smacking, Harry’s Monstera perfumed lift. Loads of Buller Wine Club Cellar inky flavours. $18 Yarra Valley Cabernet 3-5 $28lovely sweet berry fruit Door Release Swan Hill Sauvignon Merlotflavours on a palate with a Zinfandel 2009 HHHH St Huberts Yarra Valley Petit Verdot Cabernet shiraz blendssoft tannic structure. Very Crisp, vibrant, bright Cabernet Sauvignon Franc 2008 HHHHelegant. $24 purple wine with aromatic 2008 HHHH1/2 Slightly leafy style with De Bortoli Gulf Station blackcurrant and plum Classic blackcurrant some licorice notes on the Yarra Valley Shiraz aromas and flavours. Silky- fragrances. Very interesting nose. Palate has length and Viognier 2008 HHHH smooth palate, rich with long, tight, juicy, rich palate complexity. Elegant and Robust blend with generous black fruits. $28 with slightly chalky tannins restrained wine with sweet/ blackcurrant/licorice fruit and very fresh, lifted sweet/ sour flavours. $45 balanced by smoky oak. sour fruit flavours. Long life Nice creamy texture in the ahead. $32.99 mouth. Good commercial style. $19 Harcourt Valley Warrenmang Torchio Vineyards Sightings Blue Vintage Aged Bendigo Cabernet Pressings NV HHHH Sauvignon Lovely savoury richness. 2008 HHHH1/2 Nose bright with berry fruits; STAR RATINGS  Bright red wine with distinctly palate a touch hot, with maraschino cherry-like aromas excellent balance betweenThree-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of melded with some excellent fruit and oak flavours. $60excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. oak. Simple palate, wellAll wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry balanced and rich with ripe,professionals and are compared in peer sweet fruit. 3-5 $20classes by three judges.CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, Sedona Estate Yea Valleya major mail-order business. Cabernet SauvignonCD Cellar door price. 2004 HHHH1/2CDO Cellar door only. Ageing beautifully, withSO Sold out. years ahead of it yet. Berries$N/A Price not available at time of printing. and spices on the nose and a great, well-aged cabernet Contact information pg 166. palate - lots of coffee and molasses flavours. $25 RECOMMENDED cellaring (years).118 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 victoriashiraz 2008 Heathcote Winery Warrenmang Estate Mount Alexander Winery Baileys Winemakers Curagee Shiraz Pyrenees Shiraz Shiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 Selection GlenrowanGoona Warra 2008 HHHH 2006 HHHHH Crimson wine with purple Liqueur MuscatVineyard Sunbury Slight mustiness on the Developed, oaky aromas highlights. Smells of licorice NV HHHH1/2Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 fresh berry nose that leads with interesting eucalyptus and plums and has a lovely Very luscious style with aSoft and simple wine with to a savoury-style palate. and Ribena characters. earthiness. Big, mouthfilling powerful rancio nose andlovely peppery fruit intensity Well-handled spicy oak and Lovely fleshiness on the palate with excellent varietal lovely zesty orange peelon the nose and a rich, good tannic spine balances palate, with excellent fruit flavours and good palate. Great use of youngchocolaty palate loaded with the fruit. $60 balance between subtle tannic grip. $16.50 blended material here withjuicy varietal fruit flavours and Buller Black Dog oak and restrained, spicy, slightly sour-like acid. $75showing a savoury lift. $32 Creek King Valley varietal fruit. $60 Taltarni T Series Victoria Morris CellarYarrawood Shiraz 2008 HHHH Shiraz 2006 HHHH Reserve RutherglenTall Tales Yarra Glen Well-structured wine with Tahbilk 1860 Vines Suggestion of cherries and Liqueur Muscat NVShiraz 2008 HHHH great length of spicy varietal Central Victoria Shiraz berries on the nose, and (500ml) HHHH1/2Black and brooding berry fruit showing a dash of black 2004 HHHHH alluring sweet fruit flavours Lovely sweet and lusciousaromas verging on beetroot. pepper and lots of chocolaty Lovely elegant, mature, oaky on a long and balanced muscat but not cloying. DarkLong, layered palate with a oak to balance. $15 style. Cherries and spices palate showing a good spicy coffee/chocolaty nose andsavoury edge to the sweet Taminick Cellars pushing through on the nose finish. $15 rich, mouth-coating, tarry/toffee/apple fruit flavours. Generations IV and the palate is showing a inky flavours showing greatChewy tannins. $20.50 Glenrowan Shiraz delicious and well-integrated fortified aged characters. $35 2008 HHHH flavour profile. Still has life Baileys Winemakers Light, simple, cool-climate left. 3-5 $150 Morris Cellar Selection Glenrowan style with lifted, spicy, choc/ Reserve Rutherglen Liqueur Tokay NV HHHH mint bouquet and well- Seppelt Mt Ida Liqueur Tokay NV Youthful dark molasses balanced palate full of soft, Heathcote Shiraz (500ml) HHHHH bouquet with salty fish sauce sweet berry fruit flavours. $24 2004 HHHHH This one has everything notes. Palate full and luscious, Excellent wine that’s ageing going for it - excellent with lovely chocolate and shiraz well. Lovely smoky oak balance of old and fresh spicy flavours. $75 2007 & older characters obvious on the material, cold tea, citrus Baileys Founder nose, and a huge palate characters, lovely rancio age Classic RutherglenHuma Yarra Valley with good varietal fruit, and spirit adding a lift. $35 Liqueur Muscat NVShiraz 2008 HHHH well-handled oak and lovely Morris Old Premium (500ml) HHHHSpicy, fragrant, medium- tannins. A few years left in it Rutherglen Rare Tokay Lighter, younger style ofbodied style. Described as yet. 3-5 $54.99 NV (500ml) HHHHH tokay with bright, zestya “lipstick and fresh vanilla Fantastic deep amber wine citrus marmalade aromasbean nose” by one judge, it with lovely khaki hues. Rich and flavours and a nutty/has a sweet fruit palate with malty/rancio nose, thick, mealy finish. $23.99good balancing oak. $10 lush, almost oily palate with Morris Classic intense dark chocolaty/ RutherglenClayfield Wines Coliban Glen Heathcote syrupy flavours. A complete Liqueur Muscat NV Shiraz 2005 HHHH1/2 wine. $65 (500ml) HHHHMassif Grampians Interesting wine, quite Morris Old Premium Fragrant, lifted, spicy/roseShiraz 2008 HHHH Rutherglen Rare Muscat water bouquet and greatBig, luscious, brooding style complex and seamlessly NV (500ml) HHHHH intensity of mixed peel, balanced. Smoky/savoury World-class wine with its plum pudding fruit/spicewith a jammy blackcurrant/ nose with earthy/barnyardy intense raisin/molasses flavours with some powerfulcassis nose and juicy sweet characters and complex spirit. $17palate brimming over with Garden Gully Vineyard notes and toasty cherry rancio layers. “Yummy”, Taminick Cellars St Ethel’s Grampians flavours - very rich, very mouthfilling, luscious Glenrowan Liqueurripe varietal fruit flavours. Lots Shiraz 2006 HHHHH stylish. 3-5 $24 Christmas cake flavours Muscat NV HHHHof potential. 5+ $25 Delightfully savoury nose: a with excellent spirit. $65 Intense rose petal bouquet complexity of olives, bacon, with a perfumed lift, whichHeathcote Winery mint and berries. Very Blue Pyrenees Reserve is echoed on the lively andSlaughter House savoury, soy-like characters Shiraz 2005 HHHH1/2 beautifully balanced palatePaddock Shiraz on the palate, with excellent Lovely sweet and well- with its Turkish delight2008 HHHH weight of varietal fruit and balanced wine with plenty characters. $18Good dollop of plums and solid tannic backbone. $50 of length, excellent herbal/oak on the nose, with licorice peppery fruit and well-handledcomplexity developing. Seppelt Benno Bendigo oak. Nice tobacco charactersMasses of sweet fruit on add complexity. $32the palate, with a nice spicyedge. A touch hot. A keeper. Shiraz 2006 HHHHH Brilliant colour with 5+ $44 gorgeous purple hues, and lovely delicate, herbaceous aromas. Very clean and bright in the mouth, with excellent persistence and depth of sweet berry flavours. 3-5 $54.99 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 119

Sunrise at the Hunter Valley © Felix Alim.new sowuatlhes THE BEST WINES OF 2010 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Riesling/Traminer, Semillon & Blends, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Shiraz Blends, Shiraz/Syrah, Sweet White.

HOME-GROWN HAPPINESS The New South Wales year in review, by Winsor DobbinN E W S O U T H W A L E S winemakers entered 2010 aiming to build Susan Moore from Thunder Ridge said: “Most of us know how to grow grapes and some of us know how to make wine. All of us are passionate about thissimilar enthusiasm for local wines within their state as is enjoyed by producers so it really isn’t a problem. But marketing a wine region? Well, that takes morein Victoria and South Australia. Their campaign to promote loyalty within the than secateurs, refractometers and pH meters.”state paid off, with retail sales of local bottled wines climbing 22 per cent, or$14.3 million, on the previous year. The New England GI is the largest, highest and arguably the most diverse in Australia - being the only designated GI which comprises both cool- and Tiffany Nugan, the outgoing chair of NSW Wine Strategy - aimed at doubling warm-climate viticulture.these sales over five years - reported that NSW had clawed back 21 per cent ofmarket share within the state from other producers, which she described as “a Other regions moving forward include Orange, Mudgee and Cowra in thephenomenal result indicating the positive impact of the NSW Wine Strategy”. Since Central West of the state, and while growers in warmer regions removed somethe strategy was launched, home state sales have risen from $52.4 to $79.3 million. vines due to grape oversupply there is a new optimism. “It’s so exciting to see how NSW wine’s sales growth is continuing to increase In Cowra, Swinging Bridge removed 85 per cent of its vines but co-ownereach year,” Tiffany said. “It shows the NSW Wine Strategy has serious Tom Ward said a new business model was encouraging: “We’ve gone frommomentum in the consumer’s mind, with ever-increasing growth each year. predominantly being grapegrowers to being wine producers, with the majorityOur state’s premium wines are really making an impact on the consumer, who of our grapes going into the bottle.”is not only appreciating them but coming back for more.” The Hunter suffered from hail in November and then heavy rain in late January, The Nielsen data on sales growth was announced at the NSW Wine Awards, resulting in a race to get red grapes into the wineries in time. Semillon productionwhere the McGuigan family took out the Wine of the Year award with their was excellent, however, with verdelho and chardonnay also doing well.Tempus Two 2003 Copper Zenith Hunter Valley Semillon and Hunter industryicon Doug McWilliam received the Graham Gregory Award for his commitment It was equally tough in Orange. “We were smashed by a severe hailstorm into the NSW Wine industry. September just after bud burst,” said Angullong’s Ben Crossing. “This had a dramatic effect on potential yields and, combined with a warm and dry spring, And while the Hunter Valley took out the top award, the emerging regions severely reduced our fruit intake for 2010. That said, we were very happy withalso showed huge progress, with the nine trophy winners split between the quality of the wines.”established regions and exciting up-and-comers. Among the new, cooler-climate districts, the Hilltops region, outside Young, shone in 2010 despite In Mudgee, a dry winter led to a reduced yield and heat ripened grapes early,the 14 local producers making just 70,000 cases a year. The region swept while the Riverina suffered widespread losses from hailstorms in late November andseveral awards, including accounting for 50 per cent of the red wines to be early December 2009. That was followed by a heatwave which also reduced crops.awarded trophies at the Sydney International Wine Competition. While the newer regions shone in shows, the Hunter continued to lead the way, “Why all this success and why now?” asked Hilltops Winegrowers Association particularly in wine tourism, with several new restaurants and bars opening. Sixpresident Brian Mullany. “It’s long been recognised that the Hilltops boasts larrikin Hunter winemakers who call themselves the New Generation Hunteroutstanding viticultural fundamentals. The high altitude brings a high diurnal Valley took their show on the road to show that the region’s wines are constantlytemperature range that creates the perfect balance of cool and warm climate improving. David Hook (David Hook Wines), Andrew Thomas (Thomas Wines),conditions - Barossa meets Grampians. This gives the reds a rare combination Rhys Eather (Meerea Park), Nick Paterson (Mistletoe), Mike De Iuliis (De Iuliis)of power and elegance. Although the oldest vines are nearly 40 years old, many and Andrew Margan (Margan Family Wines) say they represent a new styleof the vineyards were only planted from the 1990s onwards. These vines are now of winemakers who are coming through the ranks and aren’t afraid to thinkreaching maturity and the impact on fruit and wine quality has been profound.” outside the square when it comes to winemaking approaches and techniques. Moppity Vineyards was one of the local producers to shine, achieving an The name New Generation Hunter Valley is not supposed to imply youth.astonishing 2000 per cent growth in sales. “Great wine show results and some Andrew Thomas admits the group has also been called the “New Geriatrics”.very good reviews from the wine media have also helped generate awarenessof the brand,” said owner Jason Brown. The overwhelming response to the “Not Your Usual Wine Tasting” event has motivated the New Generation Hunter Valley to take their brand to the world. In Another of New South Wales’ 14 wine regions, New England, launched a major May 2011, there are plans for a ‘Caravan of Courage’-style road show, startingmarketing campaign towards the end of the year, creating a branding strategy in Melbourne and heading up through the east coast of Australian towns andto raise its profile locally, regionally and nationally. The 18 local wineries involved communities to showcase what they do best, eventually culminating at thehave joined forces with wine marketing company Winestream Communications. Audi Noosa Food and Wine Festival. Now that’s being proactive. Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 121

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new south walessparklingRosnay Organic Wines Tertini Reserve Tertini Southern First CreekCentral Ranges Sparkling Barrel Fermented Highlands Riesling Winemaker’s ReserveRose 2009 HHHH Southern Highlands 2005 HHHH1/2 Hunter Valley SemillonVery pretty, bright pink Arneis 2009 HHHH Almost a traminer-like nose 2009 HHHHHwine smelling of lollies, Rich and spicy, with a with its rose petal aromas. Very clean, very bright, palespices and berries. Fresh marmalade edge to the stone- Full and flavoursome palate green varietal with big hit ofand creamy palate with lots fruit characters. Some very of good varietal lemon fruit sweet floral/citrus aromas.of berry fruit flavours and nice oak showing. “Quite ripeness with just the right Mouthfilling, steely, freshplenty of ‘fizz’. $24 different from an Italian level of sweetness. $27 lemon acid palate with someMoppity Vineyards style,” said one judge. $40 Penmara Five great flavour concentrationReserve Hilltops Cockfighter’s Ghost Families Orange and length. $28Sparkling Shiraz Hunter Valley Verdelho Riesling 2009 HHHH2009 HHHH 2009 HHHH Smells of apricots and Tempus Two ZenithNice bright red style - Firmer, drier style with pears with a hint of orange Hunter Valley Semillonquite a vinous nose but a golden-green hues and blossom. Well-structured 2005 HHHHHsavoury/leathery palate with lifted, savoury aromas. palate full of lovely flavours Robert Stein Mudgee Beautiful ageing semillonsome chocolate, a touch Palate has lovely balance and quite European in style. Semillon 2008 HHHHH aromas; all toasty,of spice and good level of and length of sweet varietal Excellent example of the honeyed and lime-like.sweetness. $49.95 fruit flavours. $18.95 5+ $15.95 variety, with a nose that Interesting development Ivanhoe Wines reminded one judge of salt on the palate, with retainedother white Hunter Valley Verdelho and vinegar chips! Good freshness and nice levelvarietals & blends 2009 HHHH grassy semillon fruit drive of fruit sweetness. Very Pale wine with green to the palate, with a hint of flavoursome. 3-5 $35Angullong Orange highlights. Sweet, citrusy tobacco oak. $20Verdelho 2009 HHHHH nose edged with some ripe Allandale Hunter Valley Poole’s RockGreat nose! Good pear notes. Nice mid-palate Semillon 2005 HHHHH Hunter Valley Semillonconcentration of fruit salad varietal fruit with a solid acid Powerful, waxy semillon 2007 HHHHHaromas with an attractive backbone. $25 characters on the nose Softer style, with veryspicy green lift. Perfect drive with a hint of honeyed creamy/toasty bouquetof floral/spicy/tropical fruit bottle development. layered with fresh, brightwith just the right amount of Amazing concentration of varietal fruit. Powerfulacid to balance. $15 fruit flavours and bottle varietal fruit on a zesty development on the bright, and seamlessly balanced riesling/traminer Belgravia Orange fresh palate. $30 palate with good depth and Gewurztraminer balance. $41.95 2009 HHHH First CreekTrentham Estate Centennial Vineyards Great style - sweet yet Winemaker’s Reserve Bimbadgen EstateViognier 2009 HHHH1/2 Woodside Bowral refreshing, with an oily Hunter Valley Semillon Signature McDonaldsDelightful, distinctive, Riesling 2009 HHHH1/2 mouthfeel and plenty of 2010 HHHHH Road Hunter Valleyperfumed Turkish delight- Water-white wine with spicy, ripe fruit flavours with Excellent colour - very Semillon 2005 HHHHHlike bouquet. Palate light, spices and limes lifting off nicely balanced residual bright, pale green. Great Steely lime nose showingvibrant and crisp, with the nose. Well-balanced, sugar. $22 lifted citrus concentration on toasty development. Soft,elegant, sweet, tropical- slightly extracted riesling the nose. Rich fruit flavours sweet and simple palate haslike flavours. Nice oily palate. Excellent fruit/ semillon & blends - long and intense - with just the works - freshness, length,mouthfeel. $16 acid balance and attractive the right acid to balance the toastiness, honey, citrus andCooks Lot Orange mineral notes. $20 hint of residual sugar. $28 balancing acidity. $50Sauvignon Blanc Robert Stein Mudgee2009 HHHH Riesling 2009 HHHH1/2 Bimbadgen Estate Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 1Spicy, honeyed sauvignon Fresh and youthful classic Signature McDonalds Hunter Valley Semillonblanc with good level of riesling. Fresh spicy/citrus Road Hunter Valley 2004 HHHHHcomplexity, soft, spicy tropical aromas and lots of bright Semillon 2007 HHHHH Vibrant yellow/green winefruit and some attractive lime/citrus flavours with an Gorgeous steely/flinty lime with delicate semillongrassy green elements excellent acid backbone. nose and very fresh and aromas, followed by a tight,threaded through. $19.99 Excellent cellaring potential. vibrant palate of lime-like lean, somewhat sherbety fruit with toasty aged palate that is developing 5+ $25 characters developing. slight toasty notes and is still amazingly fresh. $50 Excellent example of an ageing Hunter, with years ahead of it. 5+ $40122 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new south walesMcGuigan Bin Series Coolangatta Estate Draytons Family Wines Ballabourneen Printhie Mountain9000 Hunter Valley Estate Grown Vineyard Reserve The Stuart Hunter Range OrangeSemillon 2003 HHHHH Shoalhaven Coast Pokolbin Hunter Valley Valley Chardonnay Chardonnay 2009 HHHHSmells like fresh lemon Semillon 2005 HHHH1/2 Semillon 2006 HHHH 2009 HHHH Lovely complexity of melon/curd with a delicate floral Beautifully balanced and Lovely rich, powerful nose Pleasant creaminess to the stone-fruit, fine, creamyelement. Rich and powerful complex wine with excellent that has both freshness nose, with citrusy fruit and malo and yeasty/bread-likepalate with an abundance of toasty development mixed with aged characters. a floral lift. Well-structured characters woven togethersweet lemon flavours and mingling with very well Long, zingy palate full of palate with lean, peachy fruit by an attractive spicy lift. $17lovely honeyed softness and balanced honeyed/nutty flavour and with great fruit flavours and a long, fresh, Montrose Stony Creekintensity. $30 varietal fruit characters. $30 weight and intensity. $30 acid finish. $30 Mudgee ChardonnayMcGuigan Bin Series Coolangatta Estate Bunnamagoo Estate 2007 HHHH9000 Hunter Valley Estate Grown chardonnay Mudgee Chardonnay Soft and well-balanced wineSemillon 2007 HHHH1/2 Shoalhaven Coast 2007 HHHH with great expression andMusk and sweet limes lift Semillon 2006 HHHH Ross Hill Rich wine showing excellent complexity of honeyed/off a nose showing excellent Quite a broad nose, with Orange Chardonnay length and intensity of pear/ spicy/toasty/toffee agedbottle age development. interesting linseed-like 2009 HHHH1/2 peach varietal fruit with very varietal characters. Oily feelPalate shows lovely power characters. Nicely developed Lovely complex, old- good oak usage and a strong, in the mouth. $23.99and length of varietal fruit honeyed/nutty palate, fashioned style with crisp acid drive. $21.95 Cuttaway Hill Southerncharacters with some also quite broad but very honeyed/melon/cashew Highlands Chardonnaysweetness. $20 acceptable. $28 characters, fine wood High Valley Mudgee 2008 HHHHMcWilliams Mount Coolangatta Estate treatment, barrel ferment Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Attractive varietal fruitPleasant Lovedale Single Estate Grown and good depth of the spicy Complex, oak-driven style. aromas and nicely balancedVineyard Hunter Valley Shoalhaven Coast elements. $30 Fragrant, spicy wood palate with just a touchSemillon 2005 HHHH1/2 Semillon 2003 HHHH Louee Tongbong aromas and good depth of of sweetness, lovelyExcellent example of a Excellent example of an Rylstone Chardonnay ripe peach fruit flavours with passionfruit varietal flavoursmaturing Hunter semillon. aged semillon, with pleasant 2005 HHHH1/2 layers of creamy malo and a and good oak. $20Nose has lovely balance of mustiness to the nose and a Gorgeous spicy/citrus aromas long, drying finish. $35 Thistle Hill Mudgeefruit and toasty bottle age, palate showing perfect toasty with hints of marmalade. Chardonnay 2009 HHHHwith rich, toasty, sweet development. Drink soon. $27 Excellent length of lovely Fuller, creamy, butterylemon flavours. Drinking De Bortoli Sacred Hill nutty/toasty/melon flavours style layered with intensewell now. $21.99 Semillon Sauvignon mingling with creamy fruit aromas and flavours,De Bortoli Murphy’s Blanc 2009 HHHH butterscotch notes and a malo creaminess, excellentVineyard Hunter Valley Long, balanced and very glycerol mouthfeel. $23 wood and very good overallSemillon 2005 HHHH1/2 flavoursome. Smells of Krinklewood Biodynamic complexity. $20Lifted semillon aromas with limes and tastes very Vineyard Hunter Valley Bloodwood Orangea complex cheesy touch and citrusy. Soft in the mouth, Chardonnay Chardonnay 2009 HHHHnice honeyed notes. Lovely with a creamy texture. Very 2009 HHHH1/2 Quite a lean, vinous, pale-fresh, mature, honeyed stylish. $7.50 Has luminous green hues straw wine - almost Chablis-palate. Great varietal flavour Tempus Two and smells of peaches and like with its fine melon/appledepth with zesty acidity. $28 Zenith Hunter Valley apricots with a hint of oak. fruit and good hit of acidityAllandale Hunter Valley Semillon 2010 HHHH Great depth, power and to balance. $27Semillon 2004 HHHH1/2 Delicate, lifted, citrus persistence of complexSmells almost like lemon aromas - very aromatic - and flavours on the zesty, lively pinot noiressence with slight buttery some juicy confectionery palate. $28notes. Fresh orange/citrus citrus flavours well matched Poole’s Rock Hunter Bloodwood Orangeflavours with soft bottle age by some lovely tingly acidity. Valley Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2009 HHHHcharacters on the long palate. 2007 HHHH1/2 Fresh, lively, perfumed noseGood drinking now. $30 3-5 $25 Bright fruit dominates a with a hint of mint, and buttery nose with vanilla complex palate with good Hungerford Hill elements. Good fruit backbone of brambly fruit Fishcage Hunter Valley strength on a fresh palate showing more of the minty Semillon Sauvignon showing some attractive characters. $27 Blanc 2010 HHHH bottle age characters. Ross Hill Pinnacle Lovely varietal definition Drinking well now. $41.95 Series Orange Pinot on a clean, crisp and lifted Briar Ridge Briar Hill Noir 2009 HHHH nose. Great balance of Single Vineyard Hunter Smells fragrant - a little lively varietal fruit flavours Valley Chardonnay like the forest floor - with with good level of acidity to 2009 HHHH1/2 hints of cherries and spice. match. $17.99 Very fresh citrus bouquet Lighter-style, savoury palate with a hint of oak. Tight, with some attractive gamey minerally palate with notes. $35 excellent fruit power seamlessly balanced by some great acid and well- handled oak. $30 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 123

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new south walesTertini Reserve Louee Rylstone Climbing Orange Brangayne of Orange shiraz/syrahSouthern Highlands Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Tristan CabernetPinot Noir 2006 HHHH 2006 HHHH 2008 HHHH1/2 Sauvignon Shiraz Moppity VineyardsBlackberry aromas with Very minty/spicy nose and Excellent colour, great nose Merlot 2005 HHHH Reserve Hilltops Shirazherbal/thyme-like nuances very soft and generous - smells like an earthy/briary Smells of red boiled lollies - 2007 HHHHHand an excellent sweet fruit palate with intense and patch! Generous, nicely very confectionery-like nose. Solid, well-balanced, deeppalate showing attractive complex dark, spicy, textured, classic cabernet Palate a nicely balanced purple shiraz with lovelydeveloped characters. $45 blackberry flavours and palate that’s long and and weighty concoction of inky fruit concentration wellCuttaway Hill loads of tannins. $20 luscious, with a long, firm berries and chocolate. $29 integrated with silky tannins.Southern Highlands Freeman Secco finish. $21.99 Great oak influence andPinot Noir 2008 HHHH Hilltops Rondinella shiraz blends balance. $49.95Typical cool climate, peppery Corvina 2005 HHHH Robert Stein First Creekpinot with a light sprinkling Nose a little subdued and Reserve Mudgee Shaw Vineyard Estate Winemaker’s Reserveof spices mingling with flat but the palate is showing Cabernet Sauvignon Canberra Shiraz Hunter Valley Shirazsimple cherry fruit. Very good integration of fruit, oak 2008 HHHH1/2 Cabernet 2008 HHHH1/2 2009 HHHHHpleasant drinking. $25 and tannins, with a long, Bright and youthful, purple Fragrant and spicy on the Mix of dark fruit and brooding drying finish. $30 wine - very stylish. Lots of nose with a hint of mint. savoury oak creates lovelyother red De Bortoli Deen Vat 1 currant/cherry fruit, smart, Lovely spicy fruit cake-like aromas. The palate is a lovelyvarietals & blends Durif 2008 HHHH spicy oak, subtle, earthy flavours on a long, elegant savoury mouthful of chunky Big oaky/plum style. Licorice complexity and long, fine palate with more of the fruit, ripe, chewy tannins,Topper’s Mountain characters on the nose and tannins. 5+ $35 minty characters running lovely oak and fresh acid.New England a chewy tannic palate with through. $22Tempranillo 2009 HHHH good balance between oak Prince of Orange Angullong Fossil Hill 3-5 $42Bright red wine with a and fruit. Drink with red Cabernet Sauvignon Orange Shiraz Viogniersimple fruity/floral nose and meat! $12.90 2005 HHHH 2008 HHHH1/2 Tamburlainegood fresh fruit running the Yarran Wines Leopard Sound wine with developed, Rich, spicy, dark red blend Reserve Hunter Valleyentire length of the palate Reserve Yenda Riverina leathery bouquet showing a with plenty of juicy sweet Syrah 2009 HHHH1/2with ‘crunchy’ tannins. Petit Verdot 2008 HHHH fresh, minty lift. Good core dark fruits well matched by Rich, extracted styleGood cellaring potential. Berries, spices and a trace of fruit on the palate, with spicy oak - very flavoursome, with aromas of plums, of violets obvious on the oak and tannins in balance. with a touch of alcohol heat spices and vanilla and an 5+ $22 nose. More violets show on the finish. $20 interesting varietal fruitPrince Hill Mudgee up on the flavoursome, 3-5 $22 Jobbins Redemption flavour profile matchedBarbera 2009 HHHH plummy, tannic palate. Canberra Shiraz with a big, tannic spine andDark cherry aromas with Some ageing evident. $14 Viognier 2008 HHHH plenty of acidity. $33a good spicy lift. Palate Fragrant wine with a nicesweet and velvety, with very cabernet sauvignon spicy/tangy lift to the noselong, soft tannins. Pleasant & blends and bright, perfumeddrinking when chilled. $19 raspberry fruit filling aAngullong Moppity Vineyards well-structured palate withFossil Hill Orange Reserve Hilltops balancing tannins. $21.99 CMBarbera 2008 HHHH Cabernet Sauvignon Prince of Orange ShirazComplex dark cherry/ 2006 HHHHH Viognier 2008 HHHHchocolaty style with an Lovely floral bouquet Lots of wood on the nose,excellent structure, soft, with a lilac-like aroma and with a slight fruit lift. Goodfurry tannins and an some smart oak. Classic varietal fruit charactersattractive savoury thread leafy blackcurrant palate showing through on the longrunning through it. $20 with powerful tannins and well-balanced palate. $22 and remarkable body and Printhie Mount character $49.95 Canabolas Collection Rosnay Organic Orange Shiraz Viognier Wines Cowra 2008 HHHH Cabernet Sauvignon Bright purple wine with the 2006 HHHH1/2 viognier fruit very obvious. Very well made - ageing Fragrant, spicy bouquet and beautifully - with some top- complex, savoury palate quality fruit. Still bright and with drying oak tannins. $35 lively, considering it’s a four- McWilliam’s year-old. Very drinkable! $20 Inheritance Shiraz Merlot 2009 HHHH Bright purple wine with peppery fruit aromas and spicy red fruit flavours with soft tannins. Medium-bodied style that has length and finesse. $4.55124 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010Mount View Estate Tyrrell’s Wines sweet whiteReserve Hunter Valley BrokenbackShiraz 2009 HHHH1/2 Hunter Valley Shiraz Saddler’s CreekComplex smoky/savoury 2007 HHHH1/2 Botrytis Supremenose - very interesting Bright, vibrant, confectionery 2008 (375ml) HHHHH- followed by a nicely nose with a lovely minty Rich and very powerfulbalanced, sweet, ripe thread. Fruit does the wine brimming over withpalate with excellent flavour talking on the palate, with complex flavours of apricot-persistence and lots of well-handled spicy oak to like botrytis and complexsweet oak. 3-5 $25 balance. Excellent cellaring marmalade characters. potential; years ahead of it. Great structure. $36Prince Hill AcrobatShiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 5+ $25 Trentham EstateLovely nose smelling of Noble Taminga 2006sweet damson plums and Ridgeview Hunter Valley (375ml) HHHH1/2showing a slight leathery Shiraz 2007 HHHH Intense, complex charactersedge. Lovely fresh berry Dark, brooding nose that of figs, citrus rind andfruit flavours with fine tannic smells of cherries with hints honey. Fresh, lifted aromasfirmness and a nice touch of of cloves. Big, soft, fruit/ and lush concentration ofspice. $15 oak palate with rich tannin fresh, lingering flavours structure and lovely fresh not overly sweet but moreRascals Prayer Hilltops acid spine. $25 Sauternes-like. $16Shiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Beelgara FrizzanteNose not giving too much Ridgeview Generations Moscato 2010 HHHH1/2away but it’s fragrant, with Reserve Hunter Valley Good fresh muscat style witha fair whack of oak. Rich Shiraz 2007 HHHH lovely lifted Turkish delight/and generous in the mouth. Long, lingering, savoury rose water bouquet. SweetGreat palate texture and wine with quite a buttery- sherbety flavours of muskabundant bright, sweet fruit. like nose. Soft, medium- and roses, perfectly balanced bodied palate with long, by crisp acidity. $14.95 3-5 $13.95 lingering flavours and good acid drive. 3-5 $40Swinging BridgeCanowindraCentral Ranges Shiraz2008 HHHH1/2Deep inky purple, with subtlefragrances leading to aclassic shiraz palate that’s allrich and spicy and tasting ofblackberries. “Yum,” was onejudge’s comment! $19.95Millamolong56 Miles Orange Moppity VineyardsShiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Hilltops ShirazBright cherry-red wine 2008 HHHHwith nicely developed fruit Quite peppery on the nose,characters on a nose showing and soft and simple in thea hint of Vegemite. Lovely mouth, with lovely ripe,silky-smooth, fruit-driven sweet fruit flavours almostpalate. Good commercial resembling a Cherry Ripestyle. 1-2 $20 bar. $19.95 Printhie MountainShaw Vineyard Estate Range Orange ShirazPremium Canberra 2008 HHHHShiraz 2008 HHHH1/2 Very appealing andBrambles, raspberries, generous, even if it appearscloves and eucalyptus a little sweet. Interestingmingle on the nose, curry-like characters runningfollowed by a long, lean, through nose and palate.varietal palate with a verysubtle flavour profile. $22 3-5 $17Tyrrell’s Wines Draytons Family WinesVat 8 Hunter Valley Vineyard ReserveShiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 Hunter Valley ShirazVibrant colour with a 2009 HHHHdistinctively minty character Toasty oak nose with layersto the ripe, red fruit nose, of blackcurrants and spices.followed by a Cherry Long, tight and savoury onRipe-like palate with drying a palate with elegant acidtannins, good length, weight length to balance. $30and brightness. $50 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 125

Voyager Estate winery. © Tourism WA.waeustsetrranlia THE BEST WINES OF 2010 CONTENTS Includes: Other White Varietals & Blends, Sauvignon Blanc & Blends, Semillon & Blends, Riesling, Chardonnay, Other Red Varietals, Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz Blends, Shiraz, Fortified.

A LITTLE JOY BUT NO JUBILATION The West Australian year in review, by Mike ZekulichTHERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING for the wine industry Ironically, the oversupply problems contrast to the “very good” 2010 vintage that Steve Partridge described as a “dream run” without major climatic issuesthan a very good harvest, knowing it will produce very good wines. Then there in prime growing conditions. “It has been one of the best vintages in my 17is nothing more frustrating than the difficulty in selling in a glut market in a years in the industry, with whites slightly better than reds,” he said. “In the primenation swamped by more than a billion litres of surplus stocks. growing conditions, fruit ripened evenly and consistently with good balance.” A strong Australian dollar has compounded the situation, making imports - Senior Houghton winemaker Ross Pamment, responsible for the crushincluding a flood of New Zealand sauvignon blancs - more competitive and of 10,000 tonnes, praised chardonnay from Margaret River, shiraz fromexports much harder to sell. It is not surprising then that thousands of tonnes Frankland River and shiraz and cabernet from Mount Barker. As well, heof Western Australia’s 2010 grapes were not picked, with vines being ripped said, Great Southern riesling growers “had a cracker” while Swan Valleyout or facing extinction as growers reached the tipping point, no longer able mainstays chenin and verdelho were pleasing.to hang on without the required cash flow. Paul Baulden, chief winemaker at Sandalford, said the shiraz from the According to reports, prices, as well as demand, for grapes in some of the company’s 40-year-old Margaret River vines was the best he had seen inless well established WA regions hit rock bottom. Growers did not see any his 10 years at the winery. “It was mind-boggling stuff; beautiful rich, ripetime in the foreseeable future that they would be able to sell their grapes, or fruit, great flavour, good tannins. Chardonnay looks smart as well. It’s thesee any sort of reasonable return, on their investment. strongest of the whites.” As a result, properties were on the market for less than half their previous Rick Hoyle-Mills, general manager of Alkoomi Wines, described 2010 as twovalues. Would-be vignerons reportedly could buy small vineyards in Margaret distinctive vintages - early flavour and ripeness development with the whitesRiver for under $1 million - unheard of in the premier wine region three years saw the winery “rushed of its feet” - and then the weather cooled considerably,ago. The prime 67-hectare Amberley Estate changed hands for $5.1 million which saw the reds “really stall”, creeping along to required harvest levels. “Wein August, six years after the Canadian company Vincor paid $24.2 million expected an early overall vintage but it ended up relatively late by the time wefor the leading producer. got all of the reds in,” he said. “Semillon was the stand-out of strong whites.” South West specialist viticulture consultant Steve Partridge estimated 20 to 30 Winemaking consultant Bill Crappsley, a WA veteran of 36 vintages, believesper cent of 2010 fruit in the state did not “find a home”, with a similar percentage 2010 is in his top 10 vintages. “The season was kind to us. In southern areas,of vines being removed since the global financial crisis downturn. At the same I’ve heard no seasonal adverse comments,” he said.time, growers had “cropped down” on their potential because of the glut. But there were plenty of adverse comments in the concerns expressed about “The situation has resulted in growers specialising in what performs best and in a possible coal mine development in the Margaret River area. In objectingthe better areas” Steve said. “You cannot afford to have anything in the ground to the proposal, the board of the Margaret River Wine Industry Associationthat isn’t performing to the best possible level. Even shiraz from Margaret River, unanimously argued that coal mining would tarnish their collective wine brandwhich has done very well in the past on good blocks, is a tough sell. Margaret “built in a little over 40 years by a clear and unrelenting focus on quality withinRiver has been affected but other areas are doing it a lot harder. Passion has a largely pristine geographically isolated environment…”seen some carrying on while losing money, but that can’t go on unless theyhave significant outside business interests to subsidise their wine interests.” There was some compensation for Margaret River, however with the announcement of a $30,000 Federal Government Arts and Culture grant But out of the gloom came a warm glow with the news that little-known Harvey for its Visual Arts Trail at the 2011 Event. Commissioned local artworks willRiver Bridge Estate won the 2010 Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne Wine feature alongside artworks resulting from a series of community workshopsShow with its 2009 Joseph River Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Then Margaret at the Festival. Such promotions are important to boosting WA’s wine image,River wineries were given a rates reprieve of up to $20,000 by the Augusta according to John Griffiths, president of the WA Wine Industry Association.Margaret River shire, partly to recognise the wine industry’s importance in the “I see us at the bottom of the cycle and marketing and innovation will helpregion and their predominantly rural use. us recover,” he said. In the Great Southern, winemaker Gavin Berry saw positives in the marketing Of the new releases in the year, Houghton’s C.W. Ferguson Great Southerncrisis. “The oversupply could be a good thing,” he said. “It will make us 2007 Cabernet Malbec is one to stand out. It acknowledged pioneerstronger. While there will be less wine around it will be of better quality because Charles William Ferguson, who joins winemaker Jack Mann and scientistthe commercial reality is that vineyards have to be put under the microscope Dr John Gladstones as instrumental WA individuals commemorated in theto ensure that vines planted in the wrong place are pulled out and those Houghton wine range.remaining give you the best possible result.” Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 127

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 western australiaother white semillon & blendsvarietals & blendsBeckett’s Flat Single Galafrey Savvy Harewood EstateVineyard Estate Mt Barker Sauvignon Great SouthernMargaret River Verdelho Blanc 2009 HHHH Semillon Sauvignon2009 HHHH1/2 Subdued nose - slight Blanc 2009 HHHHHDelightfully spicy nose tropical characters with Greener, cooler style withwith a delicate floral lift. hints of nettles. Clean, fresh elegant varietal fruit thatWarming palate more on and fruity palate with good shows a lovely floral lift.the savoury side, with good balance and structure and Some grassiness obviousfruit complexity and texture big, soft flavours. $18 on the nose and a palateand elegant acid spine in that’s rich with delicious fruitsupport. $19.50 flavours. $25Capel Vale Debut Churchview Estate Galafrey SSB Mt Barker Preveli Margaret RiverWestern Australia Silverleaf Margaret Semillon Sauvignon Semillon SauvignonVerdelho 2009 HHHH River Chenin Blanc Blanc 2009 HHHH Blanc 2009 HHHHBig wine with spicy/ 2009 HHHH Grassy/herbaceous nose; Sweaty/grassy aromashoneysuckle aromas and Nicely handled wine with some barrel ferment and showing hints of tropicaltalcum-like characters. citrus, limes and passionfruit Pemberley Pemberton leesy notes. Interesting fruits. Palate long and lean,Palate has good fruit lifting off the nose and nice Sauvignon Blanc flavours with gingerbread- with mouth-puckeringcomplexity, great acid fruit flavours with good 2009 HHHH like notes. Has texture, acidity. Good structure andtexture and warming residual/acid balance. $12.50 weight and length. $18alcohol. $17.95 sauvignon blanc Pungent, grassy and balance. 3-5 $18.95 & blends herbaceous style with aromas of nettles and a Somerset Hill Great Barwick Estates fresh, juicy palate showing Southern SemillonGherardi Margaret River Black Label Pemberton elegance, length, and 2008 HHHH1/2Viognier 2008 HHHH Sauvignon Blanc texture. 3-5 $24.99 Great nose - all pea pod, cutHoneyed characters 2009 HHHHH grass and herbs. Excellentdeveloping on the nose, Huge and very varietal nose Howard Park Margaret varietal fruit weight andwith spicy pear drop notes. - lots of pea pod and herbs. River Sauvignon Blanc intensity on the palate, withWell-integrated varietal Powerful palate with very 2009 HHHH a crisp, racy acid spine.flavours linger across the obvious sauvignon blanc Fresh, lifted passionfruit Fresh, vibrant and goodlength of the palate. $18.50 flavours that linger on and aromas. Great zippy drinking. $21 on, and excellent acidity toMillbrook Western balance. $20 sauvignon blanc fruit Vasse FelixAustralia Viognier Watershed Senses flavours on the palate and Margaret River2009 HHHH Margaret River lovely acid backbone with a Semillon 2009 HHHHSmells like marmalade with Sauvignon Blanc lingering end. 3-5 $25 Lean and lemony, witha touch of lavender. Warm, 2009 HHHH1/2 Churchview Estate grassy notes on the noseoily palate with subtle oak Nicely developed, Skuttlebutt Margaret Silverleaf Margaret River and varietal fruit on a lightlysupporting the varietal fruit. seamlessly balanced wine River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Sauvignon structured palate seamlesslyLingering on the finish. $21.95 that’s a harmony of grassy, Semillon 2009 HHHH Blanc 2009 HHHH integrated with lovely herbaceous fruits and tight Pungent, leesy, herbaceous Grassy/lemony nose with acidity. $25Harewood Estate acidity. Barrel ferment/ nose with some fresh citrus very good herbal charactersWhite Rabbit Great leesy nose and lingering nuances. Brimming over threaded through that are rieslingSouthern Classic White flavours. $24.95 with flavour. Excellent acid echoed on the palate. Has2009 HHHH Chalice Bridge Margaret balance and a clean finish. good depth and balance andBright nose with complexity River Sauvignon Blanc texture. $12.50 2009 HHHH 3-5 $19 Very varietal, with a grassy,of lifted tropical/herbaceous/ pungent bouquet and fresh, Vasse Felix Margaret Deep Woods Ivory Howard Park Greatcitrus aromas. Good depth zippy palate showing good Margaret River Southern Rieslingof complex flavours level of flavours and very River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Sauvignon 2009 HHHHH nice acid structure. Lingering Semillon 2009 HHHH Blanc 2009 HHHH Beautiful example of stylecarrying some residual aftertaste. $19.95 Complex nose; herbaceous Lovely varietal aromas; all showing bright, spicy floralssugar. 3-5 $16.50 grassy and herbaceous with on the nose and filling the and pungent. Big varietal a lemon zest lift. Fresh and mouth with lots of zippy flavours linger long and vibrant in the mouth, with lime juice flavours that haveMatilda’s Vineyard mingle seamlessly with an elegant flavour profile. great depth and persistence.Denmark Classic White the crisp acidity. Cellaring Lovely minerality. $252009 HHHH potential. 5+ $25 3-5 $14.95Lovely pungent orangeblossom/tropical fruit Fraser Gallop Estatebouquet and crisp, peachy Margaret Riverpalate with phenolic Semillon Sauvignoncharacter balanced by zesty Blanc 2009 HHHHacidity. $18 Good clean, fresh and crisp style showing great structure, balance, texture and richness, with excellent intensity of varietal fruit flavours. 3-5 $20128 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 western australia chardonnay Pemberley Windows Estate Ironwood Estate Pemberton Chardonnay Margaret River Reserve Porongorup Deep Woods Estate 2008 HHHH1/2 Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Chardonnay 2009 HHHH Reserve Margaret Lovely meaty/smoky Delightful old-fashioned Lovely savoury aromas River Chardonnay fragrances with a perfumed style of chardonnay with - a little developed and 2008 HHHH1/2 lift. Interesting palate - lifted toasty/mushroomy showing great complexity. Wonderfully funky/complex complex and nutty with aromas and a rich, oak- Palate rich with flavour from aromas - quite savoury. mouthfilling caramel/cashew driven palate with a lovely the integration of spicy Delicate yet complex palate flavours and grapefruit long, drying finish. $30 lemon/lime fruit and oak. $20 with a core of varietal fruit nuances. $23.99 Wise Eagle Bay Single carried by some gorgeous Flametree Vineyard Western oak and complex ferment Margaret River Australia Chardonnay notes. $42 Chardonnay 2008 HHHH 2008 HHHH Some fabulously complex Quite a minerally bouquet aged characters on the along with mushroom and bright, funky nose. Palate honeyed characters. Bright, has a great acid backbone, lean, chablis-like palate. good fruit and plenty of oaky “A great wine,” said one richness. $25 judge. $35Poacher’s Ridge Louis’ Vasse Felix Voyager Estate Watershed AwakeningBlock Great Southern Margaret River Margaret River Margaret RiverRiesling 2008 HHHHH Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Chardonnay 2007 HHHH Chardonnay 2007 HHHHGreat fruit! Slightly estery, Wonderful aromas - smells Gorgeous nose described by Earthy/savoury noseherbaceous aromas. like a flower shop - with one judge as having “wild with honeyed charactersPalate long, clean, crisp intense spicy hints. Soft passionfruit fragrances”. developing. Old-school styleand vibrant, with lime-like and complex in the mouth, Lovely long, lingering of palate showing good fruit,flavours that, according to with flavours like grapefruit melange of flavours, with well-handled oak and a fineone judge, are “absolutely essence. $25 lots of acidity ensuring a acid spine. $44.95spot on”. $18.99 long life. $42Join the Australian delegation in Verona in 2011!VINITALY 2011 - Verona, Italy, 07-11 APRIL 2011The world’s premier wine exhibition, the ideal forum for export-ready companies andfor buyers sourcing international wines.The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne is the representative office of Vinitaly,providing assistance to Australian wine industry professionals attending the show:· Space and stand bookings at preferential rates· Confirmed accommodation in Verona and flight bookings· Logistics· RegistrationThe Chamber also actively promotes and facilitates contact between the Italian andAustralian wine industries and provides trade services for the wine industry: marketresearch, business listings, business matching and appointment agendas.For more information contact:Level 5, 499 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004, AustraliaTel: 03 9866 5433E: [email protected] | www.italcham.com.au Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 129

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 western australiaother red varietals Jarrah Ridge Swan Flametree Margaret Fraser Gallop Estate Peccavi Margaret River& blends Valley Sparkling Shiraz River Cabernet Merlot Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon NV HHHH 2008 HHHHH Cabernet 2007 HHHHH Old World nose - smells Very well crafted wine. Great Merlot 2008 HHHH Complex and distinct cassis/ spicy/gamey/chocolaty and colour. Bags of luscious sweet Full-bodied, ripe, fleshy herbaceous cabernet fruit berry-like. Big, rich, spicy/ fruit without being over the wine brimming over with bouquet - very balanced.Myattsfield chocolaty palate with some top, and well-matched, crisp sweet blackcurrant fruit and This balance follows throughJoseph Myatt Reserve complexity and good acid/ acidity to balance. Youthful fleshy tannins, and with a to the well-structured palatePerth Hills Red Blend sweet balance. $28 and tight and needs more subtle backbone of well- with perfectly ripened cool2005 HHHH1/2 time. 3-5 $25 handled oak. $20 climate fruit. 5+ $45Pretty nose: fragrant and Deep Woods Ebony Hay Shed Hill Margaretfresh with herbs, menthol Margaret River River Cabernet Merlotand raspberries. Juicy palate Cabernet 2008 HHHHwith attractive prune juice and Shiraz 2008 HHHH Herbs underscore thedried fig flavours and amazing Good depth and intensity elegant blackcurrant andsweet-mid palate. $32 of ripe, rich berry fruits violet nose. Sweet dark showing slight prune-like fruits fill the palate withFermoy Estate notes. Balanced oak and masses of grainy tanninsMargaret River Merlot alcohol and lovely silky-soft and toasty oak. $202007 HHHH1/2 tannins. $14.94 Windance MargaretBright crimson red wine River Cabernet Merlotwith fresh, bright, redcurrant Windance Margaret 2008 HHHHaromas and very good oak River Cabernet Shiraz Lovely leafy/minty fruitintegration. Red fruit elements 2009 HHHH freshness. Very good oakon the velvety palate with a Dark cherry colour and Feet First Margaret handling and persistent,herbaceous background and beautifully luscious, spicy River Cabernet Merlot grainy tannin structure withlovely soft tannins. $30 nose. Excellent smart, full- 2009 HHHH1/2 drying oaky finish. $22 Fantastic colour and Watershed SensesTruffle Hill Pemberton bodied palate with subtle perfectly ripened dark berry Margaret River CabernetMerlot 2008 HHHH oak, ripe fruit and powdery fruit aromas that lift from Merlot 2005 HHHHStewed berry fruit aromas tannins. 3-5 $22 the glass. Intense sweet Soft, aged wine with cedary/with a eucalypt lift. Floral fruit flavours matched by forest floor aromas showingfruit flavours, good tannin cabernet merlot the velvety, mouth-coating caramelly development. Fuddling Cupbackbone, lingering acidity tannins. $17.74 Long, soft and silky in the Geographe Cabernetand long, black olive-like Sandalford Margaret mouth with good dose of Sauvignon 2007 HHHHHfinish. $19.99 River Cabernet Merlot porty fruit. $24.95 Medium-red wine with 2008 HHHH excellent varietal fruitIronwood Estate Pretty, perfumed, cooler cabernet sauvignon sweetness. Cedar andPorongurup Merlot climate style of cabernet red fruits on the nose and2008 HHHH that’s very elegant and Ring Bolt Margaret River a palate exhibiting ripeDark jubey fruit nose and feminine. Lifted aromas and Cabernet Sauvignon flavours, persistent fruits,full-bodied palate with loads persistent, medium-bodied 2008 HHHHH silky-soft tannins and well-of sweet juicy/fleshy varietal palate. $18.99 Rich, brooding, Ribena- integrated oak. $22fruit, minimal oak and good like aromas and what Plantagenet Greatlength of grainy tannins. $20 one judge described as Southern Cabernet a “straightforward, no- Sauvignon 2007 HHHHHPaul Conti Roccella Thompson Estate Locum nonsense palate”. Long, Pretty cabernet fruit noseWestern Australia Margaret River Cabernet fleshy, juicy flavours and with a lovely ‘cool’ edge.Grenache Shiraz Merlot 2005 HHHHH firm, grippy tannins. $19.99 Big, powerful palate -2009 HHHH Lovely soft, flavoursome loads of sweet fruit andBright, youthful colour wine that’s ageing fine-grained tannins. Greatwith attractive floral cherry beautifully and yet still power and ripeness and hasaromas and tight, crisp displays freshness. Lovely years ahead of it yet. $37palate with long sour cherry sweet fruit, silky tannins and Vasse Felix Margaretflavours, savoury notes and long, lingering finish. Plenty River Cabernetnice grainy tannins. $16 of life left in it yet. $22 Sauvignon 2007 HHHHH Merops Margaret River Excellent concentrationVictory Point The Cabernet Merlot of berry fruits, cedar andMallee Root Margaret 2008 HHHHH choc-mint aromas andRiver Cabernet Big, rich wine with lots of Capel Vale Debut some lovely ripe, persistent,Sauvignon Malbec super-ripe fruit sweetness Western Australia cedary fruit flavours wellMerlot 2007 HHHH and obvious, but very Cabernet Merlot matched by velvety tanninsLovely fresh rose petal/violet/ attractive, grainy tannins. 2008 HHHH with a long, soft finish. $38cedar nose. Tight, elegant Palate has a classic cabernet Attractive aromas ofpalate with firm, austere fruit structure with long, lingering blackcurrant and cedar with aand solid, chewy oak. flavours. $28 hint of violets. Lots of sweet,Will be great given more ripe fruit flavours. Lovelytime. 3-5 $26 palate weight and good tannin structure. $17.95130 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

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WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 western australiaJane Brook Sandalford Prendiville Brown Hill Hannans Chalice BridgeShovelgate Vineyard Reserve Margaret River Margaret River Margaret River ShirazMargaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet 2007 HHHHCabernet Sauvignon 2005 HHHH1/2 2008 HHHH Lovely depth of colour. Nose2008 HHHH1/2 Velvety-smooth wine. Gorgeous colour, pretty, a touch stalky and herbal.Leafy cassis nose still a tad Nose shows classic herbal/ perfumed nose and lovely Quite savoury palate withclosed at this stage. Ripe, rosemary characters and silky palate with plenty of black olive-like flavours andsweet, dark fruit flavours palate has real fresh, sweet flavour. Still very young plenty of tannic grip. $25.95perfectly matched by the red berry fruits and clever - definitely one for theoak. Rich, long and nicely use of oak. Needs another cellar. $18textured. $35 five years! $90Forester Estate Woodgate Reserve Trevelen Farm TheYelverton Reserve Manjimup Cabernet Tunney WesternWestern Australia Sauvignon 2007 HHHH Australia CabernetCabernet Sauvignon Big, super-rich, alcoholic wine Sauvignon 2008 HHHH2005 HHHH1/2 - very youthful and with lovely “A delicious wine,” said ClockworkStylish number with an colour. Dark jubey fruit on the one judge. Very youthful, Margaret River Shirazunusual nose and great nose and vibrantly sweet berry with bags of briary fruit and 2008 HHHHHconcentration of plum/ flavours with firm tannins. $28 plenty of powdery tannins. Super intense colour - “It’s likemulberry fruit flavours on the Ironwood Estate All it needs is lots more time black velvet,” suggested onesilky palate. Lots of tannins Porongurup Cabernet in the cellar. 5+ $20 judge. Perfect winemaking,and very good oak use. $55 Sauvignon 2006 HHHH with magnificently ripened Attractive, aged leathery/ shiraz blends fruit, great length of silky redcurrant nose with a tannins and deft use of oak. seamlessly smooth, well- A stunner! $17.99 structured, flavoursome palate showing lots of ‘poise’. Good current drinking. $20 Millbrook Estate Willow Bridge Estate Capel Vale Regional Perth Hills Shiraz Gravel Pit Ferguson Series Mt Barker ShirazLaurance of Viognier 2007 HHHHH Valley Shiraz Viognier 2008 HHHHHMargaret River Icon Poacher’s Ridge Big, intense, almost black, 2008 HHHH Lovely wine that needsCabernet Sauvignon Louis’ Block Great wine with a dark, brooding Big, oak-dominated wine a lot more time to come2007 HHHH1/2 Southern Cabernet nose. Nicely textured, well- that “needs a big steak”, together. Spicy, liftedIncredible colour, gorgeous Sauvignon 2007 HHHH balanced palate that’s long according to one judge. new oak dominates thedark, ripe, berry fruit aromas Fine wine offering lovely and rich and has plenty of Lots of fruit to match the cherry fruit at the moment.and a very classy, perfectly drinking. Dark and briary extracted fruit punch. Needs astringent oak. One for the Persistent tannins and abalanced, palate with superb on the nose, with a richly more time. $35 cellar. 5+ $30 sweet fruit finish. $23.95fruit and deft use of oak. Still flavoured, tangy palate Hillbille James Feet Firsta youth. $40 showing great tannin Brittain Blackwood shiraz 2008 Frankland River Shiraz persistence. $19.99 Valley Shiraz Viognier 2008 HHHHH 2005 HHHH Great colour, intense star ratings  Plenty of attractive, sweet, Flametree redcurrant/blackberry stewed fruit characters Frankland River Shiraz aromas and a delicious,Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of with earthy/charry/tobacco 2008 HHHHH velvety palate with greatexcellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. elements. Nice soft, Silky-smooth wine with concentration of sweet fruitAll wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry rounded tannins and a long, beautifully intense colour. flavours. Mellow wine thatprofessionals and are compared in peer soft, sweet finish. $48 Super-ripe black cherry and will age gracefully. $29.79classes by three judges. Barking Owl Western plum-like fruit with a splash Moondah Brook PerthCM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, Australia Shiraz of some smart new oak. Not Hills Shiraz 2008 HHHHa major mail-order business. Viognier 2008 HHHH overtly complex but good Big, ripe style that’s rich andCD Cellar door price. Richly flavoured, nicely drinking. $25 complex, with an abundanceCDO Cellar door only. textured wine with intense of lifted plum/raspberry fruitSO Sold out. concentration of cherries and great persistence of$N/A Price not available at time of printing. and plums showing spicy savoury tannins. $18 elements, soft tannins and a Contact information pg 166. long, savoury finish. $17.95 Recommended cellaring (years).132 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 western australiaClown Fish Geographe shiraz 2007 Jane Brook Back Block Poacher’s Ridge Sophie’sShiraz 2008 HHHH Western Australia Yard Great SouthernLovely fresh, perfumed, Shiraz 2007 HHHHH Shiraz 2007 HHHHblackberry aromas. Velvety Big, luscious beauty with Mellow, inviting wine - veryin the mouth, with long, years ahead of it yet! Bags savoury - with a touch ofjuicy, vibrant, jammy of licorice and violet fruit and sweet fruits, some bitterfruit and nice oak tannins some top-class oak. Well- chocolate and a dash ofshowing through. $23.50 made wine with perfect spice. Good acid backbone.Merops Margaret River structure and balance. $25 Lingering aftertaste. $25.99Shiraz 2008 HHHH Tassell Park WinesAttractive, easy-drinking Xabregas Show Reserve Harewood Estate Churchview Estate Private Bin Margaretstyle that has dark jubey Great Southern Shiraz Great Southern Shiraz Margaret River Shiraz River Shiraz 2007 HHHHfruit with an intense lift and 2007 HHHHH 2007 HHHHH 2007 HHHH1/2 Spicy and herbal on thegreat balance of tannins. Has Full-on, fresh, raspberry Great colour. Intense, ripe Still a baby! Lovely subtle nose but not green. Somelength and complexity. $28 confectionery nose and fruit with a nice spicy edge but direct blackberry fruit quality fruit here slightlyWestern Range Wines sumptuous mouthful of lifts from the glass. Lovely and deceptive tannins that overshadowed by the oak atLimited Release Perth intensely rich flavours. palate - a mouthful of ripe, are quite apparent but give the moment. Give it moreHills Shiraz 2008 HHHH Tannins a touch obvious at brambly fruit and long, good structure. Needs lots time. $32Smells of blueberries, the moment. A stunner in persistent tannins. $29.50 more cellaring. $18.50raspberries, pepper and the making. $29.99 Chalice Bridge Sandalford Estate fortifiedspice with smoky oak traits. Margaret River Shiraz Reserve Margaret RiverPlenty of juicy, sweet fruit 2007 HHHHH Shiraz 2007 HHHH1/2 Myattsfield Kennethon the soft, approachable Big, powerful wine that’s Big, rich shiraz with perfumed Green Perth Hills Vintagepalate. $38.95 still a baby. Plenty of tannins violet bouquet and very Fortified 2008 HHHH dominate the dark jubey pretty, feminine palate with Beautifully intense dark fruit at this stage. Nice a silky mouthfeel and gentle, red colour. Super-ripe fruit, savoury elements. Loads of lingering floral flavours right clean spirit and a mellow potential. $25.95 to the end. $33.95 structure. “A good crack at a vintage port,” said one judge. $28a wine cabinet to suit 32bforttootml8e6s0your lifestyleCT Series CabinetsUnbeatable value forglass-door wine cabinetsPeltier CabinetsLong-life, no vibration,Peltier coolingWineVac CabinetsUnderbench unitswith integrated winepreservation systemKITCHENER Phone 03 9459 2999. Details of our range and pricing are available online www.kitchenerwinecabinets.comWINE CABINETSMORE THAN PREMIUM WINE STORAGE Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 133

Cloverly Estate cellar door.queensland THE BEST WINES OF 2010 CONTENTS Includes: Other White Varietals & Blends, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Sweet White & Fortified.

PROUDLY PATRIOTIC The Queensland year in review, by Paula TewksburyQ U E E N S L A N D H A S A N E W S H O W C A S E to enhance its particularly with shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, at Harrington Glen Estate. Queensland wineries were booked solidly in spring for vineyard weddings,growing reputation for quality wine. The Queensland Wine Centre in Brisbane,opened by Premier Anna Bligh, is a modern facility designed to cater for nowhere more so than the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterland. These80-person tastings. The centre has the largest range of Queensland wine under winery restaurants and function rooms have been booked out most weekendsone roof, with up to 90 from 14 premium wineries from different wine regions, all and, in spring, sometimes during the week. Ocean View on Mt Mee offersavailable for purchase. For $3, visitors can taste seven wines from a list of 30. wonderful views, award-winning viognier and fabulous food. Albert River, Heritage Estate, O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley, Cedar Creek Estate and Settlers The wine centre completion and opening in September was just one of the Rise all offer outstanding function facilities. The Gold Coast hinterland,state’s landmark wine events in 2010. Sirromet celebrated its 10th birthday Brisbane’s Scenic Rim region and Sunshine Coast hinterland have a moderatewith several events, specials and new wines. The Mt Cotton property has never climate due to the altitude, an asset in the wedding season.looked better; the recent south-east Queensland rainfall has given all the gardensand cellar doors in Queensland a fresh, green, almost brand new appearance. Clovely Estate’s Brisbane cellar door, with its excellent chef and extensive range of award-winning wines, has city dwellers wanting to know more about these Sirromet’s cellar door attracts more and more visitors each year with an extensive extensive South Burnett vineyards and winery - the largest vineyard property inconcert and event program and its highly acclaimed restaurant, Lurleens. One Queensland with 175 hectares under vine. Chief winemaker Luke Fitzpatrick andSirromet birthday celebration was an evaluation tasting of over 24 barrels, mainly colleague Kerrin Carney have perfected the double-pruned method for producingcabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot from the 2009 vintage - the best classic award-winning shiraz with elegance, from what is unmistakeably a hot region.barrels of the Sirromet varietals. A group of qualified tasters, including Master ofWine Peter Scudamore-Smith, rated the wines. The aim is to produce a Bordeaux The region has some similarity with the Hunter Valley, and semillon from the Southblend, and Sirromet’s Terry Morris had a couple of classic Bordeaux wines to taste Burnett is performing in much the same way. The 2003 Clovely Semillon, whenas a benchmark. The Mouton Rothschild from the 1997 vintage really inspired the tasted blind, is easily mistaken for a Hunter. The 2010 from Clovely has similaritiestasters. Chief winemaker Adam Chapman is confident he’ll be able to put together with a young Tyrrell’s or Brokenwood semillon. The South Burnett semillon is pickedSirromet’s first Bordeaux blend for release in 2012. It will be worth looking out for. on flavour ripeness, generally producing a relatively low-alcohol wine. Several Queensland vineyards are growing and producing semillon, in some years as a Late in 2010 the Queensland Food & Wine Touring Atlas was launched. It’s dessert wine as well as a dry table wine - fabulous food wines. The only probleman impressive reference book with comprehensive road maps of the 10 wine is how to get consumers excited about and willing to purchase semillon.regions and features more than 200 food and wine venues. This atlas replacesthe wine touring map, the second edition of which was released in 2009, and New plantings in Queensland vineyards are Preston Peak sagrantino, Witchesis available in most tourism centres and book stores for $29.95. This is one of Falls fiano, Rimfire graciano, Albert River petit mensang and Golden Grove nerothe many initiatives of the Queensland Wine Industry Action Plan 2009-2011. d’Avola. Nero d’Avola is the most important indigenous red grape variety in Sicily.Most south-east Queensland cellar doors have been involved in up-skilling and Sagrantino is an indigenous Italian red grape variety of the region of Umbria, growncustomer service training, which is being rolled out by the Food & Wine Industry around the village of Montefalco; it’s an earthy dry red with a bouquet of cherries,Project of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. spice and pepper. Fiano, a full-flavoured white wine grape native to the southern Italian region around Campania, it is also grown on Sicily and is known as a white On the winemaking front, tempranillo is becoming the most popular alternate wine for red wine lovers. Graciano is a Spanish red grape that is grown primarilyred varietal in Queensland. Most vineyards on the Granite Belt are giving it a in Rioja and, while low cropping levels have made it unpopular in Spain, there arego, on several occasions with great success. Young winemaker Ray Costanzo, significant plantings in Australia’s warmer regions. Petit mensang is a native offrom Golden Grove, is leading the way with tempranillo, winning more than south-western France; it’s a thick-skinned white variety with great intensity, high12 medals in state and national shows. Petit verdot, durif, barbera, malbec, acidity, apricot and quince fruit flavours with spicy and floral aromas. These fivemourvedre and nebbiolo are also finding their home in Queensland vineyards. varieties are doing well in the shows and finding favour with consumers. Paolo Cabezas-Rhymer, a native of Spain, is having success with Spanish In 2010, Queensland winemakers moved closer to determining the bestvarietals, as well as shiraz and pinot noir; Dylan Rhymer at Ballandean continues varieties for the state’s diverse regions. No longer does every cellar door showto make exceptional wine with shiraz, viognier and nebbiolo; and Luke Fitzpatrick every variety, with a concentration on sweet wines. Queensland consumersof Clovely Estate is having exceptional results with nebbiolo, grenache, shiraz, have become more discerning and keen to identify and support the best ofbarbera and semillon. The youngest winemaker and a graduate from the their state’s viticulture and winemaking.Queensland College of Wine Tourism, Stephen Oliver, is doing great things, Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 135



WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010other white Pyramids Roadvarietals & blends Wines Limited Release Granite Belt MourvedreRobert Channon 2009 HHHHWines Reserve Granite Lovely bright, clean varietalBelt Chardonnay loaded with attractive dark2007 HHHHH berry fruits showing a spicyElegant, modern, oak-driven lift, great grippy tannins andstyle of chardonnay with great tart acidity completing thecomplexity and amazing depth picture. $30and integration of varietal fruit/oak flavours. “An excellentwine,” declared one judge. $35Summit Estate Wines Sirromet Signature Granite Ridge WinesGranite Belt Verdelho Selection Granite Granite Rock Shiraz2009 HHHH1/2 Belt Sparkling Red 2008 HHHH“An awesome varietal,” 2008 HHHH Clean spicy/peppery varietalenthused one judge. It’s Opaque red with a crimson - a touch developed - withaustere, complex and long, edge. Quite a plummy nose powerful toffee-like oakwith lovely acidity and vibrant with a spicy/peppery lift and characters and sweetcitrus fruit and sweetness. a rich, smooth palate with primary fruit. Lovely and softThe nose is musky, the palate good length of sweet fruit and rich in the mouth. $21weighty and balanced. $20 flavours. $35 Whiskey GullyClovely Estate Ballandean Estate Wines Wines Black RodWhite Label Verdelho Nebbiolo 2009 HHHH Shiraz 2006 HHHH2010 HHHH Ruby red wine with lovely Gorgeous oaky nose andSoft, medium-bodied, ripe bright, fresh varietal fruit velvety-soft, medium-varietal with a fruit salad-like showing leafy/herbal notes. bodied palate brimmingfruit profile and lifted musk Palate still tight, with good over with masses ofstick characters. Nicely level of tannins and flavour chocolaty oak with lovelystructured palate - very length. $17 varietal fruit beneath. $26flavoursome. $14 Mason Wines GraniteRidgemill Estate Belt Shiraz 2008 HHHH sweet white & fortifiedPedigree Chardonnay Soft, rich and medium-2009 HHHH weight style of shiraz that’s Ballandean EstateRiper style with excellent loaded with dark berry Wines Sylvaner 2006depth of tropical/melon varietal fruits and shows a (375ml) HHHHfruit characters, with some bright and lively spicy lift. $20 Lovely golden wine withpowerful oak sitting on top Ravens Croft Wines attractive toasty/honeyed noseand good level of acidity to Granite Belt Petit and some delightful glace pearbalance. $20 Verdot 2009 HHHH richness to the palate. The Good colour and excellent wine is both elegant and veryother red bright floral fruit - has great complex. $15varietals & blends concentration and drive. Still a Granite Ridge Wines very youthful wine with plenty White Muscat NV HHHHSummit Estate Wines of years ahead of it yet. $35 A developed fortified withReserve Granite Belt Symphony Hill potent honeyed/toffeeShiraz 2008 HHHHH Wines Cabernet characters on the nose andBrilliant dark ruby/purple Sauvignon 2008 HHHH palate. Has some hot alcoholcolour with black pepper/ Bright and elegant wine with and a nice spicy element. $20blackcurrant characters a lovely focus of redcurrant-lifting off the nose and filling like fruit. Vibrant violet liftthe excellent palate with to the nose and a rich, full-lingering flavours. Nice level bodied palate with balancingof velvety tannins. $25 tannins. $25Robert Channon Mt Tully Vines ShirazWines Granite Belt 2009 HHHHShiraz Cabernet Light and very elegant shirazSauvignon 2008 HHHH with a great colour profile.Rich, ripe, ruby red wine Has plenty of attractive,with a lovely balance lifted, bright blackcurrantbetween cigar box-like oak, fruit characters with lovelyclean, fresh varietal fruit and peppery elements. $18simple tannins. $30 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 137

Cradle Mountain © travellinglight.tasmania THE BEST WINES OF 2010 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Other Red Varietals, Sweet White.

GREAT WHITE HOPES The Tasmanian year in review, by Graeme PhillipsI T ’ S B E E N A B I G Y E A R for Tasmanian wine - not so much about million research project into pinot noir and sparkling wine carried out over the past three years at Tamar Ridge and UTAS, funded by Ausindustry and athe harvest, but in terms of industry structure and growing international Tasmanian-based consortium led by Wine Tasmania and the Australian Winerecognition and success. Research Institute. World-renowned wine authority Jancis Robinson is among the 300 or so wine professionals, researchers and scientists from around The year kicked off with the Tasmanian Wine Show in January, with chief the world expected to attend the symposium in Hobart from February 1 to 4.judge James Halliday singing the praises of the older rieslings. Of the 73 pinotnoirs from the 2008 vintage, 50 won medals, prompting the judges to call it In other industry moves, Frogmore Creek bought Meadowbank’s Coal“a great class reflecting a great vintage but a pleasantly wide range of styles, River Valley vineyards, cellar door, restaurant and the Meadowbank label.presumably reflecting terroir differences”. Meadowbank’s founder, Gerald Ellis, will now concentrate on his 38-hectare vineyard at Glenora in the Upper Derwent Valley, selling the majority of fruit while Those differences were apparent in the trophy and gold medal counts, with tickling our fancy with his super-refined Ticklebelly pinot noirs and chardonnays.wines from the Coal River Valley winning four trophies and 14 golds; thosefrom the Tamar Valley three trophies and six golds, the East Coast one and The Meadowbank purchase followed the July retirement of one of Tasmania’sfour; and the Derwent Valley one and two; the Huon Channel region three most respected and talented winemakers, Andrew Hood. Andrew establishedgolds, Pipers River two; and the North West one, while five trophies and six his contract winemaking business, Hood Wines, in 1990, produced the highlygolds went to multi-regional blends acclaimed Wellington range of wines, sold the business to Frogmore Creek in 2003 and continued in a consulting winemaker role. He paved the way in Following a shorts-and-T-shirts-Indian summer, by the end of March the state for today’s growing trend towards Germanic-style rieslings with hiswinemakers around the state were up to their knees in grapes, with everything highly acclaimed Wellington Iced Riesling; and his 2003 Wellington Hoodsterseemingly ripening at once. Apart from some disease problems in parts of the Chardonnay remains one of the best chardonnays Tasmania has produced.north, 2010 delivered lower than average crops of fully ripe, well-flavouredfruit, the sugars a little higher and acids a tad lower and softer because of As sheep farmers and enthusiastic romantics began to plant grapes duringthe warm year. One southern contract winemaker described the fruit he took the 1990s and early 2000s, it was Andrew’s expertise and professional servicesin as “stunning, very, very smart and exciting”. The 2010 whites on show at that largely resulted in the quality industry Tasmania enjoys today.the White Wine Weekend in Hobart in mid-October suggest he was right. The year also saw the long-anticipated launch of the House of Arras, headed by Prices paid for Tasmanian fruit in 2010 continued to be among the highest Australia’s sparkling guru, Ed Carr. The House of Arras joins Jansz as the secondin the country, with chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling and pinot gris grapes all dedicated Tasmanian sparkling producer based in the Pipers River region in theaveraging $2000 and above a tonne. north-east of the state. In the 2010 Tri-Nations Challenge, Tasmania picked up a third of the total gold medals in the pinot noir category, as well as gold for the However, the headline news for the year was Brown Brothers’ $32.5 million Arras 2003 Grand Vintage and Kreglinger 2004 Vintage Brut in the sparkling class.purchase of Tamar Ridge Estate in August and, with it, about one third of thestate’s total plantings and the Tamar Ridge, Pirie, Devil’s Corner, Coombend, In September, Domaine A cabernet sauvignon was promoted from the rankNotley Gorge and Rosevears labels. Brown Brothers CEO Ross Brown said: of Distinguished to Excellent in Langton’s Classification V, while Freycinet“We looked to the future and realised a need to hedge against climate change, Vineyard’s pinot noir joined in the Distinguished class. This year’s Landmarkbushfires and the uncertainties of water supplies that would constrain our Australia listing of outstanding Australian wines also featured more frombusiness growth in north-east Victoria. This acquisition complements our Tasmania; and, led by Wine Tasmania’s new CEO, the experienced andexisting portfolio… and ticks all our strategic objectives.” dynamic Sheralee Davies, the Tasmania Unbottled road show to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane was enormously successful. Industry pioneer (Pipers Brook) and former Tamar Ridge CEO Dr AndrewPirie has been retained as a consultant by the new owners, a role he will Finally, after spending 12 months in Australia studying the industry, respectedfill while also tending his new vineyard at Lebrina in the state’s north-east, British wine commentator Andrew Jefford nominated three Tasmanians in hiscontinuing his research fellowship at UTAS and his activities as a board list of the country’s 10 bravest winemakers; those, he said, “who were willing tomember of Wine Tasmania. challenge the status quo when it comes to their country’s wine - and its future”. In June, the 2010 International Cool Climate Symposium in Seattle selected Brave? Tasmanian winemakers have to be for, as I write this, the vines areTasmania to host its next Symposium in 2012. The symposium, which is largely flowering and… it’s snowing.science and academia-based, will have as its centrepiece the results of a $1.8 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 139

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 tasmaniasparkling Bay of Fires Tasmania Clover Hill Pipers River sauvignon blanc White Rock Pinot Chardonnay Brut Tasmania Blanc de Vineyard TasmaniaTamar Ridge TRV NV HHHH1/2 Blancs 2005 HHHH Sugarloaf Ridge Riesling 2009 HHHHHTasmania Chardonnay Beautifully fresh, lifted Full-bodied style but still has Tasmania Sauvignon Lifted limes obvious on thePinot Noir 2007 HHHHH bouquet with aromas finesse. Slightly floral lift to Blanc 2009 HHHH1/2 nose and showing a threadVery fresh and lively reminiscent of lemons, the nose and long, elegant Another very good example of muscat-like characters.sparkling with intense, honeysuckle and apple flavours with good mousse of style. Lovely vibrant Fresh, clean and crisp in thetoasty richness and lovely cider. “Tastes like a freshly and retained freshness. freshness, with good weight mouth, with seamless fruit/aged honeyed characters baked apple pie,” suggested of tropical fruit characters acid balance. $22developing and mingling one judge. $33 3-5 $50 on nose and palate. Silky- Brook Eden Piperswith apple-like characters. Meadowbank Devil’s Corner smooth in the mouth. $24 Brook TasmaniaGood level of acidity. $28 Mardi Tasmania Tasmania Chardonnay Josef Chromy Riesling 2009 HHHH1/2Lake Barrington Estate Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Noir NV HHHH Tasmania Sauvignon Comes up smelling of roses!Alexandra Tasmania 2006 HHHH1/2 Long and very elegant wine Blanc 2009 HHHH1/2 There’s a musky threadChardonnay Pinot Noir Big, balanced, creamy with excellent balance of Excellent example of a in there too. Some very2006 HHHHH style offering lovely toasty/ fruit aromas and flavours Tassie sauvignon blanc. attractive varietal fruit flavoursSimpler, more yeasty bouquet with a nice and a suggestion of tinned Shows some restraint linger on and on. $30straightforward style with touch of oak. Beautiful bean-like characters. $19.95 for the moment but is Freycinet Vineyardsome lovely citrus freshness citrus freshness on the developing attractive, soft Tasmania Rieslingobvious on the nose, which palate, with some apple-like other white varietals varietal characters with a 2009 HHHH1/2follows through onto the characters. $45 possible hint of oak. $27 Distinct citrus blossompalate, evolving into lovely Jansz Late Disgorged Josef Chromy Tamar Ridge characters on the nose andlemon flavours. $40 Tasmania Premium Tasmania Pinot Gris Kayena Vineyard lovely fleshy fruit flavours Cuvee 2002 HHHH1/2 2009 HHHH1/2 Tasmania Sauvignon dominating the palate, but Burnished gold wine with a Lovely wine but still a baby Blanc 2009 HHHH with just the right amount of lovely ozone/oyster-like lift that needs to be cellared True to style, with lovely acid to match. $25 to the nose. Excellent palate for a while to become really weight and persistence of Tamar Ridge Kayena length with interesting great. Delightfully lifted, varietal characters on both Vineyard Tasmania touch of soy/seaweed-like delicate fruity bouquet and the nose and in the mouth; Riesling 2009 HHHH1/2 characters underscoring the perfectly seamless balance sitting in the tropical end of Lively floral aromatics lift citrus flavours. $49.95 of elegant flavours. $27 the spectrum. $19.95 out the glass, with more of that floral intensity runningRadenti Tasmania Clover Hill Pipers Spring Vale Freycinet riesling through the length of theChardonnay Pinot Noir River Tasmania Brut Coast Tasmania Pinot palate and lingering on the2000 HHHHH 2005 HHHH1/2 Gris 2009 HHHH1/2 The Wine Society finish. $23.75“An excellent drink,” Nutty, developed, toasty/ Very attractive example of a Regional Premium Leo Buring DWL20declared one judge. buttery aromas with a floral true French pinot gris style. Selection Tasmania Leopold Tamar ValleyBeautifully aged, complex lift, and complex, developed Lifted, sweet fruit bouquet Riesling 2009 HHHHH Tasmania Rieslingwine with amazingly rich palate with nicely balanced with a distinct spicy lift and Beautifully lifted, floral 2008 HHHH1/2aromas that lift out of the crisp lemon flavours carried long, lingering, spicy/fruity bouquet, followed by a tight Lovely lime-like lift to theglass and are followed by by the delicate structure. $44 flavours across the length of citrusy/lime palate with orange blossom bouquet.developed, creamy flavours the palate. $28 excellent flavour intensity, Bright lime-like palatefilling the mouth. $65 The Wine Society underscored by a powerful developing nice aged notes Regional Premium acid backbone. $16.99 and filling the mouth with lip- star ratings  Selection Tasmania Waterton Vineyards smacking flavours. $39.99 Pinot Gris 2009 HHHH Tasmania Riesling Devil’s Corner TasmaniaThree-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of Fresh and lively pale copper 2008 HHHHH Riesling 2007 HHHH1/2excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. wine with a good level of fruit Big hit of limes and orange Still amazingly fresh andAll wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry fleshiness balanced by acid blossom on the nose. Very lively for a three-year-old.professionals and are compared in peer crispness producing long, well structured palate starting Just starting to developclasses by three judges. lingering flavours. $19.99 to develop some honeyed some lovely honeyed/CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, Bream Creek Tasmania characters mixing with the kerosene characters,a major mail-order business. Schonburger 2008 HHHH citrus flavours. $23.50 giving the wine a complexCD Cellar door price. Lovely lifted, floral, aromatic Craigow Tasmania dimension. $17.10CDO Cellar door only. bouquet and beautifully Riesling 2006 HHHHH Bay of Fires TasmaniaSO Sold out. textured and flavoursome Beautiful example of a Riesling 2008 HHHH$N/A Price not available at time of printing. palate showing good level of perfectly aged riesling with Lovely riesling showing acidity. $21 good level of toasty/honeyed excellent freshness and Contact information pg 166. bottle age development, but flavour and developing the wine still shows plenty some attractive secondary Recommended cellaring (years). of lively freshness. $24 characters adding nice complexity. $32140 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 tasmaniaBream Creek Tasmania Holm Oak Vineyards pinot noir The Wine other red varietalsRiesling 2008 HHHH Tasmania Chardonnay Society RegionalInviting, appealing varietal 2008 HHHH1/2 Freycinet Vineyard Premium Selection Holm Oak Vineyardsnose and good varietal Huge hit of peach-like Tasmania Pinot Noir Tasmania Pinot Noir Tasmania Cabernetfruit palate showing some aromas on the nose, with 2007 HHHHH 2008 HHHH1/2 Merlot 2008 HHHHresidual sugar that’s well the peachy characters Perfectly aged pinot The nose has quite a Plenty of up-frontmatched by the attractive following through to the offering excellent drinking perfumed lift. In the mouth blackcurrant aromas with aacid. $22 warm palate. Lovely depth with abundant soft, sweet it’s sweet and soft and very pleasant herbal background.Bream Creek VGR of flavour and complexity. fruit aromas and flavours flavoursome, with plenty of Soft in the mouth, withTasmania Riesling Hot finish. $20 seamlessly integrated with varietal savouriness. $19.99 sweet/sour flavours. Needs2008 HHHH Josef Chromy the oak and acid. $65 Tinderbox more time. $25Very smart, popular Tasmania Chardonnay Sugarloaf Ridge Simon Tasmania Pinot Noircommercial style that 2008 HHHH1/2 Tasmania Pinot Noir 2006 HHHH1/2 sweet whiteoffers a seamless balance Full-bodied wine with 2006 HHHHH Soft, fleshy style and yet itbetween the varietal fruit amazing depth and length Big, rich, well-structured wine has a certain elegance and still Velo Tasmaniaand the crisp acid. $22 of grapefruit-like characters with ripe fruit leaping out shows lovely minty freshness. Late Harvest RieslingHolm Oak Vineyards with lovely honeycomb-like the glass, followed by long, Excellent acid backbone and 2009 HHHHHTasmania Riesling aged complexity starting to lingering, savoury/black plum oak support. $32 Gorgeous sweet floral2008 HHHH develop. $30 flavours perfectly underscored Sugarloaf Ridge bouquet followed by anInteresting lime and ginger Nocton Park by quality oak. $33 Tasmania Pinot Noir intensely sweet palate,beer characters with a nice Tasmania Chardonnay 2007 HHHH but there’s also plenty ofbackground of sweetness. 2007 HHHH1/2 Derwent Estate Wines Intense, powerful and refreshing acidity to balancePalate shows good weight Attractive stewed apricot fruit Tasmania Pinot Noir rich and showing lovely out that sweetness. $20and length of fruit. $25 characters with hints of figs 2008 HHHHH aged complexity, aromatic Tamar RidgeLeo Buring DWK20 and buttery toast. Quite sweet “A very pretty wine,” varietal fruit and firm, grippy Kayena VineyardLeopold Tasmania but that is well balanced by enthused one judge. Dark tannins. $33 Tasmania BotrytisRiesling 2007 HHHH the crisp acidity. $25 in colour, with lifted fruit Craigow Tasmania Riesling 2007 HHHHHNicely balanced wine with GlenAyr aromas and a palate full of Pinot Noir 2006 HHHH Rich, apricot-like botrytisexcellent varietal fruit Tolpuddle Vineyard plum and cherry-like flavours Mid-weight wine with aromas and lovely luscious,characters and offering Tasmania Chardonnay with a good meaty/savoury excellent level of complexity mouthfilling stone-fruitadded complexity from 2006 HHHH1/2 edge. $35 developing and good depth flavours - very sweet but hasthe lovely aged honeyed/ Nice level of sweet varietal Craigow Easy and intensity of black cherry just the right amount of aciditykerosene notes. $39.99 fruit sitting in the tropical Tasmania Pinot Noir fruit with a nice spicy lift. $35 to balance it out. $23.75 end of the spectrum and 2008 HHHH1/2 Yellow Point Craigow Tasmaniachardonnay being carried by some very Gorgeous dark, brooding black Vineyard Bloody Dessert Riesling 2008 well handled oak. $23 fruits with savoury elements 11th D’Entrecasteaux (375ml) HHHH1/2Bream Creek Moorilla Muse Series showing through and just Channel Tasmania Subtle, spicy aromas mixTasmania Chardonnay Tasmania Chardonnay the right amount of wood for Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH with fruit sweetness.2008 HHHHH 2008 HHHH seamless balance. $19 Lovely style of pinot offering Sumptuous palateDelightful clean, simple Soft, creamy/toasty aged Home Hill a huge mouthful of fleshy beautifully textured andstyle with excellent chardonnay with seamless Tasmania Pinot Noir plum flavours perfectly brimming over with lip-sweetness on the nose and integration of varietal fruit 2008 HHHH1/2 balanced by the crisp acid smacking flavours. $19lovely toasty/creamy palate intensity, creamy malo and Plenty of woody characters backbone. $40 Waterton Vineyardsfull of flavour and developing spicy wood characters. $45 tending to dominate for Bream Creek Tasmania Tasmania Late Pickedpleasant secondary aged Velo Tasmania now but there’s good depth Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH Riesling 2008 HHHH1/2characters. $23 Chardonnay 2008 HHHH and intensity of savoury Smells of raspberries with Great intensity and driveMeadowbank Interesting apple/ red varietal fruit sitting a spicy lift and some subtle of green lime charactersGrace Elizabeth honeycomb varietal fruit underneath. $35 oak nuances, leading to a on the nose and beautifulTasmania Chardonnay characters. Flavoursome flavoursome, seamlessly honeyed/aged nuances2006 HHHHH palate with good texture balanced palate. $30 developing on the veryBeautifully soft, fully and length and developing Tamar Ridge Kayena flavoursome palate. $23.50matured and very nicely. $30 Vineyard Tasmania Waterton Vineyardsflavoursome style that has Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH Dessert Tasmaniaeverything going for it. Simple but very stylish Desert Riesling 2007Good overall balance and pinot brimming over with (375ml) HHHHlength. Excellent drinking sweet varietal fruit and Great flavour length,now or has a few years’ supported by some well- intensity and sweetnesscellaring left. $41 handled savoury oak in the in perfect balance with the background. $26.60 acid, and a slight VA lift adding complexity. $32 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 141

Waiheke Island Vineyards.n ezwealan d THE BEST WINES OF 2010 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Other Reds, Pinot Noir, Merlot & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Syrah, Sweet White.

DECEPTIVELY BUOYANT The New Zealand year in review, by Michael CooperA L L I S R O S Y W I T H T H E N E W Z E A L A N D wine industry - white wines sell for 40 per cent more than the average price. Exports of bulk wine are a pressing concern. Over the past two years, of the total growth inat first glance. Wine exports soared this year by over 25 per cent, from 112.6 to exports of 40 million litres, bulk wine accounted for 30 million.142 million litres. The number of producers rose from 665 to 685 - with Hawke’sBay, Marlborough and Otago attracting almost all the newcomers - and the number Five small wineries recently formed an alliance, Specialist Winegrowers ofof wines reviewed in my annual Buyer’s Guide has rocketed from 3033 to 3333. New Zealand, to try to “escape the commodity trap”. “We are true specialists,” says Nick Nobilo, of Vinoptima, “intent on making the very best wine from our Yet New Zealand’s winemakers are stumbling through their worst oversupply one chosen variety or style, which has led each of us to a level of dedicationcrisis since the mid-1980s. The export ‘success’ doesn’t look so impressive that borders on the obsessive.”when you realise that the 26 per cent surge in volume produced a tiny lift inexport receipts, from $NZ991 million to $NZ1.04 billion. Since 2008, the average The group includes two producers who focus exclusively on a single grapevalue of exports has plummeted by nearly 20 per cent, from $9 to $7.33 per litre. (Vinoptima, a Gisborne-based gewurztraminer specialist; and The Hay Paddock, committed to syrah, grown on Waiheke Island); two producers who specialise Good New Zealand wine has never been cheaper. A sauvignon blanc in a single style (Destiny Bay, also on the island, with Bordeaux-style reds; andwas stacked in one of my local supermarkets this year at $6.99, after an No1 Family Estate, Daniel Le Brun’s Marlborough-based bubbly venture); andexport order went off the rails. Villa Maria’s Private Bin range was snapped Wooing Tree, one of the best pinot noir producers in Central Otago.up around the country at below $10. Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee this year announced a Half of the country’s wineries haven’t raised their prices for at least five years, government plan to boost wine exports, including $1.2 million backing for anaccording to a recent survey by New Zealand Winegrowers. A third said they initiative to push high-end wine into the US. Pinot noir will lead the charge.had lowered their prices. Winery failures have been at an all-time high, whileothers are visibly struggling. Among the most prominent collapses have been Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, believes the industry hasOtuwhero, in Marlborough, which sold its range under the O:TU brand, and the potential to double its exports over the next decade, to $2 billion. He thinksParitua, in Hawke’s Bay, which slipped into receivership owing over $20 million. the current tough times will last another two or three years, but from 2013 the outlook is rosier. The plan is to maintain the industry’s current production base Small-scale producers are the worst hit. Most wineries are still profitable, of 33,000 hectares of vines, while stimulating greater demand for the wine inaccording to a survey by Deloitte, but the global economic recession and northern Europe, Asia and the US.the country’s bumper 2008 and 2009 harvests have led to “a clear downwardprofitability trend.” Most at risk are small - but not tiny - wineries, with an The good news is that the 2010 vintage has yielded memorable wines, thanksaverage annual output of 20,000 cases and turnover of $1 million to $5 million. to an Indian summer. It didn’t always look that way. The country’s coldest OctoberLast year, before tax, they averaged a 6.7 per cent loss. since 1945 was followed by a dismally wet January in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne. But in February the weather settled, drought spread, and the grapes basked in Yet Kiwis are drinking more New Zealand wine than ever. Last year, adult unusual warmth and dryness right through into the key harvest month of April.consumption per capita of domestic wine soared to 13.9 litres - well above theprevious record of 12.2 litres in 2007. As New Zealand wine gets cheaper, Kiwis are The final figures revealed a 2010 harvest of 266,000 tonnes - seven per centbuying more of it. Wine imports have plummeted to the lowest level for a decade. lighter than 2009. It was a low-cropping year - the vines’ average yield of eight tonnes per hectare was significantly below 2009 (8.9 tonnes/ha) and 2008 (9.7). But export prices are falling too. Waiheke Island winemaker Mike Spratt haspointed out that “the inflation-adjusted price per litre is on a steady decline… Of the major regions, Marlborough dominated, accounting for 69 per centIf this rate continues, by 2025 New Zealand will be shipping over 250 million of the national grape harvest. In terms of the key varieties, sauvignon blanclitres of wine overseas for free.” was equally dominant, with 66 per cent of the crop. Is it time for New Zealand’s producers, until recently focused on relentless But there’s a lot more to New Zealand wine than Marlborough sauvignongrowth, to slow down? New Zealand “is cementing its position as a producer blanc. Exports of pinot noir, pinot gris, merlot and syrah are all climbing. Newof decent-quality cheap wine,” says Mike Spratt, who believes the industry varietal wines keep emerging, too. Pernod Ricard NZ has released its firsthas paid a huge price for its success in breaking the $1 billion export barrier. bottlings of an old French variety, sauvignon gris, which yields less aromatic, but more substantial, wines than sauvignon blanc. And the first three examples Chris Yorke, global marketing director of New Zealand Winegrowers, agrees of Austria’s favourite grape variety, gruner veltliner - from Coopers Creek,with Mike that New Zealand is not suited to the profitable production of low- Forrest and Seifried - are now on the shelves.priced wine. In off-licence retailers in the UK, Chris stresses, New Zealand’s Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 143

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new zealandsparkling Villa Maria Single Church Road Reserve Saint Clair Saint Clair Pioneer Vineyard Ihumatao Hawke’s Bay Viognier Marlborough Sauvignon Block 19 Bird BlockDeutz Marlborough Verdelho 2008 HHHH1/2 2009 HHHH Blanc 2009 HHHHH Marlborough SauvignonPrestige Cuvee Attractive scented wine, Fleshy and rich, with Finely poised, rich wine, Blanc 2009 HHHHH2005 HHHHH estate-grown in south mouthfilling body, an oily intensely aromatic, with From the lower RapauraRated well by all judges, a Auckland and 55% texture and concentrated vibrant passionfruit and district, a classic, ripe-fruitrich, yet highly refined style, fermented in seasoned oak ripe-fruit flavours. Deliciously lime flavours showing style. Highly scented, withcitrusy, yeasty and crisp, barrels. Mouthfilling, with peachy, creamy and lovely purity, delicacy and citrus fruit, passionfruit andwith excellent intensity ripe, concentrated pineapple rounded. $36.95 concentration. Dry finish, lime flavours, it is weighty,on the palate and a fresh, and guava flavours, showing Trinity Hill with fresh, appetising fresh, dry and crisp, witharomatic bouquet, toasty, excellent freshness and Gimblett Gravels acidity. $21 (A, UK, US) excellent freshness,yeasty and complex. $36.95 vigour, and a long finish. One Viognier 2008 HHHH intensity and length. $25 (A)Deutz Marlborough judge gave five stars. $24.99 Fleshy, rich and ripe, with a Saint Clair PioneerCuvee Rose NV HHHH1/2 Waimea Nelson subtle oak seasoning. Stylish Block 3 43 Degrees Palliser EstateBright pink, with lovely, Viognier 2009 HHHH1/2 wine with concentrated Marlborough Sauvignon Martinboroughvivacious, strawberryish, One of the finest South sweet-fruit flavours, hints Blanc 2009 HHHHH Sauvignon Blancmoderately yeasty flavours, Island viogniers yet. Fleshy, of peaches and apricots, Highly scented, with intense 2009 HHHHHgently sweet and lingering. with substantial body, and a deliciously soft, well- passionfruit and lime aromas. Mouthfilling, vibrantlyVery fresh and finely strong, ripe peach and rounded finish. $34 (A, UK) Very incisive on the palate, fruity wine with intense,balanced. $36.95 apricot flavours, slightly oily Bellbird Spring Home with fresh, crisp, concentrated ripe flavours likened toDeutz Marlborough and spicy, and a creamy, Block White 2009 HHHH flavours, lovely delicacy, flow ‘passionfruit’ by all panellists.Cuvee Blanc de Blancs well-rounded finish. $21.90 Highly perfumed Waipara and length. $25 (A, UK) Excellent weight and texture,2006 HHHH1/2 Stone Bridge Gisborne blend of pinot gris, riesling, Whitehaven Greg with moderate acidity andElegant, rich style, with crisp, Viognier 2009 HHHH gewurztraminer and muscat, Marlborough Sauvignon a finely balanced, sustainedclassy flavours, showing Richly scented and barrel-fermented. Full of Blanc 2009 HHHHH finish. $22 (A, UK, US)excellent delicacy and vibrantly fruity, with good personality, with rich, gently A star, ‘full-on’ wine, from Spinyback Nelsonintensity, and a very yeasty, concentration of ripe peach sweet, peachy, citrusy, spicy a single site in the Awatere Sauvignon Blanclasting finish. One judge and apricot flavours, fresh flavours, showing excellent Valley. Explosively aromatic, 2009 HHHH1/2rated it five stars. $36.95 and fully dry. Lees-stirred in concentration, complexity with supercharged, finely Bargain-priced, generous,Cuvee No 1 NV HHHH seasoned barrels, but not and charm. $31 balanced melon and herb dry wine with excellentStylish wine, floral and fresh, obviously oak-influenced. $20 Whitestone Waipara flavours, fresh, mouth- depth of ripe passionfruit,with tight-knit, delicate Waimea Nelson Pinot Blanc 2009 HHHH wateringly crisp and citrus and spice flavours.flavours, appley, yeasty, crisp Edel 2009 HHHH Mouthfilling, partly barrel- sustained. $25 Finely textured, with fresh,and refined. $42 (A, UK, US) Seductive blend of three fermented wine with good lively acidity and a long finishCuvee No 8 NV HHHH aromatic grape varieties - weight and concentrated, (from Waimea Estates).Richly fragrant, pinot noir- riesling (47%), pinot gris ripe, citrus fruit and pear $14.90 (UK, US)dominant style (65%), with (38%) and gewurztraminer flavours. Finely textured,rich flavours, crisp, gently (15%). Mouthfilling, rich with a long finish. $24yeasty, tightly structured and slightly sweet, withand long. $32 (A, UK) concentrated, peachy, spicy sauvignon blancHunter’s Miru Miru flavours. Works well. $21.90NV HHHH Saint Clair PioneerVivacious blend of Morton Estate White Block 6 Oh! Blockchardonnay, pinot noir Label Hawke’s Bay Marlborough Sauvignonand pinot meunier. Fine, Viognier 2009 HHHH Blanc 2009 HHHHHsmall ‘bead’, with intense, Fruit-driven style, very fresh Pungently scented, withdistinctly citrusy, slightly and vibrant, with a floral ripely herbaceous aromasnutty flavours. Good richness bouquet. Full-bodied, with and a distinct touch ofon the palate, with a lingering peach and apricot flavours ‘sweaty armpit’. Elegantfinish. Fine value at $26. (UK) showing good ripeness, wine with concentrated richness and length. Fine passionfruit and limeother white value. $18 flavours, fresh, crisp andvarietals & blends long. $25 (A, UK)Millton RiverpointVineyard GisborneViognier 2009 HHHHHFloral and fleshy. Intenselyaromatic, with ripe-fruitcharacters of apricotsand musk, excellentflavour concentration, asliver of sweetness anda deliciously oily, creamytexture. $27.50 (A, UK)144 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new zealandBabich Individual Delegat Marlborough Mount Riley Villa Maria Private Bin PencarrowVineyards Cowslip Valley Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release Marlborough Sauvignon MartinboroughMarlborough Sauvignon 2009 HHHH Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 HHHH Sauvignon BlancBlanc 2009 HHHH1/2 Fleshy and dry, with a floral, Blanc 2009 HHHH Very fresh and lively, 2009 HHHHLifted, ‘sweaty armpit’ citrusy, limey bouquet and Rich, ripe style with medium-bodied style with Crisp, buoyant, tightlyaromas lead into a weighty, ripe, concentrated flavours, mouthfilling body and melon and green capsicum structured wine with veryconcentrated wine with fresh, crisp and rich. $17 excellent depth of passionfruit flavours, excellent vigour good body and depth ofsweet-fruit delights and Drylands Marlborough and lime flavours. Enjoyed by and depth, and a crisp, racy fresh tropical fruit andrich, tropical fruit flavours. Sauvignon Blanc all judges. $20 finish. “Really sings,” noted herbal flavours. GreatOne judge described the 2009 HHHH Saint Clair Pioneer one judge. $20 value from Palliser Estate.style as intense but “slightly Citrusy, nettley aromas, Block 2 Swamp Block Peregrine Central $15 (A, UK, US)cloying”, while another showing good intensity, Marlborough Sauvignon Otago Sauvignon Blanc Richmond Plainsfound it “powerful, but still lead into a powerful, punchy Blanc 2009 HHHH 2009 HHHH Whakatu Nelsonelegant”. $25 (UK) wine with tropical fruit and Fresh, pure and vibrant, with Aromatic, clearly herbaceous Sauvignon BlancSaint Clair Pioneer herbaceous flavours, fresh lifted aromatics and a good style, grown at Gibbston and 2009 HHHHBlock 1 Foundation and lingering. $22 (A) mix of ripe, tropical fruit and Cromwell. Excellent vigour, Certified organic wine withSauvignon Blanc Durvillea Marlborough herbaceous flavours, crisp impact and length of fresh, strong, herbaceous aromas2009 HHHH1/2 Sauvignon Blanc and lasting. Rated well by all citrusy, limey, minerally leading into a concentrated,‘Sweaty armpit’ aromas 2009 HHHH judges. $25 (A, UK, US) flavours. $22 lively palate with dry, lastinglead into a ripe, tropical Freshly herbaceous style, Saint Clair Pioneer Vavasour Awatere flavours. $19.99 (A)fruit-flavoured wine with aromatic and vibrantly Block 20 Cash Block Valley Sauvignon Blanc Wingspan Nelsonexcellent weight, texture fruity, with lively acidity Marlborough Sauvignon 2009 HHHH Sauvignon Blancand harmony. $25 (UK, US) and good richness through Blanc 2009 HHHH Aromatic, briskly herbaceous 2009 HHHHTwo Rivers of the palate. A top buy from From first-crop vines in style with gooseberry and Great buy, offering delicious,Marlborough Astrolabe. $14 (A) the lower Wairau Valley, a green capsicum flavours, very easy drinking. Ripe, tropicalConvergence Sauvignon Goldwater Wairau Valley traditional style with strongly fresh, punchy and long. $23 fruit-flavoured wine, withBlanc 2009 HHHH1/2 Marlborough Sauvignon herbaceous aromas. Anchorage Nelson distinct hints of pineappleClassy, intense blend of equal Blanc 2009 HHHH Melon, lime and green Sauvignon Blanc and passionfruit, and aportions of Awatere Valley Rich, ripe style with a hint capsicum flavours show 2009 HHHH strong, smooth finish (fromand Wairau Valley fruit. A real of ‘sweaty armpit’, good good intensity, coupled with Crisp and zingy single- Woollaston). $12.95fruit bowl of tropical fruit and weight and strong melon and fresh, zesty acidity. $25 (A) vineyard wine withherbaceous flavours, showing capsicum flavours. Enjoyed Saint Clair Wairau concentrated fruit flavours rieslingexcellent freshness, depth by all judges. $22 (UK) Reserve Marlborough of melon, passionfruit andand harmony. Rich, finely Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc citrus fruits, some grassy, Peregrine Centralbalanced and lingering. $22 Sauvignon Blanc 2009 HHHH herbal notes and an off-dry, Otago Dry RieslingBlind River 2009 HHHH Intense, ‘sweaty armpit’ long finish. $17 2008 HHHHHMarlborough Sauvignon Freshly herbaceous bouquet, aromas. Rich, ripe, tropical Breakers Bay Minerally, dry styleBlanc 2009 HHHH leading into a crisp, lively fruit flavours, fresh, vibrant, Nelson Sauvignon with intense, lemony,Intensely aromatic, richly palate with pure melon, strong and dry. However, Blanc 2009 HHHH slightly spicy flavours,varietal wine from the herb and capsicum flavours two panellists found the A bargain! Aromatic, nettley, showing excellent vigourAwatere Valley, partly that linger well. “Traditional wine, although undoubtedly intensely varietal wine with and personality. Tightlybarrel-fermented. Excellent style,” noted one judge. A powerful, also a bit one- fresh, herbaceous flavours, structured and unfoldingconcentration of melon and top vintage of this classic, dimensional. $33 (A, UK, US) crisp and pungent (from well. $22 (US)green capsicum flavours, crisp huge-volume label. $18 Stoneleigh Rapaura Torrent Bay). $12 Waimea Classic Nelsonand tight-knit. $25 (A, UK) Highfield Marlborough Series Marlborough Riesling 2008 HHHHHAstrolabe Discovery Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Golden Hills Estate Lovely now, this lusciousAwatere Valley 2009 HHHH 2009 HHHH Nelson Sauvignon wine is a medium style withSauvignon Blanc Fresh, crisp and sweet- Richly scented, with Blanc 2009 HHHH concentrated, ripe flavours2009 HHHH fruited. Passionfruit and mouthfilling body and ripe, Worth cellaring, this of passionfruit and pineappleRich, ripe, nettley wine with nettle aromas flow through tropical fruit flavours, dry and tightly structured, single- and fresh, appetisingstrong personality. Powerful, to the palate, which shows slightly minerally. Youthful, vineyard wine was partly acidity keeping things lively.intensely aromatic bouquet, excellent balance and tightly structured, highly barrel-fermented. Weighty Powerful, rich and long, it’sbrimming with passionfruit intensity. $24 (A, UK, US) aromatic and lingering. $27 and youthful, it is ripely bargain-priced. $17.90 (US)and basil notes, and loads of Mission Vineyard Toi Toi Marlborough flavoured, with a subtle Anchorageflavour. $23 (A, UK) Selection Sauvignon Reserve Sauvignon seasoning of oak, strong Classic Nelson RieslingAstrolabe Voyage Blanc 2009 HHHH Blanc 2009 HHHH tropical fruit flavours and 2007 HHHH1/2Marlborough Sauvignon Mouthfilling, bone-dry Slightly ‘sweaty’ aromas lead good acid spine. $19.90 (A) Drinking well now, thisBlanc 2009 HHHH style with ripe, tropical fruit into a sweet-fruited wine, medium style has bright,Slightly ‘sweaty’ aromas. flavours, woven with fresh full-bodied, rich and rounded, light yellow colour andWeighty, ripe style, with acidity, slightly leesy notes with grapefruit, passionfruit developed, minerally, slightlypassionfruit and gooseberry and a creamy texture. Tight, and lime flavours, finishing toasty aromas and flavours.flavours, fresh, crisp and youthful and elegant, with crisp and long. $23 (A) Good balance of fruit,strong. $20 (A, UK) obvious potential. $21.95 sweetness and acidity, with bottle-aged complexity. $17 Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 145

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new zealandCoopers Creek SV The Doctor’s Riesling Martinborough Mud House Waipara Johanneshof CellarsMarlborough Riesling 2009 HHHH Vineyard Bruno Riesling Riesling 2009 HHHH Marlborough2009 HHHH1/2 Crisp, medium-sweet style, 2009 HHHH Fleshy, medium-dry style GewurztraminerFloral, slightly musky hand-picked early with low Hand-harvested from the with ripe, grapefruit-like 2009 HHHHbouquet, leading into a natural sugars and stop- Jackson Block and made flavours, showing some Richly perfumed and finelypeachy, limey wine, full- fermented at around 8.5% in a medium-sweet style, complexity, and good acid textured, with gentleflavoured, gently sweet alc. Strong lemon/lime this ripe, citrusy wine is spine. One judge scored it sweetness and strong, ripe,and spicy. Lovely delicacy, flavours, with Granny Smith balanced for good, easy, five stars. $20 (A, UK, US) lychee and spice flavours.harmony and intensity. $20 notes, a hint of sherbet, early drinking. Lemony and Terrace Edge Waipara Delicious young, but worthVidal Marlborough and good vigour. (from limey, with lively acidity. $26 Riesling 2009 HHHH cellaring. $31Riesling 2009 HHHH1/2 Forrest) $22 (A, UK, US) Martinborough Fleshy and crisp, with strong Saint Clair PioneerTight, elegant style with Villa Maria Cellar Vineyard Manu Riesling lemon and lime flavours, Block 12 Lone Gumfresh passionfruit and lemon Selection Marlborough 2009 HHHH slightly sweet, finely balanced Gewurztraminerflavours, crisp and minerally. Riesling 2008 HHHH Harvested with a ‘modest’ and youthful. Aromatic, 2008 HHHHDry, with excellent intensity Fragrant, with a slightly botrytis influence from zingy wine, enjoyed by all Rich, citrusy, spicy wine,and length. $20 toasty fragrance. Limey mature vines, this pale panellists and offering good showing good concentration,Astrolabe Discovery and citrusy, with good lemon/green wine is fresh value at $19. (A) a distinct splash ofRiesling 2008 HHHH purity, richness and length, and slightly sweet, with Waipara Springs sweetness and gentleLemony, lively wine, and some development ripe lemon, apple and spice Riesling 2009 HHHH acidity. Oily, luscious style,grown at Grovetown. Floral showing. $23 flavours, finely balanced, Scented, with fresh, intense, delicious now. $23 (UK)bouquet, with strong, slightly Toi Toi Marlborough delicate and lingering. $26 citrusy, limey, gently Wairau Rivertoasty flavours, showing Riesling 2009 HHHH Waimea Bolitho SV sweet flavours, showing Marlboroughgood vigour. Sharply priced Tightly structured, youthful Riesling 2007 HHHH considerable complexity, finely Gewurztraminerat $16. (A, UK) wine with strong lemon/ Distinctly minerally Nelson balanced acidity and good 2009 HHHHBabich Marlborough Dry lime flavours and a mouth- wine with excellent depth harmony. $19 (A, UK, US) Fleshy and softly textured,Riesling 2008 HHHH watering, crisp finish. Dryish, of fresh, ripe, citrusy, with gentle acidity and ripe,Slightly minerally and toasty, high-acid style, elegant and gently sweet flavours and gewurztraminer slightly sweet, lychee andwith good intensity of lemon, minerally. $21 (A) good harmony. Delicious spice flavours. Partly oak-apple and passionfruit West Brook now. $21.90 Hunter’s Marlborough aged style, already deliciousflavours. Floral, focused Marlborough Riesling Akarua Central Otago Gewurztraminer but worth cellaring. $25wine, fresh, crisp, dry and 2009 HHHH Riesling 2010 HHHH 2009 HHHHHtight. $20 (A, UK, US) Good intensity of crisp, Highly scented, very Beautifully scented, fleshy pinot grisEsk Valley Marlborough lemony, slightly honeyed youthful Bannockburn wine. wine with rich, oily textureRiesling 2009 HHHH flavours in a medium style, Medium-dry style, gingery and concentrated lychee Waimea Nelson PinotCrisp and youthful, with tight, finely balanced and and limey, with excellent and spice flavours, ripe Gris 2009 HHHHHexcellent depth of lemony, lingering. $20 (UK) weight, intensity, texture and finely balanced. Powerful, Alsace-styleslightly minerally flavour, and balance, and a lingering Great buy at $23. (A, UK) pinot gris, fleshy and ripelydryish and long. $23 Yealands Way finish. $25 Mission Hawke’s Bay scented, with a slightly oilyHunter’s Marlborough Marlborough Riesling Gewurztraminer texture and deep stone-fruitRiesling 2008 HHHH 2009 HHHH Domain Road Vineyard 2010 HHHH and spice flavours. DeliciouslyFresh, elegant wine, finely Likely to age well, this ripely Riesling 2009 HHHH Perfumed, spicy bouquet. full-bodied, medium-dry, softscented, with strong lemon/ scented wine shows youthful Fleshy, slightly minerally Light and lively, with fresh, and rich. $21.90 (UK, US)lime flavours, excellent vigour, a hint of honey - noted Central Otago wine, with delicate lemon, apple and Burnt Spurvarietal character and by two judges - and good strong, lemony, spicy, gently spice flavours, just a sliver Martinborough Pinotdepth. Dryish, crisp and intensity of crisp, zesty, sweet flavours, showing of sweetness, and excellent Gris 2009 HHHHHharmonious. $19 (UK) lemon and lime flavours. excellent vigour, intensity balance and length. Full of Instantly attractive, rich andJohn Forrest Collection (Sold in NZ under the Peter and length. $22 (A, UK) youthful promise. $18.95 soft, in a distinctly mediumMarlborough Riesling Yealands brand.) $19 (A) Mt Beautiful Cheviot Coopers Creek Gisborne style with mouthfilling2006 HHHH Anchorage Nelson Hills Riesling 2008 HHHH Gewurztraminer body, an oily texture andComplex, toasty bouquet. Riesling 2007 HHHH Fleshy, mouthfilling and 2009 HHHH concentrated, deliciouslyGood intensity, with Dryish style with crisp, ripe, with excellent depth Floral, spicy, musky ripe, stone-fruit and spicecitrusy, limey flavours, a citrusy, limey flavours, of dryish, grapefruit-like bouquet. Mouthfilling, with flavours. A single-vineyardminerally thread, sugar/ a minerally streak and flavours and good texture ripe, moderately intense wine from Martinboroughacid tension and excellent lingering finish. Maturing and harmony. Drinking well lemon, spice and slight Vineyard. $22 (A)harmony. $50 (A, UK) gracefully. $16 now. $23.95 (A, UK, US) apricot flavours. Fresh, Triplebank AwatereStoneleigh slightly sweet and smooth, Valley Pinot GrisMarlborough Riesling with good delicacy and 2009 HHHHH2009 HHHH some potential. $17 Floral, gently sweet styleFresh, elegant style with Astrolabe Voyage with lush, strongly varietal,finely balanced, gently Marlborough stone-fruit and spice flavours.sweet lemon, apple and Gewurztraminer Rich through the palate,passionfruit flavours, 2009 HHHH fleshy and peachy, with aexcellent ripeness, delicacy Exotically perfumed, rich wine slightly oily texture. Finelyand depth. $23 with a slightly oily texture balanced and youthful (from and concentrated flavours of Pernod Ricard NZ). $23.95 lychees, spices and pears, ripe and rounded. $22 (A, UK)146 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010Mount Riley Farmers MarketMarlborough Marlborough Pinot GrisPinot Gris 2009 HHHHH 2009 HHHHMedium-dry style with Generous, ripe-tasting blendexcellent varietal character of pinot gris (90%), rieslingand depth of pear and spice (5%) and gewurztraminerflavours. Floral, fresh and (5%). Strong stone-fruit, applesweet-fruited, with lovely and spice flavours, freshtexture, weight and length. and crisp, and a spicy, floralTop buy at $18. (A, UK) bouquet. Top value at $16.Stoneleigh Dashwood Marlborough Golden Hills Estate Carefully craftedMarlborough Pinot Gris Pinot Gris 2008 HHHH Nelson Pinot Gris on a Central Otago2008 HHHHH Strongly varietal wine with 2009 HHHHYouthful wine, evolving well, an array of lychee, lemon, Intensely varietal, with a family vineyard.with mouthfilling body and pear and spice flavours, sliver of sweetness amidcrisp, slightly sweet flavours slightly sweet, fresh, pure its rich stone-fruit and spice Gold medal winner IWCshowing excellent purity, and aromatic. $21 flavours and fresh, balanced London - 2009 & 2010delicacy and harmony. Mount Fishtail acidity. Enjoyed by allRefreshing, finely balanced, Marlborough Pinot Gris panelists. $19.90 (A) Available at selected wine retailers orfloral and rich (from Pernod 2009 HHHH Rimu Grove Nelson contact the vineyard for a retailer near you:Ricard NZ). $23 From Konrad, a very fresh, Pinot Gris 2009 HHHHTerrace Edge vibrant wine with ripe, apricot- Fresh and full-bodied, w w w.dom a i n road.co.n zWaipara Pinot Gris like aromas, good weight and with a slightly oily texture email: [email protected] HHHH1/2 a slightly sweet, rounded, and strong, gently sweet Bannockburn Central Otago New ZealandFleshy, rich wine in the lingering finish. $20 (A) pear, citrus fruit and peachclassic Alsace mould. Saint Clair Godfrey’s flavours. Fifteen per cent Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 147Weighty, with concentrated, Creek Reserve Pinot barrel-ageing adds a touchripe flavours of stone-fruit Gris 2008 HHHH of complexity. $29 (A, US)and spice, good texture Maturing gracefully, a fresh, Couper’s Shedand a medium-dry, softly medium-dry style with strong Hawke’s Bay Pinot Grisseductive finish. $21.50 (A) pear and spice flavours. 2009 HHHHTwo Rivers of Slightly creamy, it is finely Invitingly perfumed wineMarlborough Pinot Gris textured and fleshy. $25 from Pernod Ricard NZ with2009 HHHH1/2 Whitehaven Marlborough ripe stone-fruit, spice andWeighty, finely textured Pinot Gris 2009 HHHH ginger flavours. Full-bodied,wine, partly barrel- Floral bouquet, with stone- medium style with a slightlyfermented. Power through fruit, pear and spice notes. oily texture and excellentthe palate, with strong, ripe Finely balanced wine, delicacy and richness. $19.95flavours of peaches, pears fresh and slightly oily, withand spice, showing a slightly excellent texture, delicacy chardonnayoily richness. $24 (A, UK) and depth. $23 (A, UK)Villa Maria Single Seresin ChardonnayVineyard Seddon Pinot Yealands Estate Reserve 2007 HHHHHGris 2008 HHHH1/2 Marlborough Pinot Gris Tight, citrusy, dry andFresh, medium-dry style 2009 HHHH minerally, in a concentrated,with rich citrus fruit, lychee Scented, mouthfilling Awatere slightly toasty style with someand spice flavours that Valley wine, with strong peach early development. Slightlybuild across the palate to a and pear flavours. Finely funky (showing indigenousresounding finish. Aromatic textured, with a dryish finish. yeast notes), very rich andand weighty, finely textured Tightly structured and very textural. $39 (A, UK, US)and lingering. One judge youthful. $24 (A, UK) Church Road Reserverated it five stars. $31 Church Road Cuve Hawke’s Bay ChardonnayAstrolabe Discovery Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2008 HHHHHAwatere Valley Pinot 2008 HHHH Rich, complex bouquet. Full-Gris 2008 HHHH Scented, distinctly medium bodied and concentrated,Fresh, crisp, elegant wine, style showing good weight with deep stone-fruitaromatic and medium-bodied, and concentrated, ripe, flavours, well seasoned withwith youthful pear and apple slightly honeyed flavours. toasty oak. Powerful and fullflavours, gently spiced Drinking well now. $26.95 of personality, with a strongand finely textured, and a oak influence - but therefreshing finish. $23 (A, UK) fruit to carry it. Well worthLawson’s Dry Hills cellaring. $36.95Marlborough Pinot Gris2009 HHHHHighly scented, with goodweight and strong, slightlysweet citrus fruit, pear andspice flavours. Finely balancedand rich. $25 (A, UK, US)

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new zealandWest Brook Waimauku Goldridge Estate Vavasour Anna’s Palliser Estate Riverby EstateEstate Chardonnay Premium Reserve Vineyard Chardonnay Martinborough Marlborough2008 HHHHH Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2006 HHHH1/2 Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Chardonnay 2008 HHHHStylish, complex wine, 2009 HHHHH Complex style, delicious Creamy textured, with rich, Concentrated and complexestate-grown in west Great buy. Complex nose, now, with peach, grapefruit ripe, citrusy, peachy flavours wine, based on 20-year-old,Auckland, with ripe with concentrated, citrusy, and nut flavours. Fragrant, to the fore, a subtle, biscuity ungrafted vines (mendozagrapefruit and stone-fruit biscuity flavours, elegant with rich, ripe, sweet-fruit oak influence and excellent clone). Fragrant, peachy, nuttyflavours and integrated nutty and slightly creamy. characters, pure, silky and harmony. $28 (UK) bouquet, with a powerfuloak. Very fragrant, slightly Fleshy, weighty, rounded finely textured. $40 Renato Nelson palate - rich, finely balanced,smoky bouquet and a and long. $18.95 (UK) Wairau River Home Chardonnay 2008 HHHH soft and lingering. $25 (A, US)creamy, seamless, lingering Block Marlborough Estate-grown at Kina, on the Saint Clair Omakapalate, showing lovely Saint Clair Pioneer Chardonnay coast, and barrel-fermented, Reserve Chardonnayharmony. $29 Block 10 Twin Hills 2007 HHHH1/2 this full-flavoured and 2008 HHHHVilla Maria Reserve Marlborough Estate-grown and barrel- mouthfilling wine has good Rich style, with strong,Barrique Fermented Chardonnay fermented, this citrusy, slightly complexity, citrusy, nutty ripe, citrusy flavours,Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 HHHHH toasty wine has excellent notes and a slightly creamy seasoned with toasty2008 HHHHH Creamy and finely textured, vigour and freshness. Tight, texture. $25 oak. Concentrated, finelyClassic regional style, very this classy wine was hand- slightly minerally and complex, Rimu Grove Nelson textured wine, arguablyfragrant and generous, picked and fully barrel- finely textured and maturing Chardonnay 2008 HHHH overoaked, but enjoyed bywith rich, peachy, ripe-fruit fermented. Offering rich gracefully. $28 Estate-grown in the Moutere all judges. $33 (UK)flavours, a mealy, nutty, peach and grapefruit flavours, Martinborough hills and barrel-fermented, Staete Landttoasty complexity and a seasoned with well-integrated, Vineyard Chardonnay this rich, highly flavoured Marlboroughcreamy-smooth finish. $34.99 toasty oak, it is fragrant and 2008 HHHH1/2 style is peachy, buttery and Chardonnay 2008 HHHH highly concentrated. Delicious Fragrant, classy bouquet, toasty. A big wine, weighty Fleshy and slightly creamy,Saint Clair Marlborough now onwards. $30 leading into a rich, elegant and long. $30 (A, US) with rich, ripe peach andChardonnay Mission Vineyard palate with ripe grapefruit Waimea Nelson grapefruit flavours, layered2008 HHHHH Selection Middle Road and nut flavours, excellent Chardonnay 2008 HHHH with cashew notes fromRichly fragrant, elegant wine Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay delicacy and depth. Creamy- Grown at Kina and fully finely integrated oak. Verywith concentrated, peachy, 2009 HHHHH textured wine, delicious from barrel-fermented, a full- elegant. $30 (A, UK, US)slightly toasty flavours and Fleshy and weighty, with now onwards. $40 (A, US) bodied, generous wine with Saint Clair Pioneergood acid spine. Seamless, concentrated citrus and Croft Vineyard strong, ripe, citrusy and Block 11 Cell Blockstill fresh and youthful. Top stone-fruit flavours, enriched Martinborough peachy flavours and finely Chardonnay 2008 HHHHvalue at $21. by hints of nutty oak Chardonnay integrated, nutty oak. $21.90 Rich, ripe, grapefruit-like and butterscotch. Tank- 2008 HHHH1/2 Auntsfield Cob Cottage flavours, finely balanced fermented, with ‘light’ wood Elegant, barrel-fermented Chardonnay 2008 HHHH oak and a crisp finish. handling, but also fat, leesy style with youthful peach, Complex style, estate- Flavoursome wine from “two and creamy, with some grapefruit and nut flavours, grown, hand-picked and fully separate blocks within the flinty, minerally notes. Rated showing good complexity. barrel-fermented. Citrusy, Lower Wairau area”, showing highly by all judges. $21.95 Concentrated, finely balanced slightly creamy, gently good complexity. $30 Moana Park Vineyard and long. Priced sharply. $24. oaked flavours, ripe, finely Stoneleigh Rapaura Tribute Hawke’s Bay Greystone textured and rich. $34 (A) Series Marlborough Chardonnay Waipara Chardonnay Forrest Marlborough Chardonnay 2008 HHHH 2009 HHHH1/2 2009 HHHH1/2 Chardonnay 2006 HHHH Peach, grapefruit, toast Fragrant and full-bodied, Rated highly by all judges, Maturing well, this light yellow and nut flavours in a with ripe flavours of stone- this fleshy, weighty and wine has generous grapefruit dry, complex style with fruit, butterscotch and nuts, complex wine has rich and oak flavours, finely a minerally streak and good power through the stone-fruit flavours, a hint balanced and developing good excellent harmony and palate and a rich, rounded of butterscotch, and lovely complexity. $23 (A, UK) immediacy. $27 finish. Powerful wine, texture and depth. $34 Highfield Marlborough West Brook Barrique already drinking well. $29.99 Peregrine Central Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Fermented Marlborough Otago Chardonnay Fine, elegant style, with a Chardonnay 2008 HHHH 2009 HHHH fragrant, citrusy bouquet and Enjoyed by all judges, a Mouthfilling and slightly crisp, vibrant flavours, good powerful, rich wine, finely creamy, with ripe, citrusy, richness and barrel-ferment balanced, with ripe, grapefruit appley, spicy flavours showing complexity. $33 and slightly mealy flavours, good immediacy. Finely John Forrest Collection showing sensitive use of oak, balanced, subtle wine, tight Marlborough and good complexity and and lingering. $25 (A, US) Chardonnay 2004 HHHH harmony. $20 (UK) Matahiwi Estate Holly At more than five years Coopers Creek Wairarapa Chardonnay old, still very alive, with Reserve Gisborne 2008 HHHH youthful colour, rich Chardonnay 2009 HHHH Concentrated, with bright grapefruit and spice flavours, Fragrant, smoky bouquet. yellow colour and strong, slightly minerally and crisp, Classy, complex palate with grapefruit-like flavours, and a slightly toasty finish. ripe, grapefruit-like flavours, slightly minerally, buttery, $50 (A, UK, US) mealy and finely textured. nutty and toasty. Still Rich, youthful wine, well youthful. $24 worth cellaring. $25148 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new zealandMatakana Estate Dolbel Estate Olssens Robert Craggy Range Kaituna ValleyMatakana Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay The Bruce 2009 HHHH Te Muna Road Vineyard Kaituna Vineyard2009 HHHH Chardonnay 2007 HHHH Deeply coloured and Martinborough Pinot Noir 2007 HHHHHDistinctly northern style, Refined, elegant wine, distinctive Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008 HHHHH Classy Canterbury red,fleshy and ripe-tasting, with maturing gracefully, with blend of pinotage, cabernet This classy red romped deeply coloured, with apowerful body, sweet-fruit a subtle oak influence sauvignon and syrah, with straight to a five-star rating ripely scented, slightlydelights and stone-fruit and fresh, citrusy, slightly a fresh, peppery bouquet. from all panellists. Floral and peppery bouquet, sweet-and nut flavours showing minerally and buttery Vibrantly fruity, with generous deeply coloured, it is already fruit delights and strikingexcellent depth. $27 (UK) flavours. $29.95 plum, spice and herb flavours, delicious, with a powerful depth of cherry, plum, spiceWaimata Cognoscenti Dolbel Estate showing good richness. $30 surge of ripe, plummy, and nut flavours, rich andChardonnay 2009 HHHH Hawke’s Bay spicy flavours, excellent supple. Described by oneFragrant, creamy-textured Chardonnay 2008 HHHH pinot noir complexity and finely judge as “a pinot noir forGisborne wine, French Serious, complex style, balanced tannins. Very cabernet lovers, just short ofoak-fermented, with rich, tightly structured, with a Charles Wiffen Reserve generous style. $39.95 (A, UK) over-ripe”. $45citrusy, nutty flavours, fleshy palate, mealy, nutty, Marlborough Pinot Noirshowing excellent delicacy rounded and long. $29.95 2007 HHHHH Palliser Estate Pencarrowand complexity. Harmonious Glazebrook Regional Maturing well. Full, bright Martinborough Pinot Martinborough Pinotand finely poised. $27.50 Reserve Hawke’s Bay colour, with good warmth and Noir 2008 HHHHH Noir 2008 HHHHHBoundary Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 HHHH complexity. Concentrated, Rated highly by all judges, Irresistibly good buy fromTuki Tuki Road Hawke’s Crisp, elegant style, spicy, nutty and savoury, in a this fragrant, full-coloured Palliser. Deeply coloured,Bay Chardonnay maturing well, with fresh, powerful, dense and slightly wine is ripe and savoury, savoury, warm and spicy, it’s2009 HHHH citrusy flavours and a slightly oaky style with excellent with cherryish, spicy flavours surprisingly rich and complexGenerous, ripe and well- minerally streak. $27 cellaring potential. $35 showing excellent depth for the price, showingrounded, with mouthfilling Mission Reserve and complexity. Firm and excellent concentration andbody and tropical fruit Hawkes Bay Saint Clair Pioneer finely balanced, with a lasting structure. “Everything in theflavours, slightly toasty and Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Block 16 Awatere Block finish, it’s built to last. $42 right place,” enthused onecreamy. Finely integrated oak, Fleshy, rich and creamy Pinot Noir 2008 HHHHH Akarua Central Otago judge. $22with excellent texture and style. Fragrant bouquet, with Densely coloured, ripely Pinot Noir 2009 HHHHH Akarua Reservedepth. Great value. $19.95 fresh, vibrant fruit flavours, scented red with loads of Instantly attractive Central Otago PinotChurch Road a subtle oak influence and plummy, cherryish, spicy Bannockburn red, deeply Noir 2009 HHHH1/2Cuve Hawke’s Bay good harmony. $25.95 flavour, nutty and complex. coloured, with concentrated, Deeply coloured, fleshy,Chardonnay 2008 HHHH Trinity Hill Gimblett Sweet-fruited and generous, ripe, cherryish, plummy generous and savoury.Classic Hawke’s Bay style, Gravels Hawke’s Bay with a fine, silky texture and flavours, showing good, Notably ripe style, highlyrich and sweet-fruited, Chardonnay 2008 HHHH real elegance. $33 (A, UK) savoury complexity. Rich fragrant. “Loved the nosewith ripe, lemony, peachy Fleshy and generous, with Auntsfield Hawk Hill wine, described by one - brooding, with eleganceflavours, plenty of oak, and rich, ripe, tropical fruit and nut Marlborough Pinot Noir panellist as, “All there! and finesse,” said onesubstantial body. Complex flavours. Creamy textured, 2008 HHHHH Yum.” $40 (A, UK) judge. $55 (A, UK)and creamy, with a lingering with a long finish. $34 (A, UK) Powerful yet elegant red, full- Stoneleigh Rapaura La Stradafinish. $26.95 coloured and concentrated, Series Marlborough Marlborough Pinot NoirChurch Road other reds with sweet-fruit delights and Pinot Noir 2008 HHHHH 2007 HHHH1/2Hawke’s Bay the structure to mature well. Generous style with deep Full-coloured, with highlyChardonnay 2009 HHHH Trinity Hill Gimblett Dark, fleshy, cherryish and colour, mouthfilling body and concentrated cherry, plumWeighty and dry, with Gravels Tempranillo spicy, with ripe tannins and a concentrated, ripe cherry, and spice flavours and a fairlyconcentrated, ripe, stone- 2008 HHHHH lasting finish. $45 (A, UK, US) plum and spice flavours, firm, long finish. Fragrant,fruit flavours and nutty, Generous, serious, slightly smoky and toasty, ripe and rich. $35 (A, UK, US)biscuity notes adding ageworthy red with with excellent complexity Saint Clair Pioneer Blockcomplexity. Full, rich and full, youthful colour and and structure. Weighty, rich 12 Lone Gum Pinot Noircreamy. $26.95 fresh, deep plum and and finely textured. $32 2007 HHHH1/2C.J. Pask Declaration spice flavours, complex, Deeply coloured, weighty,Hawke’s Bay savoury, finely balanced rich and structured, withChardonnay 2008 HHHH and lingering. Rated highly deep, cherryish flavours andHighly fragrant, with by all judges. (10% touriga a floral bouquet. “Centralrich, stone-fruit flavours, nacional, 2% malbec and Otago-like intensity,” notedslightly nutty and creamy, 1% viognier) $34 (A, UK) one judge. $33 (UK)and excellent complexity. Coopers CreekWeighty, concentrated and SV The Clays Huapailong. Enjoyed by all judges. Malbec 2008 HHHH$32 (A, UK) Boldly coloured, this estate-Mission Hawke’s Bay grown west Auckland redChardonnay 2008 HHHH is fleshy and vibrantly fruity,Citrusy, fruit-driven, gently with concentrated plumoaked style with mouthfilling and pepper flavours. Morebody and a slightly buttery elegant than many malbecs,finish. Freshly scented, with with fine-grained tannins andexcellent flavour depth, some ageing potential. $25balance and length. Finevalue at $18.95. Annual 2011 W I N E S TAT E 149

WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2010 new zealandSpy Valley Burnt Spur Babich Winemakers Triplebank Awatere Wairau River HomeMarlborough Pinot Noir Martinborough Pinot Reserve Marlborough Valley Pinot Noir Block Marlborough2008 HHHH1/2 Noir 2008 HHHH Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH 2008 HHHH Pinot Noir 2008 HHHHVery elegant, finely poised Single-vineyard red with Floral and sweet-fruited, Warm, mouthfilling red Finely crafted, with dense,wine, full-bodied, with strong cherry, herb, spice with firm tannins underlying with good complexity. ripe, cherryish fruit seasonedfresh, vibrant cherry, and nut flavours, showing strong cherry, plum, herb and Cherry, spice and dried herb with savoury oak and fine-plum and spice flavours, excellent complexity and spice flavours, which show flavours, savoury and finely grained tannins. Lush, silkyseasoned with smoky, richness. Weighty, rounded good complexity. Worth textured. $27 wine, with tightness andtoasty oak, and impressive and long. $44 (A) cellaring. $30 (A, UK, US) Saint Clair Pioneer length. $32 (A, UK, US)density. $37 (A, UK, US) Croft Vineyard Esk Valley Marlborough Block 14 Doctor’s Bald Hills Single Martinborough Pinot Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH Creek Marlborough Vineyard Pinot NoirAlexia Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH Richly coloured and sweet- Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH 2008 HHHHNoir 2008 HHHH1/2 Floral, finely balanced, fruited, with vibrant cherry, Densely coloured and Generous Bannockburn redRichly varietal wine, full- ruby-hued and supple, with plum, spice and nut flavours, firm, with cherry, spice with warm, ripe cherry, plumcoloured, with cherry, plum strong, ripe cherry, plum and good complexity, harmony and nut flavours, a hint and spice flavours, showingand slight herb flavours, spice flavours that flow well and length. $30 of fruit cake and good excellent complexity andshowing excellent depth, and to a long, rounded finish. $35 Goldwater Marlborough concentration, harmony and depth. Finely textured, withsome savoury complexity. Wild Rock Strugglers Pinot Noir 2007 HHHH length. $33 (A, UK, US) well-integrated French oak.Fine value at $22. Flat Martinborough Drinking well now, a floral, Staete Landt $46.50 (A, UK)Whitehaven Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH full-bodied, soft red with Marlborough Pinot Noir Desert HeartMarlborough Pinot Noir Delicious, softly structured ripe, sweet-fruit flavours 2008 HHHH Mackenzies Run Pinot2008 HHHH1/2 red with full, bright colour of cherries, plums and Elegant style, ruby-hued, Noir 2009 HHHHWeighty, dense and silky, with and cherry, herb and spice spices, a hint of thyme, with ripe plum/spice flavours, Deeply coloured, fragrantgenerous, ripe cherry, plum flavours, showing excellent and good complexity and showing some nutty Bannockburn red withand spice flavours, showing depth and complexity. Enjoyed density. $24 (A) complexity. Fresh, youthful concentrated plum, spicegood complexity, supple by all judges (from a subsidiary Mount Riley Limited and tight-knit, with ageing and slight herb flavours,tannins and the potential to of Craggy Range). $24.95 Release Marlborough potential. $37 (A, UK, US) savoury and complex.age well. $30 (A, UK, US) Fox Junior Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH Vidal Marlborough Firmly structured wine thatUrlar Gladstone Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH Sweet-fruited, scented and Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH needs more time. Has goodPinot Noir 2008 HHHH Generous, with sweet- silky red with cherry, spice and Elegant style, with full, potential. $42 (A)Mouthfilling, full-flavoured fruit delights, strong plum dried herb flavours that linger bright colour and strongand firmly structured, with and cherry flavours, some well. Good concentration, cherry/plum flavours. Floral, Devil’s Backbonestrong, ripe cherry, plum, savoury notes and a long, complexity and charm. $25 focused young wine, rich, Central Otago Pinotherb and spice notes, silky finish. $35 (A, UK) ripe and long, with good Noir 2007 HHHHunderpinned by tight Rapaura Springs complexity and cellaring Floral Alexandra red withtannins. Earthy and savoury, Matahiwi Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir potential. $26 ripe fruit aromas, vibrantwith a long finish. $35 Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2008 HHHH fruit characters and a finely 2008 HHHH Ruby-hued, mouthfilling Wither Hills balanced palate. Described Fresh and youthful, with red with ripe cherry, plum Marlborough Pinot Noir by one judge as “sweet concentrated, ripe fruit and spice flavours and silky 2008 HHHH and voluptuous, but with flavours of cherries, red tannins. Moreish wine with Deeply coloured, with balanced acidity” (from berries and spices, oak good length. $25 concentrated plum, Shaky Bridge). $25 complexity and a crisp, long Saint Clair Pioneer cherry, spice and slight Villa Maria Private Bin finish. Drink now or cellar. $23 Block 4 Sawcut Pinot herb flavours, showing Marlborough Pinot Noir Astrolabe Voyage Noir 2008 HHHH good complexity. Firmly 2008 HHHH Marlborough Pinot Noir Deeply coloured, with structured, youthful wine, Delicious, easy drinking, 2008 HHHH generous dark cherry, worth cellaring. $35 (A, UK) with good density of ripe Generous, sweet-fruited herb and toast flavours. Vavasour Awatere plum/spice flavours, oak red, full-coloured, with Rich, savoury and smoky. Valley Pinot Noir complexity and a silky, cherry, plum, spice and nut One judge rated it five 2008 HHHH lingering finish. $25 flavours, excellent ripeness, stars. $33 (UK) Floral and full-coloured, with youthful tannins and good The Crossings strong, buoyant cherry, plum complexity. $29 (A, UK) Marlborough Pinot Noir and spice flavours, fresh 2008 HHHH acidity and very good depth. Rich and supple, with full, $30 (A, UK, US) bright colour and deep cherry and plum flavours, vibrant and persistent. $26 (A, UK, US)150 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2011