|
March WCWC Pack
6 - Australia and New Zealand - R1200/pack |
|
La Vierge |
Redemption Sauvignon Blanc |
Hemel-en-Aarde |
2008 |
R 106 |
|
Craggy Range |
Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc |
Martinborough |
2008 |
R 205 |
|
Spice Route |
Chakalaka |
Swartland |
2007 |
R 120 |
|
Kalleske |
Clarry’s GSM |
Barossa Valley |
2008 |
R 205 |
|
Hoddles Creek |
Pinot Noir |
Yarra Valley |
2008 |
R 215 |
|
Felton Road
|
Pinot Noir |
Central Otago |
2007 |
R 460 |
It would be
impossible to sum up Australia's and New Zealand's wine industry
and wine styles within a few paragraphs. Their wine growing
regions are extremely diverse, and like us are discovering more
and more suitable terroirs as well as developing wine styles
each year. In this months pack we aim to display both typical
styling from up-and-coming and traditional regions.
At a similar latitude,
Australia's wines aren't too dissimilar to ours and in fact
vine cuttings were reportedly brought from the Cape in 1788.
Being geographically quite isolated, after the global phylloxera
outbreak a large portion of Australia's vines remained
uninfected and today have the oldest vines in the world. Moving forward past phylloxera,
up until just 35 years ago the industry was based on sweet and fortified wines. Since, Australia
has become the 4th largest exporter of table wine in the world and
regularly leads the way in new trends and styles. This dynamic
country offers the complete spectrum of low quality
warm climate wines through to low volume cool climate wines. Although
difficult to blanket one particular style across Australian
wines, generally the reds have a high alcohol with sweet fruit
and a eucalypt character. The whites are rather similar to ours.
New Zealand's wine
industry is structured around the Sauvignon Blanc variety that
makes up over two thirds of their vineyards. Cultivated at high
yields with relative ease, the initial Marlborough plantings
have spread throughout NZ along with other grape varieties. The
global demand for pungent, and often one-dimensional, Sauvignon Blanc
is also
waning, leading toward investment into other areas, varieties
and styles. Look out for cool
Syrahs from the Hawkes Bay region as well as aromatic varieties
such as Riesling and Pinot gris from Central Otago in the south.
The second major
grape variety is Pinot Noir which is suited well to the cool
long growing season and diurnal temperature variation. Central Otago which reaches 45
degrees south, the most southerly of all wine regions, is the
leader in Pinot Noir production. New Zealand's wines are
generally higher in acidity and lower in alcohol with pure fruit
and European elegance.
La Vierge Redemption
Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Whilst Sauvignon
Blanc drinkers are waiting for the 2010 savies, most of
the premium cool climate wines from 2008 are not yet at their
peak. La Vierge is a prime example; at only 12.3% alcohol
and displaying more yellow fruits, this really
displays a certain flintiness. The Redemption is a minute single vineyard
of Quartzite Sandstone in the Hemel-en-aarde and is picked at just
3 tones per hectare. Against the Craggy, this wine seems leaner
and less pungent.
Craggy Range Te Muna
Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Whilst Marlborough is
by far the largest Sauvignon Blanc producing region, the more
southerly regions produce more subtle mineral styles.
Martinborough in the south of the North Island produces more textured, elegant Sauvignons that are
more reminiscent of their French counterparts. This one has 4
months on the lees, adding richness and fullness. Its also
picked a little riper than most, attaining the stone- fruit over
grassy characters.
Spice Route Chakalaka
2007
Farmed from old bushvines in the Swartland, Chakalaka is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan picked at extremely low yields. Though
the Shiraz plays dominance, it is somewhat modelled on the red
varieties of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in France. 50% of the Mourvedre component
was matured in French oak and there is a residual sugar of 4g/l
which gives a roundness to the finish.
Kalleske Clarry's GSM
2008
Kalleske is a fine
producer of old vine Barossa that fashions typical and
robust wines. Clarry’s is a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and
Mataro (Mourvedre) with old vine Grenache from the 1940s and
1960s. The wine is fermented in open-top fermenters and basket
pressed giving a rustic feel. It is however fruit-driven and
muscular appearing sweeter and less savoury than the Spice
Route. Typically, Barossan wines hold this fruit sweetness and
intensity that really excited the world in the late 90s and early
2000s. This comparison shows how neatly SA fits between the
savoury elegant wines of France and the pure-fruited wines of
Australia.
Hoddles Creek
Pinot Noir 2008
The Yarra Valley in
Victoria is regarded as the leading Pinot Noir region with
cooler maritime conditions. Only 30% new oak is used,
reining in the pure sappy cherry fruit, forest floor complexity and fine, gently grippy
tannin. This is great value for money pinot which combines the
elegance of cool climate with the fruit of the New World.
Felton Road Pinot
Noir 2007
Renowned as one of
the finest Pinots in New Zealand, Felton Road offers cool red
berry fruit and herbs, rather more akin to Burgundy than the
rest of the new world. The climate is more
continental and cool which is ideal for Pinot Noir. Since 2002 the vineyards have been managed organically
and biodynamically and are currently being certified by Demeter.
In contrast to the Hoddles Creek, expect more elegance,
texture and acidity with a seemingly drier finish. This is a
Pinot that will age well for up to 8 years.
Bordeaux Pack 1
Burgundy Pack 2
South of France Pack 3
Champagne Pack 4
Italy Pack 5
From more info
on the WCWC!
