This month I wanted to re-explore the three grapes but from the Southern Hemisphere. The one thing you learn more about wine and it's expansion across the World is that it was typically at times of war or exploration when vines moved to new climates. Sometimes for health benefits (to prevent scurvy or the lack of vitamin C on long boat journeys), others to motivate troops who were fighting in conflicts. Occasionally to enable religious leaders to provide 'the blood of God' as there sacriment. Either way, it was interesting to see that the Spanish Conquistadors (15th C) founded the Chilean wine movement initially and the British colonisation of Australia (19th C) which brought about vines landing there. Either way, I think all wine lovers should be thankful for these events, which result in some great wines!
Since beginning this venture, I've always loved Chile, the story of it's inception as a wine producer, the fact that it is an area resistant to Phyloxera which makes it able to produce vegan, vegetarian, organic and in some places biodynamic wines excites me. The way the country forms with a long North to South strip up the western side of South America, means it has a diverse geography and climate. This enables it to make robust Shiraz from the Central valleys (Entre Cordeleiras) through to delicate Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from the valleys of Casablanca, Leyda and San Antonio to exciting Rieslings from the south in the Bio Bio Valley. You can literally get everything you wish for from Chile. Equally, it's remarkably affordable for the quality of the wines.
Then, to compare Australia, the relative upstart in wine making, with the colonisation in the 19th century creating a business. Colonel William Light, the pioneer who landed at Adelaide, searched for a suitable farming location and then named it Barossa Valley after the battle of Barrossa, near Cadiz in 1811, where the British defeated the French in the Peninsular War. Australia has a hot climate, so the majority of the vineyards hug the coasts or waterways (Murray and Darling Rivers) or they look for altitude and valleys for cooling influences. This month, I've selected a chardonnay from the Barossa Valley, a classic Riesling from the Clare Valley and a Pinot Noir from the Murray/Darling river.
Both the Chilean and the Australian wines do exactly what the wine club is all about, they look around corners are seek value in the quality of their fruit and wine production at a great price.
When you compare the wines from the two different Countries, their styles are driven by their terroir and their production, I hope you enjoy the differences and maybe return for more in the future. The tasting for this month is available on the site for your enjoyment.
Big Love Matt!
Leyda Valley Chardonnay 2021
Located on the west side of the Chilean Costal Range and only 4 km from the Pacific Ocean, we found the perfect place to make our award-winning wines. Vina Leyda, in the Valley of the same name, is famed for being the most highly awarded cool climate coastal winery in Chile, and with Viviana Navarette at the helm (voted Chile's top winemaker), these are wines that are completely distinct from what we have come to expect from the country. Tasting Note: As a tribute to the varietal pureness, this is a fruit driven style and unoaked Chardonnay.It has ripe citrus and semitropical hints of kiwi and cherimoya. it has sweet and leesy texture, balanced with a juicy finish. Food Match: Enjoy with white meats or with light fish dishes.
Smokin' Barrels 'Annie' Chardonnay 2021
Planted in the Barossa Valley floor near Angaston on drought resistant rootstocks, the 25 year old vines are spur pruned to produce a balanced crop each year. Excellent fruit exposure ensures rich, ripe and varietal fruit flavours in the grapes. Harvested in the cool of night with the free run portion pressed and cold settled in stainless tanks. A small portion fermented and matured in seasoned French Barriques for texture and nuance whilst the balance fermented in stainless to retain fresh fruit characters and vibrancy. Tasting Note: Aromas of ripe honey dew melons, peaches and nectarine combine with the creamy stone fruit flavours on the palate resulting in a pleasing textural quality, held in check with refreshing citrus acidity. Food Match: Pairs well with most fish or poultry dishes.
Novas Stellar Selection Riesling, Bío Bío 2021
Vines were planted in 1993 at the Fundo Quitralman, Mulchén vineyard in the Bio-Bio Valley, 500km south of Santiago. Grapes are handpicked pressed. Selected yeasts were added, and two-thirds of the must fermented in neutral barrels. The remaining third fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures (12–14ºC) to preserve the aromas and freshness in the wine. Once fermentation was complete, the new wine was left in contact with its fine lees with periodic stirring (batonnage). Prior to bottling, the wine was fined with adjusted doses of bentonite and cold stabilized to prevent any future tartaric precipitation. Tasting Note: Quietly complex on the nose with fresh lime notes combining with a steely minerality and gentle honeysuckle flora. The palate is mid-weight and off-dry with persistent flavours of lime, there is a natural salinity which gives contrast yet lovely balance. It finishes clean with a lingering flinty character. Food Match: Oysters and shellfish, white meats and smoked salmon. Also great with vegetarian dishes and Asian cuisine.
Pikes 'Hills & Valleys' Riesling 2021, Clare Valley Australia
The Clare Valley is famous for Riesling! This is no exception, it's quality shines through with the classic lime of Riesling. Picked early for freshness of acid, with fermentation stopped early to keep alcohol low and preserve some residual sugar. Estate Grown with the finest free run juice, neutral yeast, stainless steel on lees for 3 months prior to bottling. Tasting Note: Attractive and inviting aromas of stonefruit and sweet limes are dominant, with floral notes of honeysuckle and lavender adding layers of complexity. Bright lime and citrus fruits, perfectly balanced with soft sweetness and sherbet like acidity. Hints of musk and a talcy like texture play in the background. Food Match: Best matched with spicy asian flavours, try it with Szechuan Kung Pow chicken.
Novas Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir, Gran Reserva 2021
The Casablanca Valley is influenced by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its coastal breezes that moderate temperatures. The area ranges from soft rolling hills to higher hills toward the Coastal Mountain range in the east. Temperatures are much cooler here, allowing the grapes to ripen very slowly to produce rich flavoured wines. Beautiful care is taken to maintain the grapes freshness and only the finest grapes are selected for this wine. Tasting Note: Pale ruby red in colour with a lifted nose of raspberry,blackcurrant fruit and a gentle cranberry grip with gentle spice notes from barrel aging. The palate shows delicious ripe summer fruit character and is perfectly balanced by soft tannins and refreshing acidity. It has a long and elegant finish. Food Match: Very good with white meats and oily fish. The perfect partner for mushroom-parmesan risotto.
Pete's Pure Pinot Noir 2021
Duxton Vineyards currently has 2,334 hectares of vineyard plantings (2nd largest in Australia) producing approximately 70,000 tonnes of grapes annually (5% of national production). Duxton Vineyards seeks to assist in reversing agriculture’s adverse contribution to Australia’s environment by applying regenerative farming practices to the land it operates. The techniques used improves soil health and increases biodiversity on farm, this care and thought is followed through with the careful crafting of this wine. Fruit was harvested early in the morning to avoid the heat. It was cold pressed and once the juice had naturally settled it was racked then fermented cool (12°C) for the next 12 days. Tasting Note: Vegan friendly. A generous and easy drinking Pinot Vibrant and lively wine with forest floor notes on the nose, along with strawberries and cranberry. Subtle notes of raspberry and rose petal mesh with vanilla bean pod and spicy oak. Bright cherry notes backed by a crunchy acidity and fine tannin base. Hints of red berry fruits and a distinct savoury touch give this wine a complex varietal character with long length of flavour. Food Match: Antipasto or Peking Duck make a great pairing with this wine.
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