Session 24 - That Vintage - A Look at 2011

After Session 23 - Myth Busters, dedicating an event to the wines from the 2011 vintage could be seen as a natural extension from there. That vintage - possibly the biggest myth of all to look to bust.

It was wet in many places. We get that. We certainly won't shy away from that. But that doesn't tell the whole story: that in Western Australia conditions were actually quite warm, that in the Hunter Valley they celebrated a highly regarded vintage, that it could be regarded as a producers' vintage, with great wines to be had if you know where to look.

We often find that in search of an attention grabbing headline too many commentators generalise about the state of the wine industry on this island continent. So, let's take a look at wines from that vintage and draw our own conclusions.

Bracket 1 – 'White Rhone' Varieties

John Duval Plexus 'White' n/a

Yangarra Viognier @Yangarra

Bracket 2 – Other Whites
Meerea Park Hell Hole Semillon @MeereaPark 
Xabregas Fig Tree Riesling @Xabregas_Wines
Xabregas Spencer Riesling @Xabregas_Wines

Bracket 3 – Chardonnay

Kooyong Clonale Chardonnay n/a
Yalumba FDW7c 2011@Yalumba
Tapanappa Chardonnay 2011 @Tapanappa

Bracket 4 – Pinot Noir
Stoney Rise Holyman Pinot Noir @StoneyRise 
Henty Farm Wines Pinot Noir @HentyFarmWine

Bracket 5 – Grenache & Friends
Brash Higgins GR/M Grenache Mataro 2011 @BrashHiggins
Cirillo Wines The Vincent Grenache 2011 @Cirillo1850Wine

Bracket 6 – Shiraz

De Iuliis Steven's Vineyard Shiraz @MikeDeIuliis

Cirillo Single Vineyard Shiraz @Cirillo1850Wine

Bracket 7 – Other Reds
Inkwell Wines Primitivo 2011 @InkwellWines
A.Rodda Cuvee du Chez @ARoddaWines
 

             

Session 22 - The Adelaide Hills

Session 22 sees Swirl, Sniff, Spit take to the hills. The Adelaide Hills region is one of Australia's largest geographically, spreading in a narrow band to the East of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty ranges.

Look at the region on a map and you'll see it extends northward, bordering the Eden Valley, and to the South running parallel to McLaren Vale.

Our host for this session is Bec Hardy from K1 by Geoff Hardy in the southern Adelaide Hills.

Bracket 1 - Alternate Whites
Sam Scott Fiano 2012 @ScottWinemaking
K1 by Geoff Hardy Grüner Veltliner 2012 @K1ByTheHardys

Sauvignon Blanc
Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2012 @ShawAndSmith
Hahndorf Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2012 @HahndorfHill

Chardonnay
The Lane Block 1A Chardonnay 2010 @TheLaneVineyard
K1 Chardonnay 2010 @K1ByTheHardys

Pinot Noir
Golding Wines Francis John Pinot Noir 2009 @GoldingWines
Chain of Ponds Wine Morning Star Pinot Noir 2010 @ChainOfPonds

Shiraz
Golding Wines The Handcart Shiraz 2011 @GoldingWines
Chain of Ponds Wine The Ledge Shiraz 2008 @ChainOfPonds

Cabernet Sauvignon
Longview Wine Devil's Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 @LongviewWines
K1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 @K1ByTheHardys

Final line-up subject to confirmation, and vintage may vary.

Swirl, Sniff, Spit - Authentic, Natural, Organic and Biodynamic

What does it all mean?  With Swirl, Sniff, Spit's tasting on the 17th April we'll be looking to explore the and understand some of these terms.  Plus we'll discuss some of the characteristics of these wines and see what makes these terms some of the most polarising in the wine industry.

Wines are subject to change, and vintage subject to confirmation.

Bracket 1

1. Mitchell Riesling 2010, Clare Valley, SA. Twitter: @MitchellWinery

2. Shobbrook Riesling 2011, Eden Valley, SA. @nakedbunchwines

Bracket 2

1. Cullen Sem Sauv Blanc, Margaret River, WA. Twitter: n/a

2. Dog Point Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ. Twitter: @DogPointWines

Bracket 3

1. Holly's Garden Pinot Gris 2010, Gippsland, VIC. Twitter: @moondarra

2. Domaine Lucci Riesling Gris, Adelaide Hills, SA. Twitter: n/a

Bracket 4

1. Hochkirch Pinot Noir @nakedbunchwines

2. Shobbrook Nouveau Mourvedre 2011, Barossa Valley, SA. @nakedbunchwines

Bracket 5

1. 'Mule' Sangiovese, Innocent Bystander, Mclaren Vale, SA. Twitter: @IBWine

2. tbc

Bracket 6

1. Gemtree Obsidian Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA. @MikesGems

2. Battle of Bosworth Puritan Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA. Twitter: @BosworthWines

3. Blind Corner Shiraz 2010, Margaret River, WA. @blindcorner

 

Session 3 - Pinot Noir

"A seductive, yet fickle mistress", or "sex in a glass".  Pinot Noir has been christened thus and a number of other names, many of which reference its reputation as one of the most challenging of varietals to grow.  Pinot Noir is "the heartbreak grape".


As ever, Swirl, Sniff, Spit has pulled together a global line-up designed to showcase what is great and good about this most "romantic of varietals".

Bracket 1

Blanc de Noir: Henschke Lenswood Blanc de Noir NV

Rose: De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Grown Pinot Noir Rose 2010

Bracket 2

Tasmania: Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir 2008

Adelaide Hills: Vinteloper Pinot Noir 2010

Bracket 3

Mornington Peninsula: Stonier Reserve Pinot Noir 2008

Yarra: Hoddle's Creek Estate Pinot Noir 2010

Bracket 4

NZ Martinborough: The Escarpment Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008

NZ Otago: Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 2008

Bracket 5

Bourgogne AC: Louis Jadot Bourgogne Rouge AC 2008

1er Cru: Camille Giroud Volnay 1er Cru 2006
Bonus: David Clark Passe-Tout-Grain 2008 (Pinot/ Gamay blend)

Bracket 6

Oregon: Evesham Wood Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2009

Chilean: Casas Del Bosque Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2009

Session 2 - Chardonnay - Round Up

As the world is focusing on the great varietal Chardonnay on International Chardonnay Day - 26th May 2011 - it seems timely to get this wrap from the 2nd Swirl, Sniff, Spit session.

The line up featured stellar examples and highlighted much that is right and good about Chardonnay.  All we needed was some Blanc de Blanc Champagne to round things off!


Pair 1
1. Stefano Lubiana Primavera 2010, Tasmania
Slatey, a nod of grapefruit.  But the magic happens with the taught line that just extends.....Many have Stefano Lubiana amongst the top tier of Australian Chardonnay producers, this showed why.

2. Christian Moreaux 2009, Chablis AC, France
Racy, balanced and exhibiting lemon with some flinty aroma and flavour.  Smooth, long and refreshing.

Pair 2
1. De Bortoli Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia @DeBortoliWines
No new oak, matured in four and five year old old oak.  Creamy, dairy, yoghurt - almost a touch of Cottage Cheese - from full malo.  Elegance and length.  Superb!

2. Eldridge Estate Estate Chardonnay 2008, Mornington Peninsula, Australia @EldridgeEstate
Pineapple, grapefruit and peach through the middle.  Comely, familiar yet not overworked.  Good presence of toasty oak, again not overdone.  Quality shining throughout.

Pair 3
1. Witches Falls Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2009, Granite Belt, Queensland, Australia @TheWineryWitch
Bouquet of melon and vanilla, oak here supports, not dominates the fruit.  Not quite as defined, giving glimpses of where it will be with further vine age.
2. BK Wines Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2009, Adelaide Hills, Australia @BKWines
Wild yeast fermented in 50% new oak with leese stirring for 9 months.  Aromatic florals - very Adelaide Hills according to some attendees familiar.  Fruit is concentrated and powerful, peach leading a line with some supporting citrus.

Pair 4
1. Fraser Gallop Estate Chardonnay 2009, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia @FraserGallopEst
Lemony, buttery, peach.  It has it all but the fruit quality shines.  A backbone of acid keeps it all going and holds it in check.

2. Forrest Hill Estate Chardonnay 2009, Mount Barker, Western Australia @ForestHillWines
tight on opening, slowly unfurling to deliver typical stonefruit.  Represents its place well, cool climate acid presented with a driving line.  Length, impressive, extensive; the wine and the line.

Pair 5
1. Felton Road Chardonnay 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand @FeltonRoadWine
Toasty, nutty oak here.  It's a Chardonnay for those who want quality but want Chardonnay with all elements present. good texture, with some opening fink and grapefruit.

2. Man O' War Vineyard Valhalla Chardonnay 2009, Waiheke Island, New Zealand @ManOWarNZWine
Reductive on opening.  Shakes this sulphuric cloak off to deliver lovely minerality.  Taut and complex, struck match as mentioned.  Citrus and pear with nutty complexity.

Pair 6
1. Domaine Christian Moreau 1er Cru Chablis 2009
Very light, green tinged.  Oak present - barely.  Minerally lime, tart citrus.  Balance, elegance

2. Domaine Bouchard Per et Fils Beaune de Chateau 1er Cru 2009
Beautifully structured, with intense chalky minerality.  Comes from four different 1er Cru vineyards, where reds are the norm in Beaune.  Delicate ripe pineapple and citrus flavours.  Had me going "Wow, more please Vicar".

Session 2 - Chardonnay

Love it or loathe it, Chardonnay is quite a polarising variety.  Many say "I don't like Chardonnay", but which one?  As with many of the great varietals, Chardonnay can be greatly influenced by the of the winemaker.  Many of the great wines of the world are made with Chardonnay: Champagne, the great whites of Burgundy, icons of Australia such as Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Oakridge 864 Chardonnay, Cullen Kevin John...I could go on.


This line up of Chardonay at the second Swirl, Sniff, Spit event is designed to showcase what is great and good about this most noble of varietals.


Pair 1
1. Stefano Lubiana Primavera 2010, Tasmania
2. Christian Moreaux 2009, Chablis AC, France

Pair 2
1. De Bortoli Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia @DeBortoliWines
2. Eldridge Estate Estate Chardonnay 2008, Mornington Peninsula, Australia @EldridgeEstate

Pair 3
1. Witches Falls Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2009, Granite Belt, Queensland, Australia @TheWineryWitch
2. BK Wines Picadilly Valley Chardonnay 2009, Adelaide Hills, Australia @BKWines

Pair 4
1. Fraser Gallop Estate Chardonay 2009, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia @FraserGallopEst
2. Forrest Hill Estate Chardonnay 2009, Mount Barker, Western Australia @ForestHillWines

Pair 5
1. Felton Road Chardonnay 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand @FeltonRoadWine
2. Man O' War Vineyard Valhalla Chardonnay 2009, Waiheke Island, New Zealand @ManOWarNZWine

Pair 6
1. Les Heretiers Du Comte Lafon '09 Macon Villages, Macon, France2. Burgundy 1er Cru TBC