Happy autumn, everyone. It’s been a while between newsletters following a very busy start to 2018. Most of our Aussie and Kiwi producers are in the midst of the madness of vintage, though not too exhausted to convey vast optimism about the harvest. Always something to look forward to with wine…
But what about now? Well, on the domestic front we have two epic releases from Cullen, with the ’15 Vanya Cabernet and 2016 Diana Madeline both out now. One of Vanya’s peers as a former winemaker of the year is Stephen Pannell, the McLaren Vale legend we’re celebrating via a Ray Jordan article entitled ‘Modern Marvel’. Some bright new releases, then, from Steve. Staying in South Australia, we’ve just moved onto a scintillating new release of Geoff Weaver’s Sauvignon Blanc, while Baron of the Barossa Ben Glaetzer has put forth more evidence that 2016 is indeed his best ever vintage. Check out the Wallace Grenache Shiraz and see for yourself.
Elsewhere in Australia, Chalmers’ Vermentino, Rosato and Nero have all bounced onto the 2017 vintage and are the white, pink and red one-stop-shop for irresistible alternative refreshment. Nick Farr’s new Gamay from the same vintage ticks that box, too.
And so to the rizz biz. Riesling Downunder was a massive success, with more than 1,500 amateurs and professionals rocking up to get stuck in at various events. In this bulletin we present the new old-school, hands-off Alter Weg from Frankland Estate, as well as assorted gems from 2016 in Alsace, Germany and Austria. Max Allen wrote a fabulous article focusing on German expressions of Riesling terroir, with Gunderloch’s Johannes Hasselbach playing a star role.
In other import news, we have the brilliant Beaujolais of Piron, a humdinger of a Huber Malterdinger, banging Blau from Burgenland and some super booty from Cigliuti in Barbaresco. Last but not least, the 2017 La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti Bricco Quaglia is here. A sweet, sprightly and seductive way to finish.
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