Welcome to the newsletter for May 2018, a month that sees a pretty even spread between domestic happenings, and incomings from overseas. A couple of big bits of news from Mount Mary, with the second set of releases from the Middletons’ Marli Russell “Rhône Project” as well as a ’16 Fumé Blanc and Chardonnay under the Réflexion label. Shiraz news comes in the guise of a lovely first review of Ben Glaetzer’s 2016 Bishop, while Tim Shand of Punt Road is excited to unveil his 2017. Pinot-wise, there’s some great stuff from Victoria, with Shadowfax (Macedon), Onannon (Gippsland and Mornington Peninsula) and Nick Farr’s Irrewarra (Western District) all on song – and all those guys with impeccable Chardonnay to check out, too. For something a little more exotic, the Chalmers family’s turning heads with Nero d’Avola, another great grapevine for which Australia has these viticultural trailblazers to thank.
From further afield, we’re so pleased to have found a worthy stablemate for sensational Jacquesson, with JmSélèque of Pierry entering the portfolio. In Austrian news, Gerhard Pittnauer has unveiled his Pitti rosé, Hannes Schuster’s ’17 Sankt Laurent has landed and the enigma that is Roland Velich of Moric has a suite of great wines out. In Spätburgunder news, we’ve shipped our first Pinot Noir from Pfalz legend Koehler-Ruprecht, and we’re releasing the 2014 Grosses Gewächs wines from Huber. These serve as a reminder that this Baden estate, which started the whole “German Pinot is a thing” thing, is still the best going. To finish? How about a luscious Auslese from Georg Breuer?
Read the newsletter in full – and cheers!