2013 Chalmers Vermentino

Chalmers

Australia / Heathcote / Chalmers

This wine is made from our Heathcote Vineyard, which is planted on the rich red Cambrian earth of the famous Mt Camel Range. The 2013 vermentino was hand harvested on the 15th February. The fruit was whole bunch pressed 24 hours later and fermented on solids in stainless steel tanks without yeast addition. The temperature of fermentation is limited to 14 degrees. It is bottled after about 6 months.
The 2013 Vermentino is made from the VCR1 clone imported by Chalmers Nurseries in the late 90s. Crisp and savoury, this vermentino shows hints of aromatic herbs and white stone fruits. The palate has a chalky texture and fresh, citrussy acidity.

March, 2014

James Halliday

89 points

The use of a riesling-shaped bottle could be regarded as a red herring, for the wine has more to do with stone fruit flavours and distinctly chalky acidity than the citrus and crisp acid of riesling. The aromas are there, but flit like ghosts before you can capture one and describe it. This is unfinished secret wine business.

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About Chalmers

The Chalmers family was justly named 2014 Viticulturist of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE. Their commitment to innovation and excellence has made them a pivotal force in the Australian wine scene for more than 20 years. Bruce and Jenni began growing grapes in the 1980s, with their vineyard at Euston developing into one the largest and most diverse privately owned vineyards in the country. Their nursery business was responsible for importing a selection of around 70 new clones and varieties, many of which are now used in the production of Chalmers' Italian variety wines. Since selling the original vineyard in 2008 the family has established two new sites: one in Heathcote, henceforth responsible for all Chalmers wines, and one at Merbein where the family will continue to experiment with new varieties and clones. Very much a family concern, daughters Kim and Tennille are now driving this exciting business forward.

About

Kim studied at the University of Adelaide before joining the family business. She has been director at Chalmers Wines since 2005, managing operations from the vine to the wine list. In 2011 she was awarded an AgriFoods Skills Australia Overseas Fellowship, for which she wrote a paper entitled “Hot climate wine growing, making and marketing in Southern Italy and its application in Australia”. Kim's husband, winemaker Bart van Olphen completed the family team in 2011, a year after sister Tennille joined the business full time following a 10-year career in hospitality, most recently as a sommelier. The Chalmers sisters have been pivotal in turning the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show into a major event on the wine awards calendar. In 2015 they also spearheaded 21st Century Vino, an initiative to increase awareness and expertise in Italian vine varieties grown in Australia.