I’m always happy to receive samples from wineries, particularly from wineries in the Hill-Smith Family Vineyards portfolio. I’m also always thrilled to be re-acquainted with a producer from my past, extra special when they are as historic as Eden valley-based Pewsey Vale. With such an incredible pedigree for riesling wines, I opened all three rieslings from Pewsey Vale on this edition of Let’s Taste, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
The fifth part of the Intrepid Winemaking Project 2016 was not one that I necessarily planned on. I was however encouraged by a few people to consider blending Bin X and Bin Y, in an effort to get more of one wine rather than make people choose, and also to combine the positive attributes of each component. Let me know if you have any questions about this step in the winemaking story!
Growing up in Sydney Ned Goodwin was really into skateboarding, surfing and listening to the band Kiss. Little did he know that an exchange year in Japan at the age of 15 would combine with a global journey in hospitality to him working for a large restaurant group and becoming the first Master of Wine in Japan. On this episode he joined me to talk about his journey, his influences, his love of authentic Australian wine and his recent role as Brand Ambassador for Champagne Charles Heidsieck.
In this the final of three parts, I taste the Rogers & Rufus Rosé 2016 from the Hill-Smith Family Vineyards portfolio. This is a rosé made from Grenache from the Barossa region of South Australia. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
On part two of three, I taste another rosé wine from the Hill-Smith Family Vineyards portfolio, this time the La Maschera Rosé of Granaxia 2016. This is a blend of Grenache and a splash of Sangiovese, and came from the Barossa Valley. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
The wonderful Pippa from Hill-Smith Family Vineyards sent me a care package of samples, including three different rosé wines from the portfolio, so I decided to do a three-part series. This is part one, and is for the Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Rosé 2016. The Y Series was always a great value option back when I worked in wine retail. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Sarah Ahmed left a career in law to pursue a passion for wine, particularly for investigating and reading clues in wine, hence the alias The Wine Detective. After working for many years with wine retailer Oddbins, she became an independent wine communicator and educator, and since 2005 has contributed to some of the worlds foremost publications and reference books, particularly in her renowned fields of Australian and Portuguese wines.
Winemaker and raconteur Brad Wehr was my guest on Episode 58 of my wine podcast The Vincast. He talked about challenging the status quo of wine, particularly in his base of Margaret River, Western Australia. One of the tent-poles on which he has established himself is the Amato Vino brand, which focuses on alternative grapes, particularly Italian varieties. Not only does he source grapes in WA, but also from the future icon vineyard – Ricca Terra Farms – based in the Riverland, South Australia. The wine I opened on this episode is the Montepulciano 2015 from this very vineyard, let me know what you think in the comments below, be sure to like and subscribe as well!
Konpira Maru is a new brand based out of Melbourne, producing low-intervention wines from fruit purchased around the state. I bought a bottle of their Gymkata 2015 as I was intrigued by the brand and also the fact that it was a red wine under a crown seal. Let me know what you think in the comments below, don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Part Four of the Intrepid Winemaking Sangiovese Project 2016 is racking the two component wines. Racking is the traditional filtration process of separating the wine from the solids in the vessel. The solids are sediment, essentially dead yeast lees and tannins, and as they are heavier than the wine, will settle at the bottom of the barrel or tank. The completely natural way to perform this is through gravity, but the vast majority of wines are racked using a mechanical pump, being far more efficient.
Bin X had completely finished both the primary fermentation and the malolactic fermentation. It looks more mellow, round and savoury. The wine was racked, the seven-year old barrel was cleaned, and the then the wine was returned to the barrel.
Bin Y had completed the primary fermentation in tank, but had not completely finished the malolactic fermentation. This made the wine look a bit crunchier, brighter and intense. The wine was racked from the 300L stainless steel tank into a 500L tank, but it was not returned as it was consolidated with 30+ litres that was in a demijohn. Hopefully the introduction of some air through the racking process, as well as warmer Spring temperatures, will help it complete the malolactic fermentation before the wine is blended and bottled in the next month.
The Vincast - a Wine Podcast with The Intrepid Wino
A podcast about wine, wine culture and wine people. Every week a different guest from the wine industry joins host The Intrepid Wino (aka James Scarcebrook) for a casual chat about the world of wine.
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