2021 WHITE LABEL CERES HILL ALBARINO

Albariño originates from the north west coastal regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Like the Hunter Valley this region is also classified as warm maritime and its wines are low in alcohol and acid focused. We were the first in the Hunter Valley to plant Albariño on our Ceres Hill Vineyard in 2014 and the second in Australia. This is a great food wine and pairs with most things you would add a touch of lemon to. It is of course a classic catch with fresh seafood.

Growing Season

With much welcomed spring rain in 2020 we saw excellent canopy balance through all vineyards for our 2021 vintage. A mild summer allowed for excellent acid retention and a long ripening period resulting in elegant fruit character and seamless acid balance in white wines coming from 2021.

Vineyard

Planted in 2014 on the Sandy Loam behind our kitchen garden on our Ceres Hill property. Traditionally in Spain, Albariño is trellised on tall pergola style structures designed to provide maximum shade to the fruit. We use a modern style of trellis here (vertical shoot positioning) but are mindful of shaping the leaf canopy to also shelter the bunches. Too much direct sun can encourage the development of flavours that we don’t want.

Winemaking

We hand pick these grapes with exceptionally high natural acidity. We ferment the juice in stainless steel tanks using a small volume of solids and wild yeasts to achieve more savoury aromatics. Extended lees contact post fermentation resulted in a textural complex wine

Tasting Notes

The wine has aromatic notes of lime zest and crisp, nashi pear and sea spray. The palate has juicy lime, sherbet, grapefruit, pear and lemon balm. The palate is textural with mineral notes and finishes with refreshing acidity and a characteristic touch of salinity, paying homage to its coastal origins.

Wine Composition

pH                                                          3.28

Titratable Acidity                                8.7 g/L

Alcohol                                                  12.5%

Residual Sugar                                     < 1g/L

Vine Age

7 years

Food Match

Grilled garfish with harissa roasted capsicum, squash and eggplant

Cellaring Potential

10 + years

Margan Barbera was the variety that established us as ‘pioneers of alternative varieties’. Andrew is a big fan of Italian varieties and we researched this grape to see if it would work here in the Hunter. Back in the late 1990’s the region mainly had the standard line up of iconic Hunters – Semillon, Shiraz and also Chardonnay- and we wanted to see what else would work. Barbera originates from the North West of Italy and we were the first to plant this red grape here in 1998. It’s a long story but the clone we have planted is an Italian original and produces wines of true varietal definition and Italian personality.

Growing Season

Small bunches and intensely flavoured fruit with bright aromatics were a characteristic of the 2019 vintage, resulting in beautifully ripe and healthy fruit that we handpicked early February. Fruit quality was exceptionally high.

Vineyard

Our Barbera vineyard was planted In 1998 with cuttings from an original Italian clone on our Ceres Hill vineyard, just behind the winery on a streak of red volcanic soil. The great thing about Barbera is that it holds its acidity while achieving full flavour (phenological) ripeness making It very suitable to growing In the changing climate.

Winemaking

We hand pick the grapes at optimal ripeness and ferment under cool conditions using cultured, aromatic yeast. The wine was placed in a mixture of small and large older French oak barriques (225 litres) and puncheons (500 litres) where it matured for 12 months prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes

The wine is vivid purple in its youth with lifted aromas of red fruits- strawberry, raspberry, cherry and red current. The palate reflects the nose but also has savoury bramble berry and fresh mulberry notes. Touches of spicy star anise add extra interest and the tannins are soft and silky. The bright acidity gives a long, refreshing finish.

Wine Composition

pH                                                          3.46

Titratable Acidity                                7.0g/L

Alcohol                                                  13.5%

Residual Sugar                                     <1g/L

Food Match

It is a great food wine as the acid cuts through richer red meats like lamb. It matches well with hard cheese and is lighter in body and alcohol than many red wines. 

Cellaring Potential

10-15yrs

2021 Margan ‘La Nina’ Sparkling Rose

This is a new wine for us, but perhaps something we should have released sooner. A sparkling wine that reflects our classic Broke Fordwich terroir whilst pushing the style boundaries into a realm of engaging, complex drinking. Fun, textural fizz with an unmistakably Margan composition.

Growing Season

With much welcomed spring rain in 2020 we saw excellent canopy balance through all vineyards for our 2021 vintage. A mild summer allowed for excellent acid retention and a long ripening period resulting in elegant fruit character and seamless acid balance in white wines coming from 2021.

 Vineyard

In 2015 we grafted 6 different clones of Shiraz onto 50yr old rootstocks on our Timbervines vineyard. Located on the red volcanic soil of the Fordwich Sill, 6 years later we now have six different clones producing some very interesting results. The base wine for this sparkling is comprised of an early pick from two blocks of our Shiraz clonal plantings to retain acidity and floral fruit aromatics. The clonal material chosen for this wine is typically vibrant in raspberry and strawberry fruits and when picked early soft in tannins.

 Winemaking

Harvested early to maintain elegant fruit character and high acidity, the base wine was pressed immediately off skins to minimise phenolics and colour. Fermented cool in stainless steel with neutral yeasts this base wine was able to reflect the natural fruit characteristics of the clonal material. A portion was matured in old French oak Puncheons to contribute savoury aromatics and texture to the palate.

Tasting Notes

Bright, savoury strawberry is knitted with slightly oxidative red apple. Tense acidity plays off crunchy red fruits; creates a style of sparkling less for the ‘occasion’ and more for a meal. Texture and energy with a fine effervescence. Bring on the cured meats and good company!

Wine Composition

pH                                                          3.23

Titratable Acidity                                7.4 g/L

Alcohol                                                  11.7%

Residual Sugar                                     11 g/L

Vine Age/Clone

Heritage Shiraz Clonal plantings on 50yr old rootstocks

Food Match

Oysters, Sashimi, Parfait

Cellaring Potential

Now – 5yrs (but why wait?)

2021 WHITE LABEL FORDWICH HILL SEMILLON

Hunter Valley Semillon is lean and racy in its youth but develops texture and complexity with age. It also will reflect the origins of where it is grown. This one is planted on the dolerite soils of the Fordwich Sill which leaves its footprint by way of a richer and softer wine with more palate weight in its youth, as opposed to Semillon grown on grey clay or alluvial soils.

Growing Season

With much welcomed spring rain in 2020 we saw excellent canopy balance through all vineyards for our 2021 vintage. A mild summer allowed for excellent acid retention and a long ripening period resulting in elegant fruit character and seamless acid balance in white wines coming from 2021.

Vineyard

These old vines were planted in the 1970’s and produce low yielding and concentrated fruit. The vineyard is planted on red volcanic clay and faces east resulting in less sun exposure allowing for slower and more even ripening. The grapes were handpicked when just ripe to maintain high natural acidity and low potential alcohol.

 Winemaking

The fruit was handpicked early to maintain high natural acidity with a low alcohol. Once in the winery it was made using classical Hunter Valley Semillon techniques where the juice was highly clarified and fermented at cool temperatures using neutral cultured yeast to preserve delicate fruit flavours and aromas. It is bottled early to lock away freshness.

Tasting Notes

Lemongrass and lime peel dominate the aromatics, the palate is light and full of fresh citrus. A vibrant acidity gives this wine line and length, a key characteristic that we look for when classifying our White Label Semillon.

Wine Composition

pH                                                    3.10

Titratable Acidity                            7.5 g/L

Alcohol                                             11.7%

Residual Sugar                                  < 1g/L

Vine Age

50 years

Food Match

Kingfish sashimi with coriander, finger lime and preserved lemon

Cellaring Potential

10 + years