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Rich, complex, fragrant and textural, this is a ripper. It has spent time in old French oak with batonage, aka lees stirred, employed to accentuate the wonderfully velvety fruit. If you like rich Viognier or buttery Chardonnay, this is worth a look.
Made From: 100% Viognier
Aromas and Flavours: Orange blossom, peach, creaminess, honeysuckle, spice
Drink if you like: Buttery Chardonnay, Viognier
Food: Viognier, like Chardy, is low acid so it's best to avoid acidic fruit. Chicken Tagine or poached Salmon would work well
Vineyards mostly in the Mount View sub-region of the Hunter Valley, and all at 130-180m above sea level, so a little cooler than is typical. The extreme heat of the Hunter is avoided and wines of elegance and fruit clarity can be produced. Additional high quality vineyards in Hilltops, Orange and Wrattonbully.
Low yields, generally between 1 and 2.5 tonnes per acre. A series of exceptional single vineyard sites, including Dairy Hill, Briar Hill and Red Hill. Vines at up to 45 years of age.
Quality winemakers: Gwyn Olsen (now winemaker for Henschke was senior winemaker until 2022) and Andrew Duff, a former Len Evans Scholar, is the current winemaker.
#html-body [data-pb-style=JY7ID20]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll}#html-body [data-pb-style=FV2PBXK],#html-body [data-pb-style=JY7ID20]{border-style:none;border-width:1px;border-radius:0;margin:0;padding:0}Like neighbours Coonawarra and Padthaway, Wrattonbully is a cool-climate region with superb terra-rossa soil. If complex, elegant wine is what you're after, you'll find some stellar examples from here.
History
The first vines for winegrapes were planted in the late 1960s; however it was in the 1990s that the exc ... Read Full Article
Read moreRead less
Variety
Chardonnay
Chardonnay sits on the fence of many a wine enthusiast. Versatile, kind in nature and oh s ...
Chardonnay sits on the fence of many a wine enthusiast. Versatile, kind in nature and oh so compliant, however for most it's still dressed in attire that's so distinctly... 90s. Shoulder pads, overalls and bike shorts saw this particular version of white wine with such a wooded vengeance, we were practically asking the chefs to take the butter out of the meals to make way for it. Thankfully however, times are a changin'. Underneath all that 90s getup reveals elegance and sophistication and Australia is doing its bit to make Chardy interesting again. Read Full Article
Read moreRead less
Variety
Viognier
Viognier (pronounced 'vee-own-yay'), is a white grape varietal with a distinctly French ba ...
Viognier (pronounced 'vee-own-yay'), is a white grape varietal with a distinctly French background. With its own special charm, it has managed to squeeze in a seat at the red wine table; breezing into the room like a freshly groomed bachelor, leaving a pleasant scent in its wake. Read Full Article
This week I am sipping on a Semillon from First Creek in the Hunter Valley. Semillon is a thing of beauty really. Drunk young it's fresh with juicy acidity, apple, pear, and loads of bright citrus notes. Kept in the cellar and it will reward you in 5, 10, and 20 years. As it develops it gets (I think) a little grassy, the acidity is less prominent and notes of honey start to form. Pick this up from winedirect.com.au at a bargain of $22 a bottle and the only thing you will complain about is having not bought 6-12 bottles!
In a world full of labels and where everything must be put into a category I found myself wondering if we haven't gone too far! Then I thought to myself wait, would I put Poison's 1988 Shut Up and Say AH album in the same category as Metallica's 1986 masterpiece Master of Puppets? NO I would not, sure if you Google metal they may both come up in the same search, but the reality is they're worlds apart in style and substance. It was this thought that filled my mind as I was cooking this weeks low and slow, sure I guess I was cooking a Moroccan stew but could I say it was in the same realm as a French Beef bourguignon? Hmm...No I could not. In the same way I couldn't, in good conscience put Steven Segal's 2004 Songs From The Crystal Cave into the same Blues genre as Bruce Willis' 1987 obvious classic The Return of Bruno. As always enjoy with great vino and people you love.
Tagine of Chicken, Kalamata Olives & Lemon
1 bottle of 2011 Chapel Hill Il Vescovo for drinking with Tagine
Chardonnay sits on the fence of many a wine enthusiast. Versatile, kind in nature and oh so compliant, however for most it's still dressed in attire that's so distinctly... 90s. Shoulder pads, overalls and bike shorts saw this particular version of white wine with such a wooded vengeance, we were practically asking the chefs to take the butter out of the meals to make way for it. Thankfully however, times are a changin'. Underneath all that 90s getup reveals elegance and sophistication and Australia is doing its bit to make Chardy interesting again.
In a world full of labels and where everything must be put into a category I found myself wondering if we haven't gone too far! Then I thought to myself wait, would I put Poison's 1988 Shut Up and Say AH album in the same category as Metallica's 1986 masterpiece Master of Puppets? NO I would not, sure if you Google metal they may both come up in the same search, but the reality is they're worlds apart in style and substance. It was this thought that filled my mind as I was cooking this weeks low and slow, sure I guess I was cooking a Moroccan stew but could I say it was in the same realm as a French Beef bourguignon? Hmm...No I could not. In the same way I couldn't, in good conscience put Steven Segal's 2004 Songs From The Crystal Cave into the same Blues genre as Bruce Willis' 1987 obvious classic The Return of Bruno. As always enjoy with great vino and people you love.
Tagine of Chicken, Kalamata Olives & Lemon
1 bottle of 2011 Chapel Hill Il Vescovo for drinking with Tagine
Like neighbours Coonawarra and Padthaway, Wrattonbully is a cool-climate region with superb terra-rossa soil. If complex, elegant wine is what you're after, you'll find some stellar examples from here.
History
The first vines for winegrapes were planted in the late 1960s; however it was in the 1990s that the excellent soils and elevated sites attracted many winemakers from surrounding areas. The region now draws winemakers and the attention of wine connoisseurs from around the world. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are the two main varieties grown, and Wrattonbully wines of these varieties are highly regarded for their complexity and elegance. Merlot and Chardonnay are also widely grown with great success - in fact the cool climate of the Wrattonbully wine region is proving suitable for many varieties.
The Wrattonbully wine region lies over several ranges in the area surrounding Naracoorte, including the Naracoorte Range (also known as the Kanawinka escarpment – the original coastline of
Viognier (pronounced 'vee-own-yay'), is a white grape varietal with a distinctly French background. With its own special charm, it has managed to squeeze in a seat at the red wine table; breezing into the room like a freshly groomed bachelor, leaving a pleasant scent in its wake.
