HKD$480.00
Highly Recommended - 91pts
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2015
Silver Ribbon - 93pts
Bob Campbell MW
The decision to pick all the Pinot Noir early paid off handsomely. The colour is medium density with lovely purple hues evident. Fragrant Pinot Noir aromas of red cherry and background sweet oak. Soft entry on the palate with forest/dried fruit richness and excellent fruit tannins. Will increase in complexity with bottle age or enjoyed in its youth as a vibrant Pinot Noir.
The 2002 Pinot Noir grapes were the first off the new Indigo Vineyard at Beechworth and a stunning vintage to debut. As there are three clones planted over different sites there is the opportunity to process as a number of different parcels. Hence we have the varietal bottling as well as a Single Vineyard wine.
Beechworth had a perfect spring and ripening period over summer led to very high expectations. Winemaker Simon Steele quickly recognized the potential of the early fruit and with two other vintage staff packed their swag and headed to Beechworth. The rain at the end of February delayed the late ripening red harvest but everything came in good order.
Rentention of fruit character is always important. Processing involved cold soak of the must for a few days and included approximately 10% whole bunches in the ferment. No post ferment maceration was under taken. Oak maturation was in predominantly used French oak barriques and bottled at the 12 month mark. This is a blend of the 3 clones 114, 115 & MV6.
Duck, quail and steak tartare.
This wine will mature further although enjoyable as a rich young Pinot Noir.
HKD$280.00
The colour is a very appealing pale salmon. Nebbiolo has a floral element to its aroma and this dominates with almost but not quite, rose water background. The palate has vibrant spice/ginger notes and while technically a red wine, has plenty of zesty acid. A wine to be enjoyed over the next year or so.
Brokenwood’s fourth make of Rosé and again it is something special. For a start it is Rosato, Italian for Rose, as it is made from the Nebbiolo grape and in fact a combination of three clones 111 and 230 and MAT 10 grown at the Indigo Vineyard, Beechworth. Stylistically it is also European where the wine has fruit sweetness but a dry finish. The actual residual sugar is zero. We wanted to make a savoury wine that could withstand being chilled and have plenty of florals and texture on the palate. Enjoy.
Picked at optimum ripeness for the style, we partially crushed the fruit by foot stomping and then let the juice and skins steep overnight. The grapes were then pressed to tank and the juice dispatched to the Hunter Valley. A small amount was fermented in old oak but the majority in stainless steel tank. Bottled in early June 2019.
Nebbiolo is one of the main grapes of Piemonte in North West Italy and you can’t go past their famous cuisine, including antipasti and grissini - the metre long bread sticks. Foie Gras wouldn’t go astray either.
Best consumed over the medium term.
HKD$880.00
Semillon of the Year - 97pts
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2016
Trophy & Gold - 'Best Semillon'
2015 Shanghai International Wine Challenge'
Gold Medal
Sydney Royal Wine Show 2015
This wine has a beautiful colour, and perfect grapes/ripening means nothing interferes with the gentle aging. As the wine warms up, the citrus and some florals come in. Bees wax and then ‘toast’ will come in a few years. Lively palate, plenty of citrus pith and seamless acidity. A perfect follow up to the near perfect 2007 ILR and a wine that has a long future in front of it. Enjoy.
Mid January in the Hunter Valley always brings with it a slight nervousness in the wine industry. Having been battered in both previous years – drought in 2007 and pouring rain in 2008, it is no wonder. Black cats are certainly not wanted and ladders given a wide berth. Vintage 2009? The rain that plagued the 08 vintage finally eased up at the end of April and then no rain days in May. The middle three winter months normally dry for us saw another 250mm (10 inches) and then odd rain days through to the year end. Fruit set was not as complete but resulted in long loose bunches especially in the Shiraz. A good result.
Harvesting all by hand. The fruit was crushed, chilled and pressed immediately. Neutral yeasts were used for the fermentation, bottled in July. No oak and no malolactic ferment, only stainless steel.
Asian food, any seafood especially fresh shucked oysters.
Drinking well now but will improve with further bottle age.
HKD$520.00
The Beechworth ‘terroir’ has a distinctive fruit character of pear/peach fruit. The oak has minimal impact by using older French oak and mainly puncheons. The warm year has meant less citrus lift but has bran meal notes from the wild ferment and extended lees contact. The palate is quite rich with zesty acid line through to the finish. Maybe leave the 2012 and 2013 for a couple more years and enjoy this in its youth.
The success our neighbour (at Beechworth) Rick Kinzbrunner at Giaconda has had with Beechworth Chardonnay highlights the quality of this region. Different soils, aspect, clones & age of vines on the Indigo property will lead our Chardonnay in a different direction but with minimum winemaker input, the region still expresses itself. The two previous vintages of this wine have been very successful in wine shows around Australia and we think the 2014 will follow suit. A reduced crop due to frost on October 18 2013 and then a quite hot summer. Early picking avoided any heat damage.
Whole bunch pressing, wild ferment in new French oak have come together in spectacular fashion. The wine was fermented in 30% new French oak and the balance older, from a variety of cooperages.
Seafood to light meats.
Drinking well now but will improve with further bottle age.