Chile and Australia
September 26, 2009Saturday 4:00pm until 7:00pm (or until it's gone)
$5 per person
The Siegel Winery (Crucero)
Chile, Colchagua Valley
The Siegel Winery owns a total of some 450 hectares in the Colchagua Valley. The varieties of grapes grown are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, with other new varieties increasingly in demand in the different markets soon to be added. In the last few years this winery"s business orientation has taken a new turn with the decision to produce and market its own wines. The winery produces a range of varietal wines, along with reserve wines that highlight the quality of the grapevines born in this valley. They are products with world-class quality, for international distribution and consumption.
The Colchagua Valley is truly a synthesis of the country's way of life and wine has been produced here since time out of mind. This area, which has deservedly been raised to the category of estate bottling in wine making, has maintained its prestige due to the great quality of its wines. One of its noted symbols is its high quality Cabernet Sauvignons, and its red wines in general. Its variety of soils and climatic variations, some warmer, some cooler, have given the region innumerable attributes for grapevine cultivation.
Longview Vineyard
Australia, Adelaide Hills
The beauty of Longview goes beyond its spectacular vistas. It also happens to be perfectly situated to grow both white and red varietals equally well with the natural gradient of the vineyard's vast slopes being carefully chosen to suit each varietal. Aspect is highly important and in planting the vineyard, northerly facing slopes were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Nebbiolo while our classic cool climate white varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay) which require less radiation are on the southern slopes.
Longview is located on the South Eastern Ridge of the Mt Lofty Ranges and to the south has the southern ocean and to the east Lake Alexandrina. This accounts for a slightly higher average temperature than the rest of the Adelaide Hills while still remaining a cool-climate site. Most rainfall occurs in winter and throughout summer warm days are followed by cool winds shifting from the southern waters of Lake Alexandrina and the coast. Consequently these conditions result in a very high diurnal range which is quite site specific, ensuring a breadth of flavours and aromatics in the grape berry. Longview wines are all from our single estate and therefore much of the work to provide depth and character is completed in the vineyard. Each block is serviced differently, in order to build complex flavour profiles which are then fermented separately and blended to make the wine of any one vintage.
Thorn-Clarke Vineyards
Australia, Barossa
Outstanding parcels of 100% Barossa Valley fruit are selected from the Kabininge vineyard for these wines which then receive special oak maturation treatment in our Barossa cellars. The result is a rich and voluptuous Barossa Shiraz and an exciting Cuvée.
Vinification techniques: crushing and de-stemming into open fermenters. Pumping over twice daily to maximise color, tannin and flavor extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferments remain in the 22-25°C range which will allow the wine to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately 7 days after crushing and the resulting wine is put into French and American oak.
2009 Crucero Chardonnay $9.95
Chile, Colchagua ValleyAttractive yellow color with some green tones. Its intense varietal character evokes ripe citrus fruits, with floral and honeyed tones along with well integrated wood. In the mouth it is rich, round and fruity with some creamy notes.
2006 Longview Beau Sea Macclesfield Single Vineyard Viognier $19.95
Australia, Adelaide HillsTasting notes:
Pale gold with green hues, this vintage has amazing varietal character. Heady perfume redolent of apricots, peaches, nuts and subtle blossom. Apricot crumble typifies a rich creamy palate, cleansing lemon acidity and subtle oak flavours balance a musky finish.
This versatile wine can be enjoyed with a broad range of dishes, from spicy Thai cuisine and strong cheeses to fresh fruit and trifle.
The name honours our wonderful horse Beau Sea, who managed to introduce Longview's proprietor, Duncan, to his wife Oopy.
Winemaking notes:
The fruit was hand-picked to minimize fruit damage, then chilled to 10-15°, the juice separated and skins pressed. After Bentonite fining and coarse earth filtering, the wine spent 5 months in old French Oak Barriques.
Alcohol 14.3%
Residual sugar 1.39 g/l
Date of bottling: December 2006
2008 Crucero Cabernet Sauvignon $9.95
Chile, Colchagua ValleyLovely and intense ruby color. Beautiful aromas of red ripe fruits, strawberry jam, hints of plums and some vanilla notes. Mouth filling, round, this balanced, concentrated and persistent red wine has a soft tannin structure.
2006 Thorn-Clarke, Shotfire Cuvée $17.95
Australia, Barossa Valley2006 Vintage was a very mild growing season ensuring all the varieties used in the Shotfire Cuvee achieved optimal ripeness and were harvested at maximum flavor.
Cabernet Sauvignon 43%; Cabernet Franc 19%; Malbec 18%; Petite Verdot 8%; Shiraz 4%
The grapes are crushed and destemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter and the ferments are pumped over twice daily to maximize color, tannin and flavor extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferments remain in the 22–25 degrees Celcius range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately seven days after crushing and the wine is then put into a mix of French and American oak to mature.
Aged for 18 months in tight grain French (85%) and American oak (15%).
The color is a deep inky red. There is good concentration of violets on the nose with some lifted perfume from the Petit Verdot. The palate is rich, ripe and medium to full bodied. The wine is bursting with flavors of blackcurrant, plums and Christmas pudding and shows great balance with the supporting spicy oak adding complexity and character. The tannins are chewy and complement the mouth filling flavor you get when you taste the wine. The wine has great vibrancy and poise which are evident on the long seamless finish.
"Vivid ruby-red. Fragrant red berry, cherry and Asian spice aromas gain power with air, picking up suave cola and mineral notes. Energetic and sharply focused, with racy strawberry and raspberry flavors, nervy minerality and silky tannins. I really like the combination of sweetness and brightness here. Finishes clean, tangy and long. This is a real bargain."
- International Wine Cellar (Sept 2008), 90 pts
