As winemakers we have chosen to use the Bordeaux reds as a role model to help us understand and create, but not necessarily duplicate wines we make today. In early days, these Cabernet-influenced wines were labelled “Claret” before the term became protected under EU Law. It’s a fairly broad description but it referred to wines which were light to medium bodied, with the colour light to dark red according to age. The wine should be soft and round on the mid palate but finish with firm tannin and some oak.
-
-
2021 Tempranillo – Wine of the Vintage
For those that remember in May 2020, I introduced to you our 2018 Bunnamagoo Tempranillo with some gushing enthusiasm. Much has happened since, and similarly the 2018 Tempranillo has been consumed and consigned to history; but treasured at home as one of the more comforting and enjoyable aspects of recent times. Fortunately, we now have the #V2021 bottled and I am once again excited for the opportunity to present it to you all on behalf of the team.
-
Vintage 2019 Musings
It is with a wistful sense of nostalgia, that for a moment, we can enjoy reliving 2019 over again. Although such a short time ago, #V2019 seems a distant memory of better times prior to the confluence and consequences of droughts, bushfires and pandemics. A bottle of 2019 red is as good as a diary to a winemaker or viticulturalist. And in the time it takes to drink one; the highlights of the season flood back with clarity until the second bottle where the days aren’t remembered only the moments; until the third bottle where…um….what was I saying again..
-
Straight Varietal or Blend?
There are some consumers that prefer varietal wines and harbour an aversion for blended wines. Both have their merits however and understanding the motivations of each winemaking philosophy provides a vital setting to enjoy both. Winemakers approach making varietals with an eye for showcasing ‘varietal’ detail; those individual flavour characteristics unique to the variety. This idea can be extended somewhat with a sense of pure expression with so-called ‘single vineyard’ wines that further provide unique site-specific varietal characters.
-
The Beauty of Bunnamagoo Autumn Semillon
Our Bunnamagoo Autumn Semillon style is well suited to the Mudgee climate. The late Summer rains are ideal for developing botrytis (noble rot) on the fruit and concentrating flavours and acids. My inspiration comes from Chateau Climens and Chateau Coutet in the commune of Barsac. The wines there are 100% Semillon and the amount of new oak (always French) and length of maturation is dependent on the vintage.
-
Reliving Vintage 2016
What makes a great vintage?? A great vintage, which does not happen that often, is a year that produced high quality wines from all varieties and in all price ranges. In a physiological sense, a great vintage is an ideal pattern of weather, that produces superb growing conditions for the cultivation of wine grapes. As the high tide does with all boats in the harbour, a great vintage lifts fruit quality across all price and quality determinations.
-
The Rise of Riesling
While Riesling is never going to threaten Chardonnay’s white wine dominance, there are signs that this varietal is reaching a new and younger audience. Millennials are on the lookout for full-bodied dry alternatives to Chardonnay. And they are just becoming aware of how good Riesling can be.
-
In Retrospect – Mudgee Chardonnay
Chardonnay has been growing in Mudgee since 1930 – but amazingly, nobody knew it for about 40 years! The story begins at Craigmoor Wines, wherein 1930, cuttings of several unidentified white grapevines were planted. At the time, local wine drinkers were a lot less sophisticated, and these vines were used to produce what was sold simply as a dry white wine.
-
Know Your Sparkles
Pleasure without Champagne is purely artificial – Oscar Wilde
All champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is champagne. Champagne can only be called Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in Northern France.
-
Henry Lawson’s House
Next time you drive down Henry Lawson Drive on your way to Bunnamagoo, you’ll pass the Henry Lawson Memorial on your right. It’s worth a stop to see what remains of the childhood home of one of Australia’s best known poets – but it’s just as significant as having been the home of Henry’s equally interesting mother, Louisa, an early campaigner for womens’ rights.
-
Heads for Gris, Tails for Grigio
Pinot Gris (or Grigio) is the variety to come from almost total obscurity 40 years ago to now the fourth most widely planted white variety in Australia. It has actually been here for much longer. Arriving in 1832 as Pineau Gris from the Cote-d’Or by the father of Australian viticulture, James Busby. Pioneered both in the vineyard and winery in the early 80’s at T’Gallant, it has been on the rise ever since.
-
Origins Of The Mudgee Wine Industry
Mudgee’s wineries offers wine enthusiasts a wide range of different wine styles and tasting experiences to enjoy – but did you know that Mudgee’s wine industry is over 160 years old?
-
Miles Of Merlot
When Merlot is mentioned, I think of the movie Sideways when Miles steadfastly refused to drink Merlot while holding his prescription of Xanax in his jacket pocket. Paul Giamatti’s character hated merlot precisely because it was so easy to drink. He wasn’t making a comment on the quality of merlot per se but his own antagonistic contrarian tendencies.
-
Making Top Tier Wines – What It Takes
I’m often asked my thoughts on what makes a great wine ‘great’. Reflecting, I think back to the rowdy discussions at university and the many boozy winemakers’ dinners since. Taking part in these tastings is always fun and in time you learn to filter the namedropping, personal preferences, and general bluff to formulate an idea of quality.
-
Cabernet Sauvignon – A Team Player
What did the Cabernet grape say to the Merlot grape? I’ll never get Bordeaux of you…
June is here and winter is upon us once again. So, time to embrace the warmth of Cabernet Sauvignon together. One of the most noble varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon confers its qualities easily and produces wines with strikingly similar characteristics right around the world. We have all tasted it showing a range of personalities from concentrated and extracted, through firm, to elegant and soft.
-
Thoughts On Mudgee & Tempranillo
Mudgee has been growing grapes for over 160 years. A mixture of backgrounds both German and Italian. Powerful words come to mind. Pioneers. Establishment. Proven. Dynasty.