Wine thread

[Bazal]

Only regional, I doubt he'd give any merkin his quality single vineyard fruit In fact I wager the fruit is not even his, knowing the way The Company works.

 

[Drew-Sta]

True. WW's have bought their own Barossa Valley vineyard, or rather they inherited it when they got Cellarmasters. They've completely locked down the Barossa Shiraz segment and only accept $17+ wine. You'd think Coles would do the same, but the idea has eluded them...

 

[Drew-Sta]

Also, Blockers 2010 Cab Sauv. Using an aerator since I was too lazy to decant it this morning.

Good drop of wine...

 

[Bazal]

True. WW's have bought their own Barossa Valley vineyard, or rather they inherited it when they got Cellarmasters. They've completely locked down the Barossa Shiraz segment and only accept $17+ wine. You'd think Coles would do the same, but the idea has eluded them...

They do have their own single vineyard wines but it's all contract. Loom Wine do some single vineyard expressions for Coles, as do Fox Gordon. They tend to want to place exclusives in the 15-25 price range. I think the one thing they have improved is their exclusive range....since I've been off they've added a wine by Alpha Box & Dice, one by Some Young Punks, this Cherubino cabernet, the entire Deep Woods Estate range and two premium Barossa reds in the Two Churches range, which is made by Peter Kelly. Of course it took them five years to catch on :lol:

 

[Bazal]

Anyway, on the wine....most excellent. Typical Margaret cabernet, maybe a bit juicier than normal, but elegant and perfectly structured, great length. I really like the oak too.

Oi, SGL, while I think of it, what's the Cumulus shiraz like? Thinking of whacking a bottle on my prod ed to take down the coast.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Anyway, on the wine....most excellent. Typical Margaret cabernet, maybe a bit juicier than normal, but elegant and perfectly structured, great length. I really like the oak too.

Oi, SGL, while I think of it, what's the Cumulus shiraz like? Thinking of whacking a bottle on my prod ed to take down the coast.

Cumulus Shiraz is excellent, but just be aware it is a cool climate wine (drank plenty of the stuff in the last week too). Probably one to start a night on, not to move onto.

 

[Bazal]

A warning about it being cool climate? You forget who you're talking to

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

I know, but there are plenty of people out there who will have something like a Torbreck Woodcutters then follow it with the Cumulus and say it theyre drinking shit wine.

Need to make sure I hit sales targets man, can't have people bad mouthing the top gear. Cumulus is like most top brands, if the product is not up to standard, we don't make a vintage that year (no Merlot this year, but we have our first Cab Sauv in the range this vintage).

 

[Drew-Sta]

So... no Merlot ever?

 

[Bazal]

Yeah I know what you mean. If I'm honest I find I enjoy the cool climate stuff a bit more that way. As long as I'm not inhaling it that is I usually drink/serve it on quality...least to best. If the quality is there, it'll stand up against whatever you had first IMO

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

They pump out a heap of Merlot up there. Current Cumulus Merlot vintage is 2011, and it is still about 12 months away from being ready to drink because (of all things) it is still too tannic.

 

[Bazal]

Proper Merlot is excellent. It's a shame there's f**k all of it in Austalia Orange does some nice ones, although I've not tried the Cumulus. Giant Steps do a ripper.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Well I drank a butt tonne of it too up there this week. Will be interesting to try it in 12 months when the wine relaxes a bit.

 

[Bazal]

Also, gotta mention for those playing at home, tannic merlot is the norm in France. Australia made it soft and insulting. Pomerol is amazing.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Don't know why we mellow out the merlot. When done right, as you say, its quite nice.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

We mellow it out because that is what the market wants. Give them a Bordeaux and they won't know what to do with themselves.

 

[Bazal]

I have had fun selling people Pomerol :lol: invariably one or two come back hating me.

 

[Drew-Sta]

I'm trying to convince our work to do a straight Mourvedre. They look at me funny... :sarcasm:

 

[Bazal]

Really? They're mad. Varietals like that are blowing up. Hell, I'd buy it. I love mataro.

 

[Drew-Sta]

This is my point. You can produce a really nice one, sell it for $40 and as it takes off you've helped increase the category.

All they're interested in is price, sadly

I'm hoping Appellation helps them get over that.