News

So you want a recommendation on something that you will enjoy, impress others or present as a gift . . . keep reading. Over the past few months it has almost become a full time job keeping up with the reviews and awards our wineries are receiving. The accolades and recognition is testament to the hard work that has been going on behind the scenes for some time - years and in some cases decades.

We have the pleasure of announcing in no certain order some of the results below:

A recent Drinks trade tasting, consisting of a 182 bottle line up, put Cabernet Sauvigon and blends up against each other.

The panel was comprised of seven members and was led by master of wine, Rob Geddes. From the initial list a total of 28 top wines were selected including the Patrick Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 which received the following comments:

"A well-aged wine. Leafy and complex, with lovely spicy liquorice notes on the palate. Finishes long, with Christmas cake-like flavours."

"This wine holds its colour well. Cool mint notes, with a touch of cassis. Well-aged, ripe tannins with complex flavours of leather."

Vintage has come and gone for another year.

We started the season off with a significant heatwave in November 2009. The effect of this brought the vintage on a little early. Favourable conditions during spring with minimal frost and no disease issues saw white grape yields above average. The overall results for the whites are pleasing with the Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc producing outstanding wines, showing great varietal expression.

LOWER YIELDS, HIGHER FLAVOURS

The Vintage in Marlborough this year was slightly later than the long term average in terms of ripening, but that was ok.The fruit flavours were superb, the vine balance excellent and the yields below average.

The cool weather in December meant crops were lighter than average, and the fruit has benefited from the very warm March temperatures, resulting in “nice flavour ripeness, without excessive sugar levels.”

After 3 vintages of torture the 2010 vintage saw McLaren Vale return to the way things used to be. A vintage of even temperatures, a useful few splashes of rain, no extremes.

Picking started a week or two earlier than it used to but our crops are a tonne or two per acre less than they used to be.

We got underway on February 12, picking Chardonnay and from then on vintage just kept ticking along in a very orderly fashion through to our last pick, which was Tempranillo, in the last week of March.

Selador Wines are thrilled to announce the addition of Warner Glen Estate, from Margaret River, Western Australia. After undertaking a trip to this region last year we have been keeping a close eye on wine coming from this region. Fast forward several months and we are finally adding this region to our portfolio.

Established in 1993, Warner Glen Estate sits on 100 hectares of pristine land abutting the Chapman Brook and National Park. The southern region of Margaret River consistently produces Australia’s best Chardonnay and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and is considered by some to be the home of Cabernet Sauvignon. The business is family owned and operated, and all efforts are driven by ‘Three Pillars of Quality’: Quality Terroir; Quality Viticulture and Quality Winemaking.

I was at a loose end one afternoon in early January and found myself reflecting on my last Australia Day weekend in 2009. My business partner and I had taken a road trip to McLaren Vale with the Selador Wines mascots (Murphy & Gypsy the Labradors) and had a ball! The memories prompted me to consider another trip, especially given that we had added another winery from McLaren Vale, Hastwell & Lightfoot.

You may be aware that several of our wines achieved great results at the Sydney International Wine Competition at the end of last year. This competition is the only event in Australia in which wine is rated against food.

One of the main aims of the Competition is to offer consumers independent information to help in their choice of wines more likely to enhance the pleasures of the daily dining experience and, by so doing, to add enjoyment and contentment to their everyday lives.

Well it is fast approaching vintage time so it's going to be all hands on deck with our wineries. In fact some have already started vintage due to the climatic conditions over the past 8 weeks or so.

Below is a little snippet from each winery to bring you up to date.

Always a great event to see what's new & exciting from New Zealand as well as some of the well known brands.

Two of New Zealand's best boutique wineries, Domaine Georges Michel (Marlborough) and Lamont Wines (Central Otago) will not be attending this year as they will be making separate visits later in the year with us to visit their loyal trade supporters and members of the public. Details later in the year.