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| Waipara Hills made a name as Marlborough's best Gewurztraminer after romping home with the trophy for best entry at the Liquorland International. Waipara Hill's low-cropping Gewurztraminer vineyard produces fruit with intense aromas of rose petal, lychee and turkish delight. Waipara Hills» |
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| Katnook Shiraz will be found on some of the best wine lists and in some of the finest cellars around the world, often with several vintages. "Coonawarra's shiraz is often overlooked, but the Katnook is worth sampling!" -Canberra Times, "Two time Jimmy Trophy winner, Wayne Stehbens, crafted this classic Coonawarra Shiraz, structured and elegant with intense plum and berry fruit flavours, complementing spices and peppery characters, balanced oak and silky smooth tannins. Katnook» |
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| Multiple trophy winner, including Tucker Seabrook Caon Trophy. The first Jack Mann to be exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon, from the exceptional 1998 vintage. Houghton» |
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| Howard Park is consistently rated as one of Australia’s best Rieslings, it shot to superstar status after claiming Gold at the prestigious London International. Grown to some of the most elevated vineyards around Mount Barker and the Porongurups, nourished by a continental pattern of warm days and cold nights, which translate into vibrant fruit exhibiting zest and a super fine citric minerality. Howard Park» |
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| Always a massive award and trophy winner, this princely wine carries exceptional pedigree, offering the full spectrum and elegance of Clare Shiraz characters. The wine draws on fruit from the renowned dryland Schobers vineyard, which produced a Jimmy Watson winner. Leasingham» |
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| Previous winner of highly coveted gold medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards and the hotly contested London International, by one of the Barossa's most peerless figures. "Charles Melton, gifted winemaker making some of the most highly prized and undervalued wines in the country!” -Langtons.com.au, "The Charles Melton Shiraz, with a score of 97/100, nudges Penfolds Grange off the top spot in a tasting of Australian Shiraz!" -Wine Magazine London, "A great Barossa Shiraz, massive, dense and imposing. Charles Melton» |
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| Bloodstone was originally intended for the UK Oddbins Retail Chain. A runaway success, it subsequently went on to claim Gold NZ International, Gold Houston International, Cuisine Magazine's 5 Stars & Best Buy, as well as Gold & Double Gold San Francisco International. Gemtree» |
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| Previous vintage claimed Trophy for Best Dry White Blend at the Royal Adelaide. Hamelin Bay really know their white varietals having also won trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc at the 2006 Margaret River Wine Show.
Sourced exclusively from the estate's Five Ashes Vineyard at Margaret River, typical characters of this wine are it's juiciness, freshness and restraint, affording excellent mid palate depth. Hamelin Bay» |
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| Saint Clair continues the trophy winning streak with a vigorous Sauvignon Blanc. The Marlborough based winery has previously claimed Trophy for the Top New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc over £10 at the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards in London, the world’s most competitive wine market. Saint Clair» |
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About Paul Osicka - the Winery
Paul Osicka
Paul Osicka is one of the longest established Heathcote estates, planting vines in the 1950s, when Heathcote as a winegrowing region was but a twinkle in the eyes
Grown without irrigation on sandly loam soil over quartz and red ironstone gravels, the vineyard is managed according to organic principles without the use of herbicides or insecticides. The vines are hand pruned to balance the yield and the grapes are hand picked to achieve optimum fruit quality. These factors combine to produce small intensely flavoured and coloured fruit necessary to make premium wines. The principal red wine produced is Shiraz followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The vineyard and winery are situated in Heathcote, and due to the close proximity of the Graytown Box-Ironbark State forest, it is common to find all manner of native animals amongst the vines, including kangaroos, wallabies, emus, lizards and echidnas. The vineyard is non-irrigated and deliberatley kept to a low yield ensuring the berries are smaller and more intense in colour and flavour. A number of varieties are gronw including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Merlot and Roussane, with the Shiraz vines dating back over 45 years. The soil consists of a sandy loam and gravel topsoil with a crushed quartz and red ironstone buckshot gravel underlay which makes for excellent drainage.
Traditional methods are used to manage the vineyard with the grapes being carefully handpicked, and the vines painstakingly hand pruned. Conscious of their impact on the environment and wine, no herbicides or pesticides are used in the vineyard, instead organic fertilisers are used to provide the vines with nutrients. The winemaking is also a hands on affair with winemaker Paul Osicka personally implementing each stage of the process. Extensive use is made of new oak barrels in the maturatin of the wines, and is an expensive although important part of the quality process.
Wine was always destined to be part of Simon Osicka's life
Simon literally grew up surrounded by full-bodied, red wines produced at his family's Majors Creek Vineyard, today known as Paul Osicka Wines. Not surprisingly, for someone immersed in wine from birth, Simon didn't just complete his Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) at University of Adelaide in 1997: he graduated with first-class honours.
Following cellar-hand work and two overseas vintages in Canada and Italy, he joined Houghton Wine Company in 1999 as Assistant Winemaker at the company's Swan Valley site. At Hougton he gained immeasurable experience producing prestige red wines under the Gladstones and Jack Mann labels. The following year, Simon was promoted to Winemaker and completed a second 1999 vintage in Sicily at Casa Vincolia Calatrasi. Returning to Houghton, he transferred to Nannup in 2001 and worked with the Senior Winemaker Manager, Gretel Friend, to complete the site's inaugural vintage. As the most technologically-advanced winery in the region, it provided both enormous opportunities and challenges. Within seven months, Simon was promoted as the site's Senior Winemaker Manager.
In late 2005, Simon went to Leasingham as Winemaker Manager and is now responsible for the day-to-day workings. Simon has judged at both the Mount Barker Wine Show and West Australian Wine Awards.
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