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| Daniel James Wilson would write DJW rules on school book covers, desks, garden edgings and wet concrete whenever the opportunity arose. In 1997 DJW established a small 5½ acre plot of Riesling in the highest and most fertile corner of the family property. Wilson Vineyard» |
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| The Daisy Hill district thrived throughout the 1850s, due to its location along the main route to and from gold fields. The Amherst property sits atop old alluvial tailings, ancient diggings can still be seen around the property dressed in rich quartz soils. Amherst» |
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| Positioned half way between Avoca and Ballarat, the modestly sized Amherst have only ten acres under vine. The small yields translate into extraordinarily structured, powerfully intense wines, brimming with fine aromatics and lined with silky tannins. Amherst» |
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| Earnscleugh Valley was the site of a gold rush in the 1860s, the industrious miners dug a watercourse through the valley which today serves to nourish the world's southernmost appellation of Pinot Noir. The Last Chance is a small scenic terrace, planted to a special Burgundy clone of Pinot Noir which yields a magnificently structured, generously proportioned wine. Two Paddocks» |
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| An exciting innovation in a Methode traditionnelle, enriched by strawberry. A component of Pinot Noir is treated to extended time on skins for perfect uptake of charming rose colour, to be blended back with Chardonnay after primary ferments. Lindauer» |
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| After several decades of crafting Australia's most memorable vintages, Mike Press is more sanguine than ever that great wine can only come from the finest vineyards. His dedicated hands on approach means that he is personally involved in every stage of the winemaking, from pruning the vines and inspecting grapes, right to plunging the ferments and bottling his finished wine. Mike Press» |
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| It was the great Cabernet wines of Bordeaux which inspired Bill Taylor to diversify from imports and retail into the highly fraught pursuit of grape growing. An ardent enthusiast of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Taylor had a keen enough palate and nose to determine that the most auspicious lands for Cabernet Sauvignon were amongst the idyllic rolling pastorals of Valley Clare. Taylors» |
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| The High Trellis paddock has been yielding the most splendid vintages of wine since the late 19th century, so nicknamed as the vines were the first to be trained above knee height following acquisition of the property by dArenberg. For decades, High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon has been released to unanimous critical acclaim by the wine industry press and international cognoscente. dArenberg» |
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| Blackjack has claimed the eminent M.Chapoutier Trophy for Best Shiraz at the prestigious Le Concours des Vinson on no fewer than three occasions. Block 6 is a superior parcel of distinguished vines, renowned within the Bendigo district for producing a very high quality, intensely fruit driven Shiraz. Blackjack» |
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| The historic goldfields at Beechworth are now delivering a different type of gold, in the form of suave white wines with panache and style. Pinot Gris has taken well to the cooler climes and mineral rich soils atop the steeply sloped aspects. Brokenwood» |
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| Tyrrell made a major contribution to the development of Heathcote as a world class winegrowing region. One of the earliest pioneers, they sowed the seeds and established the vines which launched the second gold rush into Heathcote Shiraz. Tyrrells» |
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| Pete Yealands is a natural viticulturalist, happiest at work on the land, he has established many of Marlborough's most splendid vineyards. Single site Awatere Pinot Noir from an exposed terrace on the upper ridge of Seaview Vineyard, planted to some marvelous Dijon clones. Yealands Estate» |
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Winstead
About Winstead - the Winery
Winstead
Neil Snare is a pioneer of Tasmanian viticulture, he established his first vineyard in 1989 and has maintained a small batch approach to his sensational wines ever since
The warm, open Bagdad Valley in Tasmania's southern midlands, thirty kilometres north of Hobart, became famous during early settlement for its bountiful apple orchards, stone fruits and pears. There is very little water in the valley and the area is frequently punished by summer droughts. Many orchards have failed over the years and the open grasslands were turned over to sheep grazing. Neil acquired four hectares of the old Winstead Farm in Bagdad Valley during the 1980s, hand chosen as an ideal place for vines, dry grown, fertile and essentially frost free. The initial success of a small test patch of fifty plantings Pinot Noir was joined the following year by four thousand, ultimately a hectare and a half of Riesling and Pinot Noir.
A further hectare and a half of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc followed in 1993. The region often receives winter rains and summer droughts, a splendid ripening season often requires drip irrigation to sustain the vines through the summer heat and autumn dry. The well sheltered, inland location means that sea breezes do not arrive until late afternoon, allowing daytime temperatures to climb and remain high during the height of summer, an essential element considering that the growing season is a little shorter than many other Tasmanian vineyards due to the elevation.
Winstead produce two editions of single vineyard Pinot Noir. Lot 7 is made from the original estate plantings on the home block, a robust wine, with dark chocolate, plum, tobacco and cinnamon characters. Lot 16 is from a slightly younger site, a little further up the hill, planted to the latest clones Pinot Noir to arrive in Bagdad Valley, Dijon 114 and 115. Lot 16 is more delicate with forest floor, strawberry and nutmeg characters, zippy and fresh, with a firm dry finish.
Winstead's exquisite whites are made to European influences, enhancing texture and mouthfeel. The ferments are long and slow, as wines remain on lees for several months, adding gorgeous creaminess to their texture. Winstead's Sauvignon Blanc is richly barrel fermented to add marvelous complexity.
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