Wolf Blass
In 1992 Wolf Blass was awarded the Trophy for International Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. In 2001, Wolf Blass was awarded the title of best Australian Producer at the same competition.
"+ "Produced from fruit grown in vineyards across southeast Australia, Wolf Blass winemakers produce wines of outstanding quality, character and consistency every year. The white wines of Wolf Blass are full of fresh fruit flavours - the rieslings are Australia's most awarded wines produced from this variety, and the chardonnays are exemplary of the very best Australia has to offer.
"+ "The red wines of Wolf Blass are renowned for their generous flavours. Wolf Blass' flagship, Black Label is considered an Australian red wine icon and has received over 40 trophies at Australian and International wine shows since its inaugural vintage in 1973.
"; wm = "| "+
" Chief WineMaker
| "+
" Wolf Blass Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher came to the ultimate winemaking position at one of the world's great winemakers in 1996 with impeccable credentials. He is generally considered to be one of Australia's premium white wine makers and one of the country's most respected wine show judges. "+ "At Wolf Blass between 1988 and 1995 Chris made 39 trophy winning wines and 218 gold medallists. \"Hatch\" has the rare distinction of having been a senior judge at all capital city wine shows where exhibitors are permitted to judge. "+ "He has been a senior judge at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney Royal Shows. As of 2001 Chris remains on the senior panel at Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Sydney. "+ " | |
"+
" After stints at Orlando and Kaiser Stuhl in the Barossa Valley and the Simi Winery in California, Chris joined Wolf Blass in December 1987. For almost 10 years prior to becoming Chief Winemaker, Chris was the Senior Winemaker responsible for white wine and sparkling wine production at Wolf Blass in the Barossa Valley. "+ "Since his appointment to the top job in 1996 the wines made at every outpost of the Wolf Blass operations have improved in quality. Chris is a fastidious man with an obsessive, almost pathological attention to detail, which has filtered to every winemaker working for him today or indeed in the past. Chris Hatcher's legacy to Australian winemaking will be great. "+ " | ||
| "+
"1. Gold Label Chardonnay 2007 "+ //wine tasting notes " Pale-ish straw colour. Nice citrus and white peach nose with touches of vanilla. Good mouthfeel and well balanced fruit, buttery new French oak and lemony acidity. Elegant and restrained by most Australian Chardonnay standards. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"|
| "+
"2. Gold Label Cabernet Franc Merlot 2004 "+ //wine tasting notes " A vibrant crimson colour with a purple core. Bouquets of dark fruits and liquorice, lively cedary oak aromas and shimmering berries, fully fragrant with rhubarb and cassis, currants and olive, dark chocolate with nuts. The palate is immense and deeply satisfying, even in it's youth it is marvellously integrated, showing off mulberry and loganberry flavours, intense sweet cherry and chocolate, spicey cedary elements and fleshy blackcurrant. Long Finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"|
| "+
"3. Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 "+ //wine tasting notes " Deep ruby red, clear rim. Nice nose of flowers, cassis, blackberries, cranberries, Nice texture. Tart cassis taste with a tight mid palate and short finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"|
| "+
"4. Gold Label Shiraz 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " Tight black color with a purple hue. Black berries on the nose. More warm black fruit on the palate, along with some plum, licorise on the midpalate. Ending in alcohol and spices. Rich and chewy in the mouth with lots more dark fruits and chocolate, well integrated oak and soft tannins leading to a smooth finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
//End Edit
"|
Montes Alpha
Montes was established in 1988 by four partners with years of experience in the art of winemaking and in the wine trade. Their philosophy was, from day one, to produce premium quality wines from Chile. A level of quality that they felt was absent at the time.
"+ "Premium wines that quickly became the standard to follow, such as MONTES and MONTES ALPHA, and now with ultra-premiums like MONTES ALPHA \"M\" (after Murray) and MONTES FOLLY, also the pioneers in the ultra-premium category. And follow they did! Not only did the large established wineries create premium wines to compete with MONTES ALPHA but many producers decided to try their luck exporting bottled wines.
"+ "Wine exporters, as a result, went from about 10 to well over 100 wineries now. With 5 Estates, three in Curicó and two in Colchagua (\"La Finca de Apalta\" in Apalta and their new \"El Arcangel de Marchigüe\" in Marchigüe), totalling nearly 600 Hectares of vineyards with varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc -with Syrah and Pinot Noir producing for the first time, experimentally, in 1999 and in fuller scale in 2000- Montes wines are mainly exported (95% of total production) to over 60 countries in the five continents.
"; TN = "| "+
"1. Chardonnay 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " It is a strong fruity wine with beautiful Chardonnay character. Evident banana, pineapple, and tropical fruits in the upfront with a well-integrated oak that helps add elegance without covering the fruit. The Malolactic fermentation makes a full wine in the mid palate with long and pleasant finish and nice buttery after taste. Nice balanced between fruit and oak. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"||
| "+
"2. Merlot 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " Handsome Ruby Red color, high intensity. Outstanding and concentrated fruit, with a noseful of black cherry, hints of black pepper, notes of tobacco and sweet chocolate. Aurelio decided to include a 15% of Carmenere in the blend as it adds of spiciness to the wine. A full-bodied and well balanced wine. Round and velvety in mid-palate, with soft and ripe tannins. Well integrated oak with added touch of vanilla, followed by a long and smooth finish. Very, very elegant. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"||
| "+
"3. Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " Deep ruby red color, the expression of Cabernet Sauvignon is evident providing structure and elegance. Lots of berries fruits and hints of tobacco and vanilla. Promising abundant soft rounded tannins. The structure and balance of this full bodied wine makes it very pleasant and enjoyable. A very sophisticated wine with a delightfully long finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"||
| "+
"4. Syrah 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " The up front nose is fruity, black cherries, hints of strawberries, and all well combined with a smoky spiciness, that adds elegance and complexity. The 7% of Cabernet Sauvignon is adding structure and hints of cassis and berries while the 3% of Viognier adds a nice and delicate floral touch. The oak is well assembled and combined with this strong, soft ,velvety wine. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
//wine accolades
"||
Accolades:
| "+
//End Edit
"|||
Neethlingshof Winery
Neethlingshof lies in the very heart of the Cape's winelands. Flanked by the Bottelary Hills and Papegaaiberg Mountain near Stellenbosch and overlooking False Bay, this beautiful, historic farm offers not only breathtaking scenery, but also a taste of traditional Cape culture blended with the best influences of Africa and Europe.
"+ "For more than a century the Estate has been synonymous with the best wine-making traditions of the Cape.
"+ "Its success over the years, which is nothing short of spectacular, can be ascribed to a variety of high potential soils derived from decomposed granite, gentle slopes and valleys offering a choice of aspects, the cooling effect of the nearby Atlantic Ocean on the vineyards during the ripening season, and an altitude which varies between 85 and 250 metres.
"+ "The variety of cultivars grown on Neethlingshof (55% red and 45% white) gives the winemaker, an enviable opportunity to craft fine varietal wines and exciting blends which are winners of numerous awards.
" + "Meerlust Winery
Meerlust, one of the Cape’s most historic wine estates, has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today owner, Hannes Myburgh and winemaker, Giorgio Dalla Cia, continue the great family tradition of fine winemaking.
"+ "Situated 15km south of Stellenbosch and only 5km from False Bay, the vineyards benefit from the cooling effect of the prevailing southeast summer wind. This wine permits slow ripening of the grapes, thus affording a rich varietal aroma.
"+ "The soil on the estate consists mainly of decomposed granite mixed with clay. Three hundred hectares are planted, mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir – the noble red varieties which are vinified on the estate.
"; wm = "| "+
" Neethlingshof WineMaker -
| "+
" Having grown up on a wine farm near Worcestor, Viljoen learnt a lot about wine growing and making, simply by osmosis. He studied at Stellenbosch University and notched up a B.Sc. in Microbiology followed by reconciling his roots and studying in Oenology and Viticulture. "+ "He has spent the last two and a half years as winemaker/viticulturist at Wamakersvallei Winery in Wellington. In his time, several wines are notched up to an impressive list of medals both locally and abroad, including 3 double gold Veritas medals during his last vintage there. Their Cabernet Sauvignon won the trophy for the best Cabernet Sauvignon at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London last year, while the Pinotage made it into last year’s ABSA Top Ten. Interesting that the Lord Neethling Pinotage won the same trophy, though for Pinotage, at the IWSC and was also listed in the ABSA Top Ten. "+ " | |
| "+
" Meerlust CellarMaster -
| "+
" Chris was appointed as Cellar Master at Meerlust in 2004 but has worked as an Assistant Winemaker for the farm since 1995. He studied Oenology at Elsenberg and gained international experience in France while working for Michel Rolland. His interest was aroused in the classical French wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley. "+ "Chris is energized by the challenge of developing the vines at Meerlust to their next stage of maturity, while isolating and identifying specific vineyards of excellence and vinifying the grapes to their highest expression. "+ " |
| "+
"1. Neethlingshof Gewurztraminer 2006 "+ //wine tasting notes " Bright straw colour with green hues. Aromas of lychee, rose petals, jasmine and honeysuckle. A spicy wine with lychee in the backgrounds allows for an off-dry wine with a zesty finish. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"|
| "+
"2. Neethlingshof Pinotage 2003 "+ //wine tasting notes " Inky plum. This young wine can be enjoyed now but will improve when cellared for many years to come. A great partner to pasta with meat and tomato sauces, all red meats, and rich, ripe cheeses. Serve between 16 - 18° C. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"|
| "+
"3. Meerlust Merlot 2003 "+ //wine tasting notes " Very intense plum-black colour with ruby rim. Varietally expressive with rich plum, mulberry and creamy fruit with hints of anise and spices. Rich and opulent, bursting with ripe Merlot fruit and supported by silky soft tannins. The wine has a long aftertaste finishing with a dense sweetness of fruit. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
"|
| "+
"4. Meerlust Rubicon 2003 "+ //wine tasting notes " Intense, opaque ruby core with cerise rim. Powerful primary nose of black currant, cigar box, smoked meat and minerals promising long maturation potential. On the palate the wine shows remarkable approachability with intense dark fruit juiciness coming from a renowned Cabernet Sauvignon vintage. Tannins are still structured but there is plenty of fruit density to reward further aging. "+ //wine grape varietals & image "
| "+
" | "+
//End Edit
"|
