Irvine

News - Merlot Musings

20 April 2010

End of Vintage: Irvine Springhill 2010

Wow, another one down – 60 of ‘em now, and once again something different.

At least the winter/spring rains gave us a decent canopy for a start – all we had to do was hang onto it! This we did, and this year only lifted the foliage wires to the second level rather than the top.

So no sunburn on the Pinot Gris.

Still a very early vintage, probably the result of three years of winter drought and summer stress.

Yields were moderate overall, reaching just two tones per acre (5 per hectare), but magnificent fruit, especially the whites – Meslier and Pinot Gris.

Chardonnay was a matter of “spot the berry” with tiny berries and tiny bunches, but huge flavor.

Then came the rains at Easter, and a week later, just as the reds were within a baume of picking. They just sat and sulked, and ever so slowly ripened.

At last we had to pick with 14.5 baume being the tops in Merlot and 15 in Zinfandel – a bit lower than usual.

Yields were moderate but berry condition was beautiful – all plump and black with stacks of flavor, so even though not as ripe as usual we expect the flavours to be great.

Savagnin also was “spot on”, with the baume at picking and is NOW BOTTLED (14 April 2010) – how’s that for stock turn!! More like the 2008 so it is a bit richer than 2009.

News

Joanne now has her own micro-winery – and hasn’t she pushed it hard this year!

Basically she offers processing for Wine Wise clients firstly, then small lot contracts after. She takes to eight tones in varying lots – and those small bits that the big contractors don’t want.

Jo has designed the winery (346 Research Road, Nuriootpa) with David Norman’s help, specifically to handle small lots, and this has attracted many clients. This way her Wine Wise clients can have a “beginning-to-final” service on their wines, so expressing the individual styles more clearly.

Great wines coming through!

On the Irvine front this is the very first time we have been able to make each individual block of merlot on its own. At last we will be able to select the “cream” on its own and rank the others for their individuality, so watch out over the next few years for truly great, truly individual superb Merlots!

And just for old times’ sake

I have been allowed to make a couple of very special “Brueghel” wines this year because we have access to Joanne’s small lot winemaking.

Irvine White – Brueghel Label – Just 200 Dozen

Savagnin (Albarino previously) 50% with Springhill Chardonnay

Trial blends show lovely florals and lively, zingy taste with quite some flavor depth. Only available to mail order customers. Should be ready by the end of May.

Irvine Red – Brueghel Only – Just 350 Dozen

This wine will not be released until about May 2011.

It comes in a fascinating array of combinations and in its own carton.

What’s the big deal??

Many, many years ago I experienced a range of wines made by a very famous (at the time) winemaker, and then again in 1966-69 in Melbourne I saw the same wines but older.

Fascinating, just fascinating, and in particular one red wine stood out above all the others. So with all the noise about blended reds I thought it timely to try the style again.

Just 55 dozen of seven wines, all from the same base wines.

Curious? So am I, and it will be fascinating to see how they all turn out.

Although they will be released as youngsters it will be worth cellaring them just to see how they develop and which is preferred

So back to the future!

Summary

Vintage 2010 was indeed different, especially in that the baumes were more moderate while the berries’ physical condition was plump and juicy. The resulting wines should be full of flavor, both reds and whites, so a more typical “even” year result.

Picking started – then stopped – then started – then stopped again, so the individual wines wanted individual timing rather than all coming together as is often the case in dry years.

No doubt time will tell, so by September or so we should have a pretty good idea of just what 2010 has for us.

Jim Irvine
Irvine Wines

07 October 2009

Irvine Stars at Aqua

Thanks to the graciousness of our friend and distributor Martin Apell, I experienced one remarkable evening at Ritz-Carlton Hotel Wolfsburg, during my recent visit to Germany.

The restaurant Aqua in the Ritz-Carlton is a Three Michelin Star rated restaurant with Sven Elverfeld as Master Chef and Jurgen Giesel as Head Sommelier.

The nature of service and choice is fascinating. The table has to choose one of two menus for all to participate and then the Head Sommelier arranges the wines to match. This makes every course an adventure as well as a surprise, and is quite intriguing.

As would be expected, the whole meal was a dining theatrical with great food, great wines and great service. But surprise after surprise!

No. 1. No need to write down the names of the wines – we were presented with an empty wine bottle on which the label had the whole list

No. 2. The wine list – the whole 36 pages – was presented to me just before leaving

No. 3. The greatest surprise of all – IRVINE WINES ARE ON THE LIST!! The Meslier Brut – because of its unique style, flavour and crisp apple character.

Then The Baroness is also listed – for sheer excellence. Fantastic!

This made me feel humble but absolutely delighted, and so I thank Martin most sincerely for his kindness, especially sharing the evening with his staff as well.

So when you visit Wolfsburg to pick up your new Volkswagen, just pop into the Ritz-Carlton Aqua for a total experience and Irvine Meslier Brut to celebrate! Then a Baroness Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc to finish!

11 September 2009

Irvine Barossa Merlot scores 91 with WINE 100

Our 2005 Barossa Merlot scored 91 Points from WINE 100, which is Australia’s leading independent wine guide.

Tyson Stelzer wrote: With an explosion of fruitcake and plum flavour, layered with cinnamon and spice, this is a full-flavoured merlot that tastes
like it should hail from much higher up Jim Irvine’s Grand Merlot tree!
Savoury tannins and great length bring some order to this maelstrom.

11 September 2009

The World's Best Wines 2008

Our Grand Merlot 2005 has been named as one of the world's best wines in 2008 as chosen by the judges of the world’smost respected wine competition, the International Wine Challenge.

The judges had the following notes: Fragrant, ripe, black plum nose with attractive spicy oak. Fruity with sweet plum, chocolaty oak and fine tannins.

12 June 2009

Another Great Result

You knew it was good, we knew it was good but now Oz Clarke has put The Baroness in the Top 50 wines of the World!
Renown wine expert Oz Clarke has selected The Baroness to be in his Top 50 wines in his new book “250 Best Wines 2010”
Stocks are extremely low so if you’d like to taste one of the Top 50 wines in the world order now

03 June 2009

NEWS FLASH – ALBARINO HAS CRASHED!

Albarino Crash

But only as a name – the wine is still beautiful! And 2009 is waiting to go.

Last Friday the Albarino makers were told by the Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation that any wine submitted to them with the name Albarino (as of Friday, 8th May) would need to have documentary proof that it was made from proven Albarino grapes.

So the identified variety currently in Australia really is Savignin Blanc – a very obscure variety indeed, and seldom made into the lovely dry white we know as “Albarino”.

So what name will AWBC accept? What name will the “Albarino” producers accept? Currently the thought is Albarin Blanco, and no doubt in future this would be shortened down to Albarin. However this name seems to lack appeal.
This is very much up in the air at this moment, and we have our 2009 “__???___” in bottle waiting.

Looks like we have to ditch the Albarino labels, reprint when we know the acceptable name, and pay for labeling the stock – all because the AWBC will not allow a “sunset” clause for the 2009 “Albarinos” – funny how they can allow three++ years when dealing with French demands but not even one when dealing with Australian producers!

Be this as it may, the current and future producers of “the almost was” wine are busy working at finding another name suitable to consumers as well as themselves.
After all “Savignin Blanc” is just too confusing alongside of “Sauvignon Blanc”, and Traminer is a no-no as far as consumers go.

So the beavers are at work.

If a name is not found quickly, then I guess we will just have to call ours “Irvine’s White” and give the story on the back label.

In whatever way, the wine will be just as beautiful from Eden Valley as ever it was.
Looking forward to getting the 2009 to you just as soon as we can.

Thanks for waiting.
Joanne & Jim Irvine

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