Australia
A few years ago Australians had had to pour over 4 million litres of table wine into the ground as a result of overproduction. Sudden overseas demand in the 1980s for powerful, overoaked, wines led many fruit farmers in Australia to jump on the winemaking bandwagon, often with disastrous results. This year, after a disastrous harvest in 2007, bulk producers are blending in wines brought over from the Languedoc (up to 20% permitted) in order to satiate demand. Tesco is still the Australian wine industry's biggest customer, but its days of selling generic blends at under £4 per bottle seem to be over.
Listed below is a range of very individual wines, usually from private and family run estates. Whilst still vast in comparison with their European equivalents, even the largest of the family estates, De Bortoli, is insignificant in comparison with the giants such as Fosters' owned Southcorp (Lindemans, Wolf Blass, Penfolds, Rosemount, Matua Valley, Wynns Coonawarrra Estate, just for starters) and this is reflected in their wines, which are all distinctly individual and not simply made to be blended into 'red' or 'white'
White £ per bottle case
The Accomplice Semillon Sauvignon 2009, De Bortoli, Riverina 5.94 71.28 medium bodied, medium dry wine with full fruit and dry finish
The Accomplice Chardonnay 2009, De Bortoli, Riverina 5.94 71.28 really good Chardonnay flavour, ripe & rich with lovely creaminess
Marktree Semillon Chardonnay 2010 6.06 72.72 fresh & crisp blend with balanced acidity
Sacred Hill Semillon Chardonnay 2009, De Bortoli, Riverina 6.36 76.32 crisp with ripe fruit flavours & a creamy softness
McGregors' Reserve Chardonnay 2009, South Eastern Australia 6.60 79.20 lightly oaked, full flavoured Chardonnay with creamy texture & well balanced acidity
Brown Brothers Dry Muscat 2009 7.26 87.12 an aromatic wine, off dry, yet quite crisp, which sets off moderately spiced dishes superbly
Mitchell Estate Semillon 2006, Clare Valley 5.88 70.56
Tamar Ridge Devil's Corner Riesling 2008, Kayena, Tasmania m 10.92 131.04 delicious, fruit packed wine, fresh & crisp on the palate with full flavour and a hint of minerality
Cape Mentelle Semillon Sauvignon 2008 12.66 151.92 from Margaret River in Western Australia. Outstanding, with restraint & finesse, but lovely ripe fruit flavours
Red
The Landings Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 5.40 64.80 good value, fruity, easy drinking wine
The Accomplice Shiraz 2010, De Bortoli, Riverina 5.94 71.28 plummy & spicy with well integrated oak, good wine for the price
Marktree Merlot Cabernet Shiraz 2009 6.06 72.72 very easy drinking, smooth & full with sweet, ripe fruit flavours
Sacred Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2009, De Bortoli, Riverina 6.36 76.32 great value, a highly popular, medium bodied wine with firm, smooth character and lingering flavour
McGregors' Reserve Shiraz 2010, South Eastern Australia 6.60 79.20 delicious, great value wine tasting well above its price, with soft, smooth Shiraz flavour
Deakin Estate Merlot 2008 8.04 96.48 deep, purple colour, round & extremely satisfying
Deen De Bortoli VAT 8 Shiraz 2008 8.28 99.36 full bodied with intense colour & long, smooth palate
Cranswick Estate Shiraz 2009, Riverina 8.76 105.12 An extremely satisfying style of Shiraz, medium bodied & lightly oaked with flavours of vanilla & rasberry and some real complexity
Madfish Pinot Noir 2009 9.96 119.52 stylish wine, with highly perfumed nose and flavours of cherry & strawberry
Riddoch Cabernet Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra 8.28 99.36
Brown Brothers Victoria Shiraz 2008 10.26 123.12 full bodied, dry & perfectly balanced, with a hint of spiciness on the aroma & palate
Cape Mentelle 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot 2007, Margaret River 14.02 168.24 this was considered a near perfect vintage : smooth & lingering on the palate, with a very faint suggestion of acidity
Yarra Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2004, De Bortoli 14.40 172.80 superb, single estate wine with medium body, oak aged for 10 months with glorious Pinot Noir aroma and flavours
Sparkling
Sacred Hill Brut Cuvee NV, De Bortoli 8.10 97.20 dryish, with particularly attractive taste
Dessert
Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora 2009 (halves) 7.08 169.92 ripe & luscious, yet light & crisp
Campbells Rutherglen Muscat (halves) 10.08 241.92 magnificently rich, tawny wine with fig aroma and flavours of dates & honey, made from Muscat a Petit Grains
Prices are all inclusive of VAT
Minimum order is one case (of 12 bottles or equivalent) which may be mixed from any of our wines listed
Delivery is free for all orders within our own delivery area (currently London and most surrounding counties) and for 3+ case orders throughout the remainder of the UK, excluding Highlands & Islands (please enquire for rates). Orders of less than 3 cases sent by third party carrier will be charged at cost or below (around £5.20 per case excluding VAT)
Please contact us for any further information : wine@rfvintners.co.uk
Tel : 01892 724314 / 724209
Rodney Fletcher Vintners are independent Kent wine merchants & shippers supplying trade & private customers throughout the UK
