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 £3 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
Terra Felix Marsanne 2004, Tallabrook Wines, Victoria 3.53 42.36
Marktree Semillon Sauvignon Chardonnay 2007 4.96 59.57 fresh & crisp blend with balanced acidity
Sacred Hill Semillon Chardonnay 2006, De Bortoli, Riverina 5.14 61.69 crisp & dry, with ripe fruit flavours and a creamy softness
Willowglen Semillon Chardonnay 2006, De Bortoli 5.15 61.81 another easy drinking, highly popular wine from the de Bortoli family estates wine merchants Rodney
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Chardonnay 2006 5.71 68.50 delicious, zesty wine in an easy drinking, unoaked style
De Bortoli Willow Glen Chardonnay 2006 3.92 47.00
Brown Brothers Dry Muscat 2006 6.62 79.43 an aromatic wine, off dry, yet quite crisp, which sets off moderately spiced dishes superbly K
Deen De Bortoli VAT Semillon 2002 5.17 62.00
Deen De Bortoli VAT 7 Chardonnay 2005 6.76 81.08 rich, complex palate, a perfect for strongly flavoured food
Tyrell's Old Winery Verdelho 2006 7.50 90.01 off dry, rich, complex & different from Tunbridge Wells wine merchants
Tyrell's Old Winery Chardonnay 2005 7.50 90.01 impressive wine of longstanding reputation (halves) 4.45 106.69
De Bortoli Hunter Valley Semillon 2004 6.07 72.84
Madfish Unwooded Chardonnay 2006 8.91 106.93 pale straw colour, aroma of peach and flavours of melon & citrus
Cape Mentelle Semillon Sauvignon 2007 11.37 136.42 from Margaret River in Western Australia. Outstanding, with restraint & finesse, but lovely ripe fruit flavours
Kent wine merchants Rodney Fletcher Vintners also offer free wine delivery to London
Red
Marktree Merlot Cabernet Shiraz 2006 4.96 59.57 very easy drinking, smooth & full with sweet, ripe fruit flavours
Sacred Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2006, De Bortoli, Riverina 5.14 61.69 great value, a highly popular, medium bodied wine with firm, smooth character and lingering flavour
Willowglen Shiraz Cabernet 2006, De Bortoli 5.15 61.81 smooth, sweet & ripe wine with plenty of character
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Shiraz 2005 5.87 70.38 softer style of Shiraz, medium body & long, satisfying finish
De Bortoli Sero Sirah Tempranillo 2005, Hunter Valley 4.54 54.48
Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Cabernet Merlot 2005 4.76 57.12 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot. A well balanced, well structured, medium bodied wine perfect for drinking now
Deen De Bortoli VAT 10 Pinot Noir 2006 6.76 81.08 red brick coloured wine with cherry aroma and lovely flavours of strawberry & spice
Deen De Bortoli VAT 8 Shiraz 2006 6.76 81.08 full bodied with intense colour & long, smooth palate
Deakin Estate Merlot 2006 6.83 81.90 deep, purple colour, round & extremely satisfying
Cranswick Estate Shiraz 2007, Riverina 6.89 82.72 An extremely satisfying style of Shiraz, medium bodied & lightly oaked with flavours of vanilla & rasberry and some real complexity
Tyrells Old Winery Cabernet Merlot 2004 7.50 90.01 soft & smooth wine with lovely flavours of ripe cherries, (halves) 4.45 106.69 a touch of vanilla oak and a long finish
Madfish Pinot Noir 2006 8.91 106.93 stylish wine, with highly perfumed nose and flavours of cherry & strawberry
Brown Brothers Victoria Shiraz 2005 10.22 122.67 full bodied, dry & perfectly balanced, with a hint of spiciness on the aroma & palate
Cape Mentelle 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot 2005 12.39 148.64 this was considered a near perfect vintage : smooth & lingering on the palate, with a very faint suggestion of acidity
Yarra Valley Reserve Release Pinot Noir 2004, De Bortoli 16.61 199.28 superb, single estate wine with medium body, oak aged for 10 months with glorious Pinot Noir aroma and flavours
Tunbridge Wells wine merchants Rodney Fletcher Vintners deliver free across the South
Sparkling
Sacred Hill Brut Cuvee NV, De Bortoli 5.94 71.32 dryish, with particularly attractive taste
Dessert
Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora 2007 (halves) 7.03 168.61 ripe & luscious, yet light & crisp
Campbells Rutherglen Muscat (halves) 8.55 205.27 a magnificently rich, tawny wine with fig aroma and flavours of dates & honey, made from Muscat a Petit Grains
Fine wine shippers of Tunbridge Wells, Rodney Fletcher Vintners, deliver to all UK
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 £4 per case excluding VAT)
Please contact us for any further information : wine@rfvintners.co.uk
Tel : 01892 723084 / 724209
Rodney Fletcher Vintners are independent Kent wine merchants & shippers supplying trade & private customers throughout the UK
