Sep6

Penner-Ash “Shea Vineyard” Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015

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“What’s this then?” I hear you say. “What’s Tiger Wines doing selling Oregon Pinot Noir?”

Well, little did I know when I was driving north towards Portland in July 1992, that 25 years later I would be bringing into Singapore a top range of pinots from that very area.

To join the dots…

Tiger Wines is the approved Jackson Family Wines distributor for the high-end boutique wines from Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard in McLaren Vale. Hickinbotham was purchased by Jackson Family Wines of the US in 2012.

They’ve also been buying pinot vineyards in Oregon for a while now. Zena Crown was acquired in 2013 and Penner-Ash in 2016, and both are very highly regarded. For example, Zena Crown “Slope” Pinot Noir is on allocation in the US (I was allocated just 18 bottles) but as an approved Jackson Family Wines distributor, I have been given the opportunity to tap into a small selection of their high-end pinots from both Penner-Ash and Zena Crown range.

Life’s a journey, who could resist?

This wine, the 2015 Penner-Ash “Shea Vineyard” Pinot Noir comes from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA within the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

I tried this for the first time last week and there’s no doubting the difference between the Australian and New Zealand pinots. Initially thinking it lighter in style, it developed into quite a savoury and robust wine. My first reaction was more Yarra Valley, more Timo Mayer than say Mornington or Tasmania, and as fans of Timo’s wines, my wife and I both agreed – very enjoyable.

Cheers!

David Boxall

2015 Shea PN

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Aug31

Holyman Tasmania Chardonnay 2014

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The wine is produced by Joe Holyman at his Stoney Rise vineyard on the west bank of the Tamar River near Launceston. He uses “Stoney Rise” as the label for his entry-level wines, and just “Holyman” for his premium label, but you’ll see it listed and referred to as both Stoney Rise Holyman Chardonnay and just Holyman Chardonnay.

It was released at A$50 in late 2015 and immediately sold out at the winery. I managed to get 4 cases, did a promotion back in November 2015, sold a few bottles but since then it’s been hiding down the back of the coolroom escaping my attention. Time to remedy that.

I’ve got about 2 cases in Singapore and a case in Melbourne so you can choose to have it delivered now or wait until my next airfreight due mid-October.

Enjoy!

David Boxall

2014 Holyman Chardonnay 2

Aug27

Domaine A Tasmania Pinot Noir 2008

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I have to say right up front that this is not my preferred style of pinot. There’s a common factor running through most of the rater’s notes – big, dense, powerful. Not characteristics that I seek out in pinots that I drink, but that’s a matter of personal preference.

There’s a huge amount of variance in the recommended drinking dates.

Lisa Perotti-Brown of robertparker.com recommends drinking “2012-2015+”, Huon Hooke says “2013-2020”, Halliday says “by 2020” and Jeremy Oliver says you shouldn’t even think about it until 2020, saying “2020-2028+”. I’ll have to leave it to you to make your own call.

This wine was released at A$70 but at some stage during its retail life, the price was lifted to A$90 which is where the current release pinot (2010) sits.

Enjoy!

2008 Pinot Noir

Aug15

Serrat Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2016

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Getting access to wines from boutique producers in Tasmania and Yarra Valley is getting harder as they try and retain as much retail margin as they can (and who could blame them – roughly 89% of Australia’s vineyards run at a loss).

It’s one of the reasons that I visit the winemakers as often as I can – relationships are everything.

With Serrat, the tiny Yarra Valley vineyard of Tom Carson and Nadege Sun, my allocation of the 2016 Pinot Noir is generous indeed so no need for bottle limits this time around. That having been said I do have a one bottle limit on the 2016 Grenache Noir but that’s a story for another day.

What can I say about Serrat?

How’s this for starters?

…in Tom Carson’s current role as winemaker for Yabby Lake, he produced the first Pinot Noir to ever win the Jimmy Watson Trophy.

…Serrat’s 2014 Shiraz Viognier won Halliday’s Wine of the Year in 2016 at 99 points.

…Serrat’s 2015 Chardonnay was one of only six wines to achieve 98 points, the highest rate for Chardonnay in Halliday’s 2017 Wine Companion.

My next airfreight closes 18TH AUGUST and it’s rapidly filling. Once it’s full the next airfeight will be in mid October so if you are thinking of ordering this wine, please let me know if you’d definitely like it by late August or are happy to wait.

I still have 13 bottles of the 2015 Pinot Noir downunder too (Halliday 96) @ $65.

See the 2016 details attached.

Enjoy!

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NEW ARRIVALS

GALA ESTATE Tasmania Pinot Noir 2014 – 12 btls – S$78 – Gold 2017 Tasmania Wine Show, Huon Hook 95, Halliday 95

The Oregon pinots from Jackson Family Wines have arrived in Singapore! Just landed from Willamette Valley:

PENNER-ASH “Estate” Yamhill-Carlton 2015 – 26 btls – S$91 – cellar door price US$65
PENNER-ASH “Shea Vineyard” Yamhill-Carlton 2015 – 30 btls – S$91 – cellar door price US$65
ZENA CROWN “Conifer” Eola-Amity Hills 2014 – 12 btls – S$108 – cellar door price US$75
ZENA CROWN “The Sum” Eola-Amity Hills 2014 – 12 btls – S$108 – cellar door price US$75
ZENA CROWN “Slope” Eola-Amity Hills 2014 – 6 btls – S$150 – cellar door price US$100

***************2016 PN

 

Aug9

Freycinet Vineyards Tasmania Cabernet Merlot 2013

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The back label of this wine says it goes with “roast lamb, BBQ steak, hearty casseroles and strong cheeses”.

I had it last night with home made pizza (our home made pizza is about as healthy as kaya toast, only there’s more of it) and the cab merlot was a great match. It’s full-bodied enough to cope.

Depending on who you follow, it should be drunk now, right now, or before 2027. Hmm.

Richard Hemming of jancisrobinson.com says drink it now…

He also shows it as 50% Cabernet / 50% Merlot which is what it says on the Freycinet Vineyards website.

I’m sticking with the 84/16% that it says on the back label. I’ll be seeing Claudio in a couple of weeks so I’ll get the good oil then.

Halliday says drink it by 2028 (as does Claudio Radenti) and Huon Hooke by 2027. You’ll have to be your own judge.

See below for the Halliday and Huon Hooke ratings.

Cheers!

David Boxall

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NEW ARRIVALS!

KATE HILL Tasmania Sparkling 2011 – 12 btls – S$60 – not yet rated

LA VIOLETTA “Almirante y Obispo” Great Southern Grenache/Mataro/Tempranillo 2015 – 18 btls – $82 – not yet rated
LA VIOLETTA “Bilingue” Great Southern Grenache/Mataro/Shiraz 2015 – 12 btls – $59 – Mike Bennie 93+
LA VIOLETTA “La Ciornia” Great Southern Shiraz 2010 – 12 btls – $75 – Jancis Robinson 18, restocked
LA VIOLETTA “La Ciornia” Great Southern Shiraz 2011 – 12 btls – $75 – Mike Bennie 93
LA VIOLETTA “Le Rayon V” Great Southern Cabernet Malbec 2013 – 18 btls – S$77 – Mike Bennie 93, restocked

STARGAZER Tasmania Pinot Noir 2016 – 12 btls – $70 – not yet rated

SERRAT Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2016 – plenty – $68 – not yet rated
SERRAT Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2016 – plenty – $68 – Halliday 95
SERRAT Yarra Valley Shiraz Viognier 2016 – plenty – $68 – Halliday 97
SERRAT Yarra Valley Grenache Noir 2016 – limit 1 per customer – $68 – Halliday 95

CHANDON Yarra Valley Sparkling Pinot Noir Shiraz NV – 6 btls – $59 – Halliday 91
LEASINGHAM “Classic Clare” Sparkling Shiraz 1998 – 6 btls – $129 – Jeremy Oliver 96
RUMBALL “SB19″ Sparkling Shiraz NV – 6 btls – $49 – not rated
SEPPELT “Original” Sparkling Shiraz 2014 – 6 btls – $48 – Mike Bennie 90

NEXT AIRFREIGHT CLOSES MONDAY 21 AUGUST

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2013 Cabernet Merlot

Jul28

Stoney Rise Tasmania Chardonnay 2013

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Sometimes you just have to move on…

I did a promotion on this wine at S$49 a little over 12 months ago (see attached below) and you’ll see that back then, I had 22 bottles left.

Well, I’ve still got 19 left so time for it to make way for new releases.

It’s going out now @ S$37 all up which is what it cost to get it here.

Enjoy!

David Boxall

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NEW ARRIVALS

Bangor Estate “Abel Tasman” East Coast Tasmania Pinot Noir 2014 – 12 bottles – S$63 – Huon Hooke 94, Silver 2016 Tasmania Wine Show

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Jul17

Brown Magpie “Paraparap Reserve” Geelong Pinot Noir 2013

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If you’ll excuse the pun, Brown Magpie wines tend to fly under the radar even in Australia. They have an extremely loyal following in Geelong and that’s where most of their wines get sold, but it’s not a well-known brand in other parts of Australia. Tiger Wines is the only distributor they have outside of Australia so you get to see what few others do elsewhere.

Some of you purchased this wine back in March 2015 when it was first released at A$40, but I purchased this stock only last year when it was re-released at A$60. Hence the jump in price here to S$73.

Halliday suggests it should be at least 5 years before opening, ie. 2018, so you should still put it away for another year if you have the patience.

From my memory of drinking this wine, it is a big pinot, not unlike in style to the pinots that come from Brian Franklin at Apsley Gorge. And like Apsley Gorge, a big decant is highly recommended.

Enjoy!

David Boxall

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NEW ARRIVALS

2016 Mewstone Tasmania Chardonnay – 12 btls – S$74 – Campbell Mattinson 94
2016 Mewstone Tasmania Pinot Noir – 12 btls – $74 – Campbell Mattinson 95
2016 Hughes & Hughes Tasmania Pinot Noir – 12 btls – $54 – Campbell Mattinson 93

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