WRITE IN & YOU COULD WIN SIX BOTTLES OF WINE
Tell us about what gets you thinking in this edition at mail@winecompanion.com.au Or let us know what you think via Facebook or Instagram: @winecompanion
Thanks to Gapsted Wines, we have six bottles of its Ballerina Canopy 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon to give away. Halliday Tasting Team member
Jeni Port says this wine
"is approachable upon release in full black-fruited flight mode, but there's also some lovely leafy definition and regional mountain herbs seeing the wine through to the finish." RRP $210.
For more details, visit gapstedwines.com.au
CONGRATULATIONS MATT B
You‘ve won an Eldridge Estate tasting pack, valued at $480.
Busting myths
I was very disappointed to see the myth of pinot noir as an early drinking style being perpetuated by your cellar guide. Despite being a ‘rough guide’, any wine deserving to be labelled pinot noir should keep improving until at least 8–10 years old, hence a 3–5 drinking window is insulting to those who struggle to master this flighty variety and ensure it has proper structure. Many French pinots, aka Burgundy, are not ready until at least 15–20 years old and can often last well over 70 years. When properly grown and vinified this is a truly noble and long living variety which may be enjoyed young but becomes truly wonderous with age.
GREG MELICK, TASMANIA
Cellaring surprise
Thank you, Wine Companion, for your June/July issue’s focus on cellaring. As someone new to ageing wine since I found a second-hand 120-bottle wine cabinet going cheap, it has given me tips I didn’t know I needed. After a summer enjoying incredible Australian riesling from 2021, the cabinet has a significant white wine imbalance, one that I look forward to correcting using your advice over the cooler months. It will be some time before I know if I’ve been successful of course, but I can’t wait to find out. Cheers!
MATT BROWN, VICTORIA
Add it to the list
I fully expected to disagree with Ken Gargett’s list of the greatestever Australian wines, but I must admit it’s a comprehensive list. There are some I’d add, though. Gippsland pinot is fabulous, I agree, but so too is Yarra and Tassie pinot. I’d argue that John Hughes at Rieslingfreak makes one of our best rieslings and should be included, as should Crawford River. And while it’s hard to argue with Leeuwin Estate for chardonnay, what about Oakridge? I guess Ken was right – us wine lovers will argue endlessly over this stuff!
ELEANOR PHILLIPS, VICTORIA
Greater access
As someone who has worked in disability spaces before (outside of the wine industry), I was fascinated to read the article 'Accessing All Areas' in your cellaring issue. It was particularly nice to read how Mirko Pastorelli turned the fact that he’s wheelchair-bound into a strength as a sommelier – with customers often asking about his story. More reason to have extra space between tables at restaurants! It’s great to see accessibility being taken more seriously these days, although there’s still a long way to go.
CELIA DAVENPORT, QUEENSLAND
The lucky country
When reading the April/May
Halliday edition, you really do reflect on how spoilt we are for quality at the affordable end of the spectrum in Australia. I really enjoyed the bargain write ups from the wine panel in ‘Team Talk’, which made me think about my own top bargain cellar choices. In particular, it made me reflect on the value we get in WA, my home state. I’ve recently been down south to the Great Southern wine region, where there are quite a few outstanding wineries and a lot of grapes are grown for others in Margaret River. To this day there are still so many top-quality wines in the south of WA, and plenty of ageworthy wines around the $30 mark, that I feel every dollar is a good investment.
ROBERT GOUGH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA