The Artisans of Barossa www.artisansofbarossa.com have opened a joint cellar door, with seven wineries on tasting. The cellar door is located at the base of Menglers Hill and has envious views looking west over the Barossa Vineyards. At this stage it is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 6pm, with a winemaker pouring wines every weekend afternoon.
At this stage there are two wines from each producer on tasting, gourmet platters are available and all wines on the list can be enjoyed by the glass or bottle in the cellar door. Wine Flights, dinners and other events will be added over the coming months, so fi you are coming to the Barossa, make sure you call in.
5/20/2011 2009 Releases
The 2009 the moonlight run and 2009 the eleventh hour have also been released. The 2009 vintage was relatively cool, especially when compared with the intense heat of the 2008 vintage.
The 2009 the moonlight run is a bit deeper and richer than the 2008 vintage, however it still shows off the typical spice and savoury characters which make this wine a winery favourite. Soft tannins and a warming, rich finish mean it will sit well by the fire in the cold winter months.
The 2009 the eleventh hour shows similar characters to the 2008 vintage, which was one of our most popular releases to date. This vintage goes to another level, with the rich fruit supported by firmer tannins, some cooler spice characters and a svelte and seamless palate.
5/20/2011 New Varietal Releases
We have released some new varietal wines this month, with the obscure varieties of Saperavi and Tannat released for the first time from the 2010 vintage. A little background into each of the varities is provided below
Saperavi means paint or dye in the Georgian dialect, where it finds its origins. Georgia is known as one of the oldest winemaking regions of the world, with archeological research showing evidence of cultivation dating to 6000-5000 BC, with Saperavi being the most commonly cultivated vine over this time. Its most distinguishing feature is that it is one of the rare varieties that has colour in the pulp as well as the skin, which gives a deep colour and full-bodied palate.
Tannat finds its home in the Basque-influenced regions of France near the Pyrenees. As its name suggests, Tannat is known for its high tannin levels. Efforts to solve the high tannin levels eventually lead to the modern winemaking technique of micro-oxygenation. With its thick skins, it is also one of the highest in oligomeric procyanidins, which give red wines their health benefits. Residents in the Madiran region have double the French average of 90 plus year olds, despite a diet of cassoulet, foie gras and numerous cheeses.
