2023 was a cool year, there will be a lot of rose…..
But down in Woragee, alt ~350-400m (500-750m Beechworth –>Stanley) we benefited from a few degrees of warmer weather, and the merlot and shiraz were picked mid April.
Chardonfreude chardonnay
Just one barrel here so about 200 bottles. Full malolactic fermentation and the barrel was a neutral French oak. The most supra-homeopathic sulphur addition at bottling, and bottled on site by the sons, with a waxing because it’s fancy. Unfiltered.
“Full textural experience, hazy and grippy, quite lush and rich, but, as per the regional experience, a cut and thrust of jagged, saline acidity to counter. Ripe pear and dried apple, a touch of honey fig, that swish of sea spray and brine, pickled Japanese ginger and a cool, peppy, spicy finish. It’s got loads of personality, drinks with a sense of complexity and interest, with winks in the direction of Jura. Very good, very interesting.
Mike Bennie 94/100″
Goldhaus Syrah
Aroma of red berries, new leather with a dusting of white pepper. Tannin, length- it actually reminds me of a Morgan Beaujalais. Picked at 13baume Star lane quite late as it was a very cool year(not much ripened at higher altitudes in Beechworth), this is a very pure expression with no stems/ whole bunch. One seasoned oak French barriques, one slightly newer so minimal oak subservience. 2 barrels.
NQC Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2:1
Dark berries, a bit of antique furniture, some foresty stuff or just ‘great neck oil’ as Tessa (Brown) described – it’s got nuance- IMHO there is a Damson plum vibe which is the dark midget horse of the stone fruit world and I suppose, very English, like claret…….
A cool year but a long ripen- the merlot got to 13.8B in perfect condition. Three barrels, one newer oak.
Le Woogee Dry Village Red MV
A multi vintage bitzer of a wine- some 2022 cabernet from Weeping grass, kept in steel, (then added to barrels), with a greener picked shiraz/ (+gewurz 1%) from Bowmans run and shiraz and a splash of merlot from Star Lane; 3 of the 4 vineyards in Wooragee! Initially a fresher vibe with acidity from the Bowmans run fruit, but it’s getting grown. 1100 bottles.
