We are very pleased to release 4 (yes four!) new release wines – 3 of which are brand new to our Bream Creek stable!

These are our first ever releases of a Sparkling Rosé, a limited Late Disgorge Sparkling (only 388 bottles produced, with exceptional reviews and wine show results!) and our first wine from vintage 2020 – a rare Field Blend wine released under our new “Unitus” label!

Sparkling Rosé (RRP$36) We have been repeatedly requested to produce a sparkling Rosé – and we have listened! An enticing pale salmon blush in the glass, this wine reveals a nose of strawberries and raspberries, with similar red berry flavours on the palate. Finishing dry and crisp, it is the perfect aperitif wine or may be matched with a wide range of foods – including chocolate!

2020 “Unitus” Field Blend (RRP$31) “Unitus” in Latin can mean “I combine” – which is why it is so appropriate for this field blend (combination) of the rare Germany variety Sylvaner and Riesling. These grapes were grown, picked and fermented together. Part of the wine was then aged on its skins in two clay amphorae for over 100 days, with the balance matured in old French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered (so it retains a harmless and light cloudy haze) while also being vegan friendly, it has aromas of passion fruit and tropical fruits with a palate showing green apple and melon flavours and an attractive phenolic finish. All in all, something a little different…. great with a range of informal cuisines.

2005 Late Disgorged Sparkling (RRP$75) Only just 388 bottles of this extremely limited wine were produced –  each bottle being hand labelled and individually numbered. Aged for over 13 years on lees (we have been very patient!), it is a powerful sparkling wine showing a full-bodied palate with flavours of ginger, brioche and orange blossom with excellent balance and length. In awarding this wine 96 points, wine writer Huon Hooke stated that it was “A wonderful wine.” Similarly, Ned Goodwin MW, writing for the Halliday Wine Companion this year, stated that “…this is a brooding wine of incredible depth and complexity.” and awarded it 95 points. This wine has also received a Grand Gold Medal in Europe at the 2019 Berliner Wein Trophy Competition (1 of only 19 wines to receive this accolade from 6,234 entries!), a Grand Gold Medal at the 2019 Asia Wine Trophy Competition (1 of only 39 wines to receive this accolade from 4,386 entries) and a Gold Medal in Class 1 at the 2019 Tasmanian Wine Show.

We are also very pleased to release the new vintage of our popular Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend – our 2018 Cabernet Merlot (RRP$36)! Made from a combination of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, this classically styled cool climate wine starts with an aromatic nose of blue and black forest berries as well as subtle French oak. Its medium bodied palate is powerful – blueberry and blackberry fruits supported by bramble and spice hints. Its excellent tannin structure means this wine may be cellared with confidence for several years – or you could simply enjoy it right now, paired with a rich meat dish such as Tasmanian Cape Grim beef fillets. Awarded 4.5 stars by Winestate Magazine in May/June 2020, it was also described as an “impressive Bordeaux blend” in the just released 2021 James Halliday “Australian Wine Companion”.

To purchase a selection of these stunning recent releases, simply click here to be transferred to our secure online store. The minimum order is only 6 bottles (with any orders being in multiples of 6 for packing), you can mix and match your order from all our available wines, and we accept Visa, MasterCard and Amex. Please also allow a little more time for delivery via Australia Post, as they are currently struggling with increased parcel loads which significantly exceed even the usual Christmas rush!

We are pleased to release the following wines:

1. 2019 Schönburger: Thank you all for your patience – the wait is now over with the new vintage of this rare German grape now available!. This wine shows its traditional complex nose of lychee, rose petal and musk. The palate is luscious and persistent, with melon, guava and lychee flavours balanced by an excellent line of underlying acidity, resulting in a wine with a refreshing, clean finish. While ideal with sushi, shellfish or Asian style cuisine, this wine can complement an unusually wide range of foods.
2. 2019 Pinot Grigio: Our premium cool climate Pinot Grigio reveals an aromatic nose of citrus and apples as well as a hint of spice. As is the case with classical ‘Grigio’ wines, the palate is dry and crisp, showcasing a combination of green apple and lemon flavours. Food matches would include spicy Indian and Thai foods, especially those with a touch of sweetness – or even with simple fish and chips!

Interested? These wines are now available here via our secure online store. As always, the minimum order is just 6 bottles, you can “mix and match” the wines in your order and yes – we do accept American Express!

Cheers, Fred

We’re very pleased to announce the arrival of the following new vintage wines:

2017 Estate Pinot Noir – Late last year, this wine was awarded the Trophy for “Best Tasmanian Wine” and also the Trophy for “Best Tasmanian Red Wine” at the 2018 Royal Hobart Wine Show! To back up this dual Trophy success, this wine has also received gold medals both in Australia (2018 Royal Hobart Wine Show and 2019 Sydney International Wine Competition) and overseas (2019 Berliner Wein Trophy Competition, 2019 China “Best Value” Wine & Spirits Awards and 2018 San Francisco International Wine Competition). This cool climate Pinot Noir has a little more palate weight than the 2016 version (reflective of the warm vintage), and has a complex cherry and spice nose. The palate has spicy dark cherries and plums, as well as hints of dark earth and minerals, supported by excellent fine grained tannins. This wine may be enjoyed now or confidently cellared – a great food match would be game dishes. More details of this wine (including other accolades) can be found here.

2018 Pinot Grigio – Pinot Grigio wines are made from the Pinot Gris grape. The reason they are called “Pinot Grigio” is a reference to the style in which the wine is made – usually crisp, fresh and delicious, designed to be chilled and enjoyed young. Our premium cool climate Pinot Grigio reveals a complex nose of apples, pears and mixed spices. The palate is dry and crisp, showcasing a combination of spiced pear and apple flavours. This wine may be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years, when it will gain increased palate richness. Food matches would include spicy Indian and Thai foods, especially those with a touch of sweetness – or even with simple fish and chips! More details of this wine can be found here.

2018 Pinot Rosé – Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this easy drinking style of wine shows enticing flavours of red currants, cranberries and strawberries on the nose and finishes crisp and dry.  Best served chilled, it is ideal for informal entertaining and would suit a wide range of foods –  such as barbequed Tasmanian seafood. More details of this wine can be found here.

Cheers, Fred

 

Did you catch The Weekend Australian Magazine last weekend? If you did, and read the James Halliday wine column, you would have seen that he featured our (just released) 2017 Pinot Noir! James seemed extremely impressed by this wine, awarding it 96 points and praising its “…exceptional finesse, line, length and balance.” The full review is below:

Cheers, Fred

We’re very pleased to announce the arrival of the following new vintage wines:

1. 2012 vintage Cuvée Sparkling – with six years on lees, this is a richly flavoured wine with lemon and almond, yet finishing clean and crisp. It went down fantastically well with patrons at the recent Taste of Tasmania and is perfect with oysters.
2. 2017 Riesling – drawing on fruit from our (now!) 45 year old “Old Vine” block, this wine a little drier than the 2016 version, with lovely citrus and green apple flavours. It has already been awarded 1 gold and 3 silver medals, as well as 95 points from James Halliday, 92 points from Huon Hooke and 4.5 stars from Winestate Magazine.
3. 2017 Chardonnay – released on the 1 of January at the Taste of Tasmania, this is a richer Chardonnay that usual, reflective of a warmer 2017 vintage. Think citrus, grapefruit as well as stone fruit and spicy French oak. While drinking well now – it has already been awarded a double gold medal just last month at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, as well as another gold medal at the 2018 Asia Wine & Spirit Awards – we think this premium wine would also benefit from cellar time.
4. 2017 Cabernet Merlot – a rare wine in the Pinot Noir dominated wine scene of Tasmania, this is our nod to the Bordeaux wines of France. Cassis/blackcurrant and dark plums, herbal hints too, with evident tannins and good acidity. It will evolve into something special with time in the cellar, although it pairs very well with rich meat dishes and strong cheeses now.

You can purchase all of these wines, as well as any of our other current release wines, via our secure online shop here – remember that you can mix and match with the minimum order being only 6 bottles, and we accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Direct Deposit.

At the start of August each year James Halliday – Australia’s pre-eminent wine critic – releases his Wine Companion, with thousands of wines tasted and reviewed. Well, the results are in and we’re very pleased to have received great reviews for a number of our wines. We’re particularly pleased to have achieved our first ever 97 point wine, for our 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir, with James saying that it “[f]ills the senses with its rich purity and clarity of varietal character. It is a pinot that will be very long lived thanks to its balance and length”. We had sold out – but we’ve decided to release a small amount of this wine from our cellar to celebrate! Only a small number of bottles are available and limited to 3 bottles per customer please (why not make up a mixed six pack of this wine and our 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir?). Other great results include:

1. 96 points for our 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir (“abundant depth and richness“),
2. 95 points for each of our 2015 Estate Pinot Noir (“A long and prosperous future awaits”), our 2016 Riesling (“impeccable balance…extra level of depth“) and our 2016 Estate Chardonnay (“effortless display of variety and of place“).
3. 94 points for our 2011 Cuvée Traditionelle sparkling (“follows in the fruit footsteps of the gold medal winning 2010“), our 2016 Reserve Chardonnay(“distinctly greater weight and complexity“) and our 2017 Pinot Rosé (“a striking wine“).

Click on each wine, you’ll find the full text of James’ review under the “Awards” tab. Cheers, Fred

We are very pleased to announce the release of our two Pinot Noir wines from the 2015 vintage – our 2015 limited release Reserve Pinot Noir and also our 2015 Estate Pinot Noir! More details on each of these wines are below….

2015 Reserve Pinot Noir As we have mentioned previously, this wine was awarded the Medallion (Trophy) for “Best Pre 2016 Pinot Noir” at the 2018 WineWise Championship which is an invitation only event exclusively for wines that have already been awarded a gold medal in a selected list of wine shows. The judges commented that our 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir was “Full flavoured and substantial” and “definitely one to cellar”. It also won gold medals at the 2018 Tasmanian Wine Show and the 2017 Royal Melbourne Wine Show. This is a complex and powerful wine, fragrant aromas of dark cherry, blueberries and violets flowing onto a palate showing intense flavours of dark cherry and raspberry, matched by subtle tannins. With excellent length and balance this limited release wine can be enjoyed now, yet will also reward careful cellaring, and is substantial enough to match rich beef dishes such as Cape Grim beef cheeks. More details of this wine can be found here.

2015 Estate Pinot Noir We are very proud that this wine was selected late last year as one of only six Southern Hemisphere 2015 Pinot Noir wines to take part in the invitation only 2018 Stonier International Pinot Noir Tasting. This tasting pits the best Pinot Noir wines of the Northern Hemisphere against the best from the Southern Hemisphere in a blind taste off in Sydney for the elite of the wine industry, including wine writers James Halliday, Huon Hooke, Peter Bourne, Max Allen and Gary Walsh. While we don’t have reviews from all these wine writers (we expect James’ review to be in his 2019 Wine Companion, to be released in August) both Huon and Gary have published reviews. Huon awarded this wine 95 points, commenting “Full-bodied, fleshy, dense and high-extract. A big wine, with lots of persistence…” while Gary awarded it 94 points, writing that the wine showed “Dark cherry, spice, earthy minerally stuff, bit of oak. Fleshy graphite tannin, slight tang to close, length and power. Flamboyant, but very good”.” Made in our traditional fuller bodied style, this cool climate Pinot Noir has a spicy dark cherry nose and an intense dark fruit palate, supported by fine grained tannins. This wine may be enjoyed now or confidentially cellared and you can’t go past the traditional roast duck as an excellent foods match. More details of this wine can be found here.

You can purchase these wines via our secure online shop here – remember that you can mix and match and the minimum order is only 6 bottles.

Finally, a comment on stock levels. The fruit from the 2015 vintage was of excellent quality, with perfect balance between flavour and physiological ripeness – however, yields were significantly down across all southern Australian states, including Tasmania, and so we expect this wine will will sell out well before Christmas.

Cheers, Fred

This month we are very pleased to be releasing two Chardonnay wines from the 2016 vintage – our 2016 limited release Reserve Chardonnay and also our 2016 Estate Chardonnay!

2016 Reserve Chardonnay A gold medal winner at the 2018 Tasmanian Wine Show, also awarded 96 points by wine writer Huon Hooke, who ranked it as the second best Chardonnay from Tasmania in the 2016 vintage (there are 43 wines in this category, so we were very pleased with this result!). This limited release wine shows complex lemon, grapefruit, almond, oatmeal and spicy French oak flavours balanced by crisp, bright acidity. Food matches would include slow cooked Scottsdale pork shoulder. More details of this wine (including the full review from Huon Hooke as well as other accolades) can be found here.

2016 Estate Chardonnay This wine is also a gold medal winner, at the 2017 Australian Cool Climate Wine Show and was also awarded 94 points by Wine Showcase Magazine earlier this year. This premium cool climate Chardonnay showcases a medley of grapefruit, citrus, vanilla and integrated French oak flavours, finishing with intensity and power. You can enjoy this wine now and it will also reward careful cellaring. Food matches would include herb roasted Marion Bay chicken. More details of this wine can be found here.

You can purchase these wines via our secure online shop here – remember that you can mix and match and the minimum order is only 6 bottles.