New World Roadshow – Results - 01.10.09

New World Roadshow – Cambridge, Sept 2009



On Tueday this week I headed over to a New World Roadshow tasting being held in Cambridge. As an overview I can report that the general quality levels were exceptional, suggesting (again) that quality-conscious producers in South Africa, South America, USA, Australia and New Zealand are producing finer and finer wines. Never in danger of losing the New World characteristics there are a growing number of wines that are matching the classic European characters of elegance, finesse and longevity.

Having tasted almost 200 wines from a number of leading producers I have highlighted my pick of the bunch which are quite fabulous wines – available in cases of 6 bottles or as a New World sampler case of 3 of each at just £145.00



White Wines

Henschke ‘Louis’ Semillon 2007, Australia

Most people know Henschke for their iconic reds, most notably Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace but on occasion their white wines are truly exceptional too. This Semillon is named Louis Edmund Henschke (1919-1990) who was the fourth generation to manage the famed Hill of Grace vineyard and to first establish the full organic principles the estate adheres to today. The Semillon vines that yield the fruit for this wine were planted 50 years ago in the Eden Valley, and their age must contribute to the special character of this wine. I sometimes find the well known classic Semillon wines of the Hunter Valley overly tart and a little ‘singular’ in their profile. The Louis 07 has lovely, rounded and textured feel and delicious flavours of apple, mango and spiced apple. They use a little oak for maturation of 26% of the fruit (in previously used barrels) and also allow plenty of lees aging for the unoaked proportion. This gives the wine remarkable depth and complexity. Like all great Semillon wines it will also cellar for many years. It was easily my preferred white wine of the day.

£95.70 per case of 6



Amaral Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Chile

The buzz region in South America right now is the cool climate region of Leyda which was awarded it’s own geographical wine producing license around 6 years ago. All the big producers have flocked there to plant cool climate varieties like Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and the results are very exciting. One of the first groups to plant were Mont Gras who have been producing wines under the Amaral label for a few years now. The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, released earlier this year, is a clear illustration of why we should be excited about this new region. If you like ice-like freshness, mineral purity and fragile, wafer-like layers of flavour then Leyda, and more significantly, Amaral can deliver. In short, the wine is distinctive and delicious.

£57.00 per case of 6





Red Wines



Peter Lehmann Futures Shiraz 2006, Australia

We’ve been quietly selling previous vintages of Futures Shiraz for a couple of years now and it’s always been a wine which combined some quite ‘grown-up’ flavour characteristics with an immediately enjoyable style. A consecutive series of exciting vintages in South Australia have helped things along but even so, the step up quality as regards to The Futures 2006 is quite remarkable. Of course there is the underlying power and depth that is de rigour in Barossa Shiraz but additional layers of flavour were immediately apparent – giving credence to the suggestion that this wine is a £20 wine lurking around the £10 price tag. I really was staggered by the quality here and have double and triple checked the price to make sure I wasn’t missing something. And if you’re wondering about the name, back in the early 80s, when times were tough for Lehmann, they sold their top wine to local wine lovers two years in advance to give themselves some much needed cash flow. Fortunately we don’t have to wait that long these days! This is another wine that will age gracefully for several years.

£65.94 per case of 6



Glen Carlou Syrah 2006, South Africa

I’d heard a few murmurings about the 2006 Syrah from Glen Carlou from one or two wine trade colleagues earlier this year, but hadn’t had a chance to taste the wine. What I didn’t know is how seriously the Glen Carlou estate take Syrah production, in my mind I had them down as a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist. Their winemaker explained that recently Syrah has become their standard-bearer and as a result of that they are investing more and more heavily in this variety. Their biggest strategic leap forward has been to declassify half the crop, ensuring that the fruit that makes the grade is the highest standard only. Stylistically the wine has a character that is part New World and part Northern Rhone. Fermentation takes place in 50% new and 2nd fill 225lt French Oak, 50% New American oak barrels and the barrel ageing takes place for 12 months in very fines French oak from Alliers and USA Minnesota white oak. Particularly pleasing in this wine was the balance between primary red fruit flavours and the spice, leather and herb flavours that run through the background as secondary flavours. More pleasing still was the complexity and complete lack of bitterness that dominates the very broad finish.

£70.98 per case of 6.



Mixed Sampler Case – includes 3 bottles of each: £145.00



Other honourable mentions must go to Iona of South Africa as their soon to land 09 Sauvigon and 07 Syrah wines are breathtaking and to Mount Langi Ghian. We’ll be offering their 05 Estate Red later this month – a wine that has been highlighted as one of the wines of the year by just about every well-informed Australian wine critic. Also performing well were Yering Station of Victoria, Ninquen of Chile and the resurgent Xanadu estate of Margaret River.