Delamere Vintage Cuvee 2018

Description

Delamere Vineyards is one of Tasmania’s longest running family owned and operated wine estates, focused on producing distinguished sparkling (Methode Traditionelle) and still wines from the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varieties. Nestled amongst the cool maritime slopes of Pipers River, in north eastern Tasmania, the vineyard was first established in 1982 placing it amongst the oldest vineyards in the region. With 6.5ha of grapes now established on the property, the age of the vineyard makes it a rare resource in Tasmania, and valuable due to the significant increase in wine quality associated with mature vines. The winery is owned and run by husband and wife vigneron’s Shane Holloway and Fran Austin (formerly of Bay of Fires). Winemaker Fran Austin worked alongside Ed Carr (aka the Wizard of Fizz) during the creation and evolution of Arras super premium Australian sparkling and then as head winemaker at Bay of Fires in Tassie. To say Fran & Shane are passionate about Sparkling is an understatement it is their life!

From the winery: “Our passion for the region of Tasmania, at similar latitude to the Champagne and Burgundy regions in France, arises from a desire to seek out a genuine cold climate that can produce wines of classic structure, combining fruit intensity with refinement, complexity with persistence of flavour, and the ultimate expression and grape and region. The region of Pipers Brook in the north east of Tasmania enjoys a significant climatic advantage that is unique in Australia, that of a very low variability of maximum temperature. This stability is born from a unique set of geographical features, the hot northerly winds are cooled by the waters of Bass Strait, while the cool southerlies gain heat as they cross the island. This, combined with cool, relative temperatures and significant sunshine hours make for ideal conditions to retain delicate aromas. The frosty and sometimes wild conditions of winter give way to clear, crisp, blue sky days through the growing season, allowing the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly, assuring a lingering acidity essential to producing premium cool climate varietals.”

Delamere Vintage Cuvee is made in the Traditional Method, 100 percent estate grown and produced. This single-vineyard wine is grown, vinified, bottled and hand-disgorged on site.  A testament to the world-class quality of the Pipers River region for sparkling wine production. The wine is the result of carefully hand-harvested fruit from the mature chardonnay and pinot noir vines of Delamere Vineyard, reflecting the site’s distinctive soil and location. The careful blending of these two classic sparkling wine varieties produces a wine with great length (from the chardonnay) and a full mid palate (from the pinot).

2018 has arrived and it looks good!

Notes from the winemaker about this release: “In the time leading up to the 2018 vintage, the vines were slow to wake up.  Below average temperatures in July, August and September resulted in a late bud burst, and left us wondering if we were facing a long drawn-out vintage.  Things started to heat up from October onwards however, delivering above average spring and early summer temperatures, and one of the earliest harvests we have seen at Delamere. These unusual conditions produced solid crop levels with gorgeous flavour intensity, coupled with racy acidity. Flavour ripeness came on quickly, so it was all backs to the wheel in a race against time as a compressed vintage unfolded before us.  We are pleased to say that our hard work and long nights prevailed and we emerged out the other side of vintage spent but fulfilled, and above all delighted with our 2018 wines.

“Gentle whole bunch pressing of the fruit and blended whilst still juice, the 2018 Cuvée is an elegant wine representing some excellent characteristics of the vintage. The assemblage consists of a classic 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir. The vintage conditions allowed us to use a large proportion of solids during fermentation to give extra depth and complexity. Five years of tirage age, in tandem with 3g/l dosage, this wine shows a luscious palate with evocative length.

“Remarkably, even nearly six years on tirage, this wine is still quite fruit-driven with Red Delicious apple and fresh lemon. There are some sweet autolysis character reminiscent of fresh croissants, and accentuated by the mouth-filling creamy mousse. Structural and balanced with fine tannins, the dosage of 3g/l vibrantly delivers a perfectly balanced wine with great length and a crisp zesty finish. A wine that will develop brilliantly under cork.”

95 points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review “Light straw-yellow tone with a fine bead showing. Poached granny smiths, crushed raspberry and baking brioche aromas. Palate fills with apple and berry fruits while a deep maturity shines through towards the finish with notes of warm sourdough and warming toffee. The acidity carries it well, lingering in the background, allowing the fine bead to carry the length to a finish that is dry and hinting at secondary umami notes.”

RRP $61   Our Special Price $47.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.