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ACellars Newsletter 19th October , 2022 - A Rodda Single Vineyard Release + Bruno Duchene + Borachio new release tasting this Saturday + WOTW

by Annandale Cellars

A Rodda

Single Vineyard Release

 

After a decade-long tenure at Oakridge alongside Yarra vigneron, David Bicknell, Adrian Rodda upped sticks in 2010 and moved to Beechworth. This was due, in part, to the fact that he had been given access to the Smith's Vineyard - the oldest plantings of Chardonnay in Beechworth. It was an opportunity too good to pass up.

Two years later, through his connection with Dave Bicknell, Adrian was able to get his hands on a small block of the fabled Willowlake Vineyard in the Yarra. The Chardonnay Project was born.

Using identical vinification methods, Adrian explores and expresses the distinctive terroir of each of these two wonderful sites. Then in 2017, another site became available. The Baxendale Vineyard sits 600m above sea level in the cooler region of Whitlands, and is the third single vineyard wine as seen through the lens of Adrian Rodda.

All of the fruit for each wine is handpicked, then pressed to 500L French oak puncheons, with approximately 30% new. None of the wines go through malolactic fermentation to preserve the freshness and wonderful natural acidity found in the sites, and all of the wines are rested on lees for 10 months, with little to no stirring.

The result is a brilliant display of three unique sites across Victoria, each wine showing incredible character and class.

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Borachio

Tasting this Saturday, October 22nd

3pm - 6pm

 

We've been fans of the Borachio wines for years so we are very excited to be able to have these wines open on Saturday for you to see why. Alicia and Mark, like many of their peers in the hills including their mentor, James Erskine of Jauma have a hospo background which is where their love of "natural" wine was born.

The pair source organic fruit from vineyards across Mount Torrens and Mount Compass in the Adelaide Hills. Their style shifts between kaleidoscopic blends, site driven wines, excellent fizzers and in my opinion some of the best Jura influenced Savagnin and Chardonnay based wines made in Australia. Their Chardonnay Savagnin blend had my head spinning a few years ago when I first tried it deep in one of my Jura benders... I was shocked to try something from Australia that in my opinion would feel much more at home in Arbois than the Adelaide Hills... Also their labels are very good and I've been told that matters quite a bit!

Join us on Saturday to see what's got us so excited!

 

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Bruno Duchene

 

Bruno Duchene has led quite the life! From selling farm machinery, to a wild mushroom salesman, Bruno's done it all. Along the way he somehow caught the wine bug and we are pretty glad he did. ⁠⁠

Mentored by Frederic Cossard - one of the leaders of the new wave of minimal intervention producers in Burgundy - Bruno settled in Banyuls sur Mer and produces wine from steep, low yielding, hillside vines. All organically farmed, wild fermented and whole bunch... My kind of wines!

Bruno's wines have been become cult favourites internationally over the years. He organically farms 4 hectares of low yielding vines in Collioure manually, due to the terraced hillsides the vines are planted on. Many would turn their nose up the amount of work needed to maintain these vines in this terroir given the challenges it presents. Not Bruno though... Attention to detail and constant care in the vineyard means Bruno is able to harvest gorgeous fruit each year and produce energy filled wines.

Very tiny amounts of these sun soaked beauties from the Banyuls available now.

 

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WINE OF THE WEEK

Mas de Libian Buve Zen Rose 2021

Soooo Z'en! From the very centered, grounded people at Mas de Libian. A blend of young vine Grenache, Counoise and Syrah, producing a beautifully balanced and refreshingly dry rose with a lovely floral edge to it. I'll definitely be drinking a bottle with some antipasto on a sunny day sometime soon. - Chris L

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