Translation missing: en.ACellars Newsletter, 29th April, 2021: ACellars Newsletter, 29th April, 2021
LAMBERT WINES
Luke Lambert is the enigmatic figure behind Lambert Wines. Rather than seeking the spotlight, Luke is quite a shy, softly spoken guy, who prefers to let his wines do the talking. And boy, do they talk.
For many years we've been huge supporters of Luke's wines. Many of you will recall the mad scramble to secure a few bottles of his 2019 release. Well, get your fighting pants on, because the 2020 outturn is even smaller.
Being somewhat of a perfectionist, Luke wasn't happy with the Syrah fruit in 2020, and so, like many winemakers last year, decided not to damage his brand by producing an inferior product. This means that there is no estate Syrah, or even Crudo Shiraz (Luke's second label).
Instead, he focused on the Chardonnay, which is looking better than ever. The 2020 Chardonnay marks a slight shift in style, with Luke now also sourcing fruit from a second parcel in the same vineyard. This new parcel lies on a sunnier slope facing northwest, and has double the vine density and a higher proportion of red volcanic soil. This all adds more muscle and layers to the spine of the fruit from the eastern-facing slope. Both blocks are now blended together, enhancing the wine's texture while still retaining the coolness and elegance inherent in the Tibooburra DNA.
He's also released his 2020 Crudo Chardonnay which, to be honest, is not a huge step behind the black label. Crackling with energy and fleshed out with citrus and stonefruits on the palate, it offers incredible value for the price.
These wines sell out every year, and will so again, so don't wait!
Click here to get the Lambert Wine 2020s
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Awesome Fresh Drops this week from a host of new producers for us.
Kicking things off are a couple of Pet Nats from Michael Corbett's La Petite Vanguard label. They're super fresh - in fact, they're the first 2021s we've tried this year - one made from Vermentino, and the other a Grenache Rose.
Next up we've got a beautiful 2017 Riquewihr Riesling from Domaine Trapet. Biodynamic fruit raised in a mix of concrete tank and large format, neutral oak. One of the best Alsatian Rieslings we've tried in a while.
Then we skip across the border into Germany, specifically the Rheinhessen, for the 2019 Martin Worner "Marto" Weiss. It's a wonderful field blend of Riesling, Muller Thurgau, Silvaner, and several other native varieties, with some parcels left on skins - so a textural wine, rather than 'orange.' A really exciting modern German white.
Sticking with modern whites, we then travel to Austria with the 2019 Rennersistas Intergalactic. A playful blend of Welschriesling, Gruner, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat, co-fermented and left on skins for 4 days. It sits somewhere between a white and an orange wine. Biodynamic too.
Finally we return to home shores with the new 2018 Sucette Grenache from An Approach to Relaxation. Based in the Barossa, winemakers Richard and Carla Betts source old-vine, dry-grown fruit to craft this stunning Grenache. New world wine, with an old world heart.
La Petite Vanguard Vermentino Pet Nat 2021 - $32 / $27.20 in a six
La Petite Vanguard Grenache Rose Pet Nat 2021 - $32 / $27.20 in a six
Domaine Trapet Riquewihr Riesling 2017 - $45 / $38.25 in a six
Martin Worner Marto Weiss 2019 - $54 / $45.90 in a six
Rennersistas Intergalactic 2019 - $49 / $41.65 in a six
An Approach to Relaxation Sucette Grenache 2018 - $48 / $40.80 in a six
