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Garagiste + Tapanappa + Champagne Gosset

by Annandale Cellars

Tapanappa

Tiers Chardonnay Release

The release of the Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay is one of the most anticipated releases in the Australian wine scene each year. The flagship wine from Brian Croser is regarded as one of the top expressions of cool climate Chardonnay produced in Australia and always achieves high praise from all the major wine reviewers and publications.

Brian started Tapanappa in 2002 and is a joint venture between Croser, Bollinger of Champagne, and the Cazes family of Chateau Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux. Croser is a highly respected figure in the Australian wine industry, with over 50 years of experience as a winemaker and viticulturist. His vision for Tapanappa was to create wines that express the unique terroir of each vineyard. Today, Tapanappa is recognised for its exceptional wines that showcase the best of the Fleurieu Peninsula, Piccadilly Valley and Wrattonbully.

Embracing their collective roots, Tapanappa also produces several Bordeaux inspired blends, a range of very fine Burgundian influenced Pinot Noirs, a pair of very elegant Sparkling wines under the Daosa label and have now released an Eden Valley Riesling which has been a customer favourite in the shop!

Included in this release is the Tiers 1.5M Chardonnay, sourced from a younger more densely planted block of the Tiers vineyard. This block is planted with an earlier ripening set of Burgundy clones, giving the wine more of an orchard fruit character. The wine is treated with same level of care as the flagship wine and stands on it's own alongside the flagship Tiers. In addition to this is their Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay, a blend from two vineyards planted 30 years ago that are managed and maintained to this high standards demanded by the Tapanappa team. The 2022 vintage was a near perfect growing season for these two sites offering cool, dry and sunny days letting vines get to full ripeness and offering a snapshot of the Piccadilly Valley Terroir.

These are some of best age worthy examples of cool climate Chardonnay that I know of and have always been a wine that is special for me after sharing many bottles with my father. Hopefully there is many more to come! - Pete L

 

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Champagne Gosset

2008 Celebris Release

Gosset, the oldest wine house in Champagne.

Its history dates back to 1584, some 150 - 200 years before some of the grand household names of Champagne also still around today even came into existence.

Pierre Gosset originally founded the house to produce still red wines, very popular at the time (and for the next century or so) with the kings of France. But of course, in the 18th Century, the Gosset House joined the rising, bubbling revolution in associating the region with the Méthode Traditionelle sparkling wines, severing its tradition of serving still reds to its rolling heads, and writing a new history. Whilst Gosset might today be one of the smallest of the Grande Marque ("great brand") Champagne producers, its history and reputation are deeply embedded with each and every bottle. Literally every bottle- the iconic narrow-necked flasked bottle shape synonymous with the brand has been used by Gosset since that bubbling revolution of the 18th Century!

Gosset work with more than 200 growers in 70-odd Grand and Premier Cru sites around Champagne, and their signature style avoids malolactic fermentation (the conversion of
tart, sharp malic acid to buttery, soft lactic acid) to preserve fruit purity and terroir. They are also renowned for the lengthy time the ferments spend maturing on their lees; whilst Champagne dictates that non-vintage cuvées spend
2-3 years resting in the cellar, developing their tertiary characteristics prior to disgorgement and release, Gosset's Grande Réserve spends a minimum of 4 years, and the prestige wines, only released in exceptional vintages, can spend up to 15 years, resulting in cuvées of incredible complexity and ageability.

The 2008 vintage in the Champagne region is widely considered to be an exceptional vintage, characterised by ideal weather conditions that allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness and produce wines of exceptional quality. The 2008 vintage is often compared to other great vintages such as 1996 and 2002, and is considered by many to be one of the best vintages of the past decade. Certainly everything that we have tried would confirm this!

Finally Gosset Champagne have released their 2008 Celebris Champagne and 2008 Celebris Champagne Rose. These champagnes are made using a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, which are carefully selected from some of the best vineyards in the region. The resulting wines were aged for 12 years in Gosset's cellars, allowing them to develop complex aromas and flavours that are characteristic of the best vintage champagnes. - Peta W

The 2008 Celebris Champagne is characterised by its intense aromas of citrus, white flowers, and toasted bread, with a palate that is rich and full-bodied, with a long, lingering finish. The 2008 Celebris Champagne Rose, on the other hand, is a delicate and elegant champagne, with notes of red fruits and spices that are complemented by a subtle minerality and a silky texture.

Overall, the 2008 vintage was an excellent year for champagne, and Gosset's 2008 Celebris Champagne and 2008 Celebris Champagne Rose are a testament to the quality and excellence that can be achieved in exceptional vintages. These champagnes are the perfect choice for special occasions.

The Gosset Champagnes are always in the fridge at the shop and quite often found in our fridges at home too! They are truly a benchmark producer for the region and the Celebris wines embody the very best of what the region has to offer. The other wines in the range from their Grande Réserve NV to their single varietal Champagnes and Millésimé releases are wines that we are constantly recommending to customers. They are classic, elegant and will never let you down. - Pete L

 

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Garagiste Wines

Tasting Saturday 22nd

3pm - 6pm

Garagiste is a highly-regarded wine label based in Victoria, Australia, known for its small-batch Mornington Peninsula wines that prioritize single-site, sub-regional expressions of the region. Founder Barnaby Flanders sources high-quality fruit from Tuerong, Moorooduc, Merricks, Merricks North, Red Hill, and Main Ridge, with the highest-quality fruit coming from the Merricks Grove vineyard. The Merricks Grove site is predominately south-facing with undulations and variations and grey sandy loams marbled with red ironstone. The unique factors, including altitude and volcanic influence, contribute to Garagiste's finest, most linear and savoury expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Flanders' winemaking process includes precise picking to capture acidity, whole bunch pressing for the Chardonnay, natural ferments, and a maximum of 20 to 35% new oak. Maturation occurs in large barrels, resulting in fresher wines for keeping. The wines are neither fined nor filtered. Flanders manages all aspects of the viticulture and winemaking himself, which is relatively uncommon in the Australian wine scene.

Garagiste's Pinot Noirs have a pleasing texture while remaining composed, fresh, and complex. The Chardonnays are taut, linear, and immensely satisfying. In addition to the main Garagiste label, the entry-level wines under the Le Stagiaire banner are also delicious. - Pete L

 

 

 

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