NEWS LETTER : WINTER 2009
In the depths of a Granite Belt winter we are starting to
organise for the season ahead.
We have been on the road as well. A break in the Hebrides on
Islay tasting whisky and looking at tourist operations was followed by a visit
to Epernay in the Champagne looking at wineries and the pruning of Chardonnay.
We then stayed in Sablet a village on the Rhone, the home of shiraz. The
hospitality from the wine makers in the region was great. Then to Rutherglen to
visit old favourites looking at fortified wine styles as we are about to release
two fortified shiraz bottlings and intend doing a fortified Verdelho in a
classical Madera style. We enjoyed the relatively new Scion winery which was
blending fortified wines with great finesse – using old material with the
careful addition of fresh material adding a whole extra dimension of flavour.
In the Vineyard
At the end of autumn the nets came in. Always a hard task as they get full
of prunings, twisted and tangled, but they are essential to keep the birds off
and the fruit sound.
Bill Lynam takes in the nets before pruning.
The pruning is all finished except for some Cabernet we leave
till last.
Everything is now ready now to plant the Cabernet Franc in late spring. This is
a new variety for us, but we think it will complement our Cabernet Merlot
blends.
In the Winery
The 2008 Shiraz is looking great. We will bottle under 2 labels with the
wine aged in new oak going into a Reserve range. The 2008 Chardonnay which was
aged in new French oak is now ready for bottling.
The 2009 Cabernet in French and American oak is starting to show its class.
The 2008 fortified shiraz also is about to be bottled and is set for the show
circuit.
A New Look
We have a new concept label for the reserve range we are about to release.
Look for it on the shelves later in the year.
At Show
We have just picked up medals at Cowra – the third
largest wine show in Australia. The Chardonnay Verdelho 2007 and the Samuel
Bailey 2007 both won bronze medals.
The Shiraz 2005 has added to its medal tally with a bronze at the Royal
Queensland.
Congratulations to our wine maker Jim Barnes.
Web Page
The Ambar Hill web page has just been revamped thanks to Outrite Computers &
Gaming at Stanthorpe.
Visit
www.ambarhill.com.au.
Ambar Cottage
Council approval has finally come for Ambar Cottage to be let for holiday
visits. Bookings can be made by calling 0407143749 or through the Tourist and
Information Centre in Stanthorpe.
Ambar Cottage :
Country cosy- totally renovated-two double bedrooms- wood fires – 1.5
bathrooms, a modern kitchen with under bench oven and gas top – plus a classic
wood fired slow combustion stove to simmer winter stews or roast a leg of New
England lamb.
The Pig
A big old wild boar has been molesting our vineyard and the vineyard next
door for a couple of years. It was a wily old beast that ate the apples and
molasses in traps set for it but was able to avoid getting caught. It messed up
the vines and nets and dug huge holes in the rows. It is gone! A late night
hunting expedition finally bagged it to the relief of the farmers around us.
Ambar Hill Travels North
We are delighted to announce a North Queensland distributor – Giuseppe
Minoia from First Class Food and Wine in Cairns. Giuseppe’s family are famous
Italian cheese makers who moved to Australia and now make the Vanella range of
buffalo mozzarella cheeses.
Ambar Hill can now be found in many of the best restaurants in Cairns, Palm Cove
and Port Douglas.
Saying thanks – Ambar Hill has sponsored the Far North Queensland Futsal
Stingrays in the National Futsal Competition that will be played in Sydney in
January 2010. Go the STINGRAYS!
And if you are in the far north you can try Ambar Hill with the world’s best
pizzas at Il Forno restaurant at Palm Cove.
And in Cairns you must go on Sky Rail – one of the world’s great ecotourism
attractions.
Ambar Hill continues its long association with the seafood industry. Great
combination. The 2005 Shiraz and the 2007 Chardonnay Verdelho together with
Robert Channon’s new sparkling Chardonnay are being served at Jupiters Casino,
Townsville for the Australian Prawn and Barramundi conference dinner.
Where to Buy
Ambar Hill is on discount at the QA drive in at New Farm and the Friday’s
group of bottle shops is about to do a great promotion. Also try Paddington
Tavern and Emporium.
Ordering
To order in case lots (can be mixed) email gldalton@bigpond.com. We are
still on super special for FAMBARS (Friends of Ambar Hill) for $120 a case
delivered.
Tasting Notes Current Releases
Chardonnay Verdelho 2007
A blend of equal quantities of Chardonnay and Verdelho. This was the first
year they were picked separately, with the Verdelho picked 2 weeks later than
the Chardonnay. They were fermented separately and blended after the first
ferment.
This wine is lower alcohol than previous vintages reflecting an earlier vintage
and the effects of frost at flowering. This was a smaller vintage but the wine
is elegant with strong fruit flavour and some austerity. It has just won a
bronze at the major Cowra wine show showing its class as it ages.
Awards
Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Bronze
Australian Small Winemakers Class 18 2008 Bronze
New England Wine Show 2008 Bronze
Cowra Wine Show 2009 Class 76 Bronze
Shiraz 2007
Very late harvest. We are letting it mature before commercial release but is
available as part of a tasting set.
Awards
New England Wine Show 2008 Bronze
Queensland Wine Awards 2008 Bronze
The Samuel Bailey 2007
A reduced crop was effected by both the extremely cold start to the season
with snow and frosts in November, then stressed by the drought. However, it has
produced fine elegant flavours. The wine was fermented in new French and
American oak barrels purchased specially for this wine. It has just won bronze
at the major Cowra wine show.
Awards
Australian Small Winemakers Class 44 2008 Bronze
New England Wine Show 2008 Silver
Cowra Wine Show 2009 Class 76 Bronze
Chardonnay Verdelho 2006
A blend of equal quantities of Chardonnay and Verdelho picked and fermented
together. The 2006 vintage is a little drier in finish than the previous vintage
and perhaps even more elegant.
Awards:
Australian Small Wine Makers 2006 Silver
Queensland Wine Awards 2006 Bronze
Cairns Wine Show 2007 Bronze
Australian Small Wine Makers 2007 Silver
Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Bronze
New England Wine Show 2008 Best of Class.
Sold Out
Shiraz 2006
Picked very late - on 17 April – perhaps one of the latest Shiraz pickings
in Australia. It has again produced a cool climate wine but bigger flavoured
wine than 2005. The ferment stopped early leaving a slight residual sweetness
that is finding favour with many restaurants.
Awards
Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Bronze
Shiraz 2005
Extremely elegant cool climate shiraz with great fruit flavours and over all
balance. Described by wine writer Tony Harper as having “a seamless, plush
texture..” and “irritatingly” cheap. Brisbane news praised it’s “Rhone like
qualities”
The only Queensland wine in Courier Mail’s list of best Australian wine for
including in a wine cellar. We agree – it is still showing well and winning
medals.
Listed on many Queensland restaurant and hotel wine lists.
Awards
Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Silver
Royal Agricultural Society of Qld 2009 Class 10 Bronze
March Newsletter Dec 2006 Newsletter Austasia Farmed and Fabulous
