I just read a shocking news that, Len Evans, known by many as the "godfather of Australian Wine" has died of heart attack on August 17, 2006 at the age of 75. Like Robert Mondavi of California, Evens vision and his tireless in promoting Australian wine around the World is highly regarded and respected by his peers and wine enthusiast around the World. His departure is clearly a great lost for the Australian wine industry and those who are inspired by his passion and love for Australian wine. He will be missed by those who fortunately to make acquaintance with this giant.
I meet Kevin Mitchell, winemaker & director of Kilikanoon early this week. This emerging star producer comes from Clare Valley, northern-most of South Australia, where previously, I had spent some wonderful time staying in the beautiful Clare Country Club.
Clare Valley is widely known for their outstanding dry Riesling made famous by producers such as Jeff Grosset -Polish Hill and Watervale, Petaluma - Hanlin Hill and Knappstein. Despite, equally, there are many red wine production coming from this supposedly cool zone (quite contrast on day and night temperature) of South Australia. Many are either struggle to get their fruit ripe, with its distinctive herbal, bell pepper or eucalyptus tone, or they simply lack concentration. Despite that, I continue to admire wine made by Tony Bradly of Wendouree, Tim Adams with its' The Aberfeldy, Jim Barry with its' The Armagh, however, those remained to be small minority.
The recent surfaced producers such as Stephanie Toole of Mount Horrocks, Lengs and Cooter and now, Kilikanoon, has begun to capture consumer attention that Clare Valley can also produce equally sounding reds.
Winemaker Kevin Mitchell purchased the Kilikanoon property in 1997 after leaving wine giant, Hardy. Mitchell's family members are all associated with wine production. Both of his parents are grape grower in Clare Valley; his uncle, Andrew Mitchell, owned the Mitchell Estate in Sevenhill; his brother-in-law make wine in Barossa Valley Estate. Mitchell's life is destined to be associated with wine. After his early apprenticeship at D'Arenberg in 1993, he worked for Kingston Estate, Orlando and others. He then left for California in 1996, and spent a year working in both Kendall Jackson in Sonoma and Willamette Valley vineyard in Oregon.
I meet Kevin Mitchell, winemaker & director of Kilikanoon early this week. This emerging star producer comes from Clare Valley, northern-most of South Australia, where previously, I had spent some wonderful time staying in the beautiful Clare Country Club.
Clare Valley is widely known for their outstanding dry Riesling made famous by producers such as Jeff Grosset -Polish Hill and Watervale, Petaluma - Hanlin Hill and Knappstein. Despite, equally, there are many red wine production coming from this supposedly cool zone (quite contrast on day and night temperature) of South Australia. Many are either struggle to get their fruit ripe, with its distinctive herbal, bell pepper or eucalyptus tone, or they simply lack concentration. Despite that, I continue to admire wine made by Tony Bradly of Wendouree, Tim Adams with its' The Aberfeldy, Jim Barry with its' The Armagh, however, those remained to be small minority.
The recent surfaced producers such as Stephanie Toole of Mount Horrocks, Lengs and Cooter and now, Kilikanoon, has begun to capture consumer attention that Clare Valley can also produce equally sounding reds.
Winemaker Kevin Mitchell purchased the Kilikanoon property in 1997 after leaving wine giant, Hardy. Mitchell's family members are all associated with wine production. Both of his parents are grape grower in Clare Valley; his uncle, Andrew Mitchell, owned the Mitchell Estate in Sevenhill; his brother-in-law make wine in Barossa Valley Estate. Mitchell's life is destined to be associated with wine. After his early apprenticeship at D'Arenberg in 1993, he worked for Kingston Estate, Orlando and others. He then left for California in 1996, and spent a year working in both Kendall Jackson in Sonoma and Willamette Valley vineyard in Oregon.
Mitchell's winemaking secret lies on his old vine and to his belief, Leasingham, where most of his Clare Valley vineyards are from, is amongst the finest site that enables thorough ripening of his reds. Besides his Mclaren Vale fruit are out sourced. All his Barossa and Clare vineyards are estate own. He started off making only three wines - Riesling from Mort's Block, Grenache "Prodigal" and a Shiraz. Over the years, it has increase to more than dozen of different labels today. At the bottom value end, you have "The Lackey" shiraz, follow with a series of reds and whites under Killermans Run label. Above that, you have what he would consider a "regional varietal" label, with name such as "Parable" shiraz from McLaren Vale, "Secret Places" shiraz from Barossa Valley and "Covenant" from Clare Valley. He also make a Cabernet Sauvignon under "Blocks Road" and a Grenache called, "Prodigal" and a GSM blend, Medley. His reserve line consists Shiraz "M", which symbolized fruit from McLaren Vale, "Reserve Green" from Barossa Valley and "Oracle" from Clare Valley. Those are highly individualistic wine that Mitchell decided to bottle them separately. Since it first appeared in 1998 vintage, it has consistently been rated among the very best shiraz from Australia. In 2002, Mitchell introduced his top of the pyramid cuvee, Reserve Shiraz and in the near future, a Crème de la Crème called, "Attunga 1865", which is a shiraz sourced primary from an old vineyard believed to be the very first planted shiraz in Clare Valley will be introduce. Don't miss the following great offers. (Aug 06)
No comments:
Post a Comment