Latest news with #CabernetFranc
Man of Many
5 days ago
- Business
- Man of Many
Wynns Coonawarra Estate's Latest Collection is Luxury Winemaking at its Finest
By Rob Edwards - Sponsored Published: 2 June 2025 |Last Updated: 29 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. When a winery has roots going back over 160 years, it's hard to comprehend the depth of expertise built over countless decades and generations of winemaking. So, it is with Wynns Coonawarra Estate. This purveyor of luxury drops boasts world-class credentials and is famed for delivering depth of flavour and unwavering quality, meaning each release is marked on the calendars of discerning wine lovers everywhere. Wynns Senior Winemaker Sue Hodder | Image: Wynns Under the leadership of senior winemaker Sue Hodder and winemaker Sarah Pidgeon—joint winners of 'Winemaker of the Year' at the 2016 Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) Awards for Excellence—Wynns has only seen its already considerable prestige grow over the last decade. Now, these skilled artisans of the Coonawarra region are preparing to launch their finest annual release yet: the Wynns Coonawarra Estate Luxury Collection. On June 4th, this stunning launch is set to establish a new benchmark for wines from South Australia and beyond. The collection of five premium drops will include a pair of releases never seen before, one of which is a limited edition, only serving to raise our anticipation. In fact, the releases already have us daydreaming about that first satisfying twist that opens a fresh bottle, so let's take a closer look at this outstanding collection of Coonawarra's finest from the masters at Wynns. Michael Shiraz 2022 | Image: Wynns Wynns Michael Shiraz 2022 Named after the first son of David Wynn (the Melbourne-based winemaker who purchased the winery with his father in 1951), this is Wynns Coonawarra Estate's best-of-vintage Shiraz, meaning any release is an event. Harnessing fruit from the best vineyard sites in Coonawarra, this wine is only made when fruit of the necessary quality is available, so you can expect demand for this one to be high. Price: AUD$150 Single Vineyard Childs Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 | Image: Wynns Wynns Single Vineyard Childs Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Another special offering, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a single vineyard selected by Wynns to be bottled separately — a tradition Wynns maintains with each vintage. In 2022, it was decided the Childs Vineyard on V&A Lane was deserving of this honour, with the resulting wine showcasing the vineyard's signature superfine tannins and intricate layers. Planted in 1969, the Childs Cabernet Sauvignon has been a long-time contributor to Wynns outstanding offerings, and this release is further justification of its elevated status. Price: AUD$80 Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2024 | Image: Wynns Wynns Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2024 Lovingly produced using fruit from the McKillop Vineyard in Coonawarra's north, this vintage marks the first release of a straight-varietal, limited-edition Cabernet Franc. Thanks to a dry and mild-to-warm picking period with lower yields, the resulting wine boasts incredible brightness, balanced fruit, and intense varietal expression. The wine also features a striking vibrancy that arrives courtesy of a shorter maceration period and maturation in neutral 3000L French oak vats, making it perfect for immediate enjoyment or cellaring over the short to medium term. Price: AUD$80 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 | Image: Wynns Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 First introduced almost 70 years ago, Wynns Black Label Cabernet has a well-earned reputation for striking varietal and regional characteristics as well as its graceful ageing. Produced using only the top quality 20 to 25 per cent of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in Wynns' Terra Rossa vineyards, it has proved itself one of Australia's most collectable wines, setting the standard by which other Australian Cabernet Sauvignons are judged. Price: AUD$45 Black Label Messenger Chardonnay 2024 | Image: Wynns Wynns Black Label Messenger Chardonnay 2024 To round out the collection, we have the inaugural release of Wynns' Black Label Messenger Chardonnay. Selecting fruit from the Messenger Vineyard, located at the southern end of Coonawarra's Terra Rossa strip, this release showcases a wonderful depth of fruit flavour that's delightfully paired with a firm acidity. Thanks to hand-picked grapes, whole-bunch pressing, barrel ageing, and malolactic fermentation, this luxurious white wine is equal parts smooth in texture, complex, and bright. Price: AUD$45 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Gables | Image: Wynns The Wynns Coonawarra Estate Luxury Collection is another incredible offering from one of Australia's most beloved winemakers. It is available from Wednesday, 4th June 2025, via Wynns' online boutique, major retailers nationwide as well as fine wine retailers around Australia. Discover more via the link below.
Forbes
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Bordeaux Wine Vintage 2024 – Varied, Challenging, Aromatic, Precise
Cabernet Franc grapes at Château Angélus, Bordeaux, France How fares Bordeaux wine vintage of 2024? That answer differa depending on who and where you ask, and whether you mean now or in the future. 'It's called the Olympic vintage, because to go to the Olympic Games you have to work very hard,' explained Pierre Courdurié of Clos de Labrie in Saint-Émilion. Weather paints part of the signature for each wine vintage, and a graphic from Cháteau La Lagune on the left bank of the Gironde Estuary tells a story. Rainfall was significantly higher than average during the months of February, March and May of 2024, while temperatures were higher than average during February, March and April. These conditions were conducive to diseases such mildew and botrytis, which winemakers resist by treating vines or removing leaves to improve air circulation. This focused work required additional labor and time, which larger estates had better capacities to fund. 'It was the vintage of great terroirs,' said winemaker Vincent Priou of Château Petit Village and Cháteau Beuregard in Pomerol on the right bank, Bordeaux. He added that it was likely the most challenging vintage he has faced in his 34 years of experience. Château Beauregard, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France There was frost for four days between April 19 and 23rd, followed by mildew and coulure on flowers in early June. These conditions resulted in some producers losing a quarter of their grapes. When storms arrived at the end of August, the choice of when to harvest turned critical. 'You had to be precise because it rained. You had to be sure the grapes were ripe,' Courdurié emphasized. Caroline Techeyney, owner or Vignobles Jade, agreed. 'There were thunderstorms and a lot of rain at key moments in the vines' growth. September was very complicated. We try to pick at the right maturity—not too ripe and not underripe.' More grapes were lost when they reached the winery after harvest. After inspection, defective grapes were discarded at a sorting table and perhaps again via technology such as laser optical or densimetric sorting equipment. 'Vinify the good plots correctly and then discard what's not right,' stated Thomas Peré, wine quality director for the wine properties of Pierre Jean Larraque. 'It's not a vintage of the century, but there are still some reds where we've managed to bring them to a good level and get some nice results.' Courdurié emphasized that a decade and a half ago most winemakers would not have had the technological tools to sort grapes as precisely as now. That point highlights that those who cannot afford such technology are at a disadvantage for producing quality wine after the challenging conditions of 2024. Winery owners Pierre Courdurié (right) of Croix de Labrie and Jean-Charles Joris of Chateau La Marzelle '2024 was an extremely costly vintage to produce,' wrote Colin Hay of The Drinks Business publication. Undoubtedly those lacking financial resources to fund adequate staff or equipment were at greater risk. Wine producers responded as best they could to challenges. 'A fireman doesn't complain about going to the fire,' said Benjamin Laforet from Château Angélus in Saint-Émilion. After picking, vinification was gentle and at low temperatures for many producers, who also chose to steer clear of using excessive new oak for aging. Apart from the physical demands of tending vines, what wine quality resulted? First, there is little consistency across the region, meaning the vintage is not heterogeneous. 'Between the unpredictable weather, the hail, and the disease pressure—we've seen very different ripening times depending on the appellation,' explained Thomas Peré. 'Across the Gironde region, it's very different. Even within each region, it's different. To say that 2024 is an excellent vintage or a bad vintage is not true. Some vineyards found it difficult. For others it was typical, and for others it was very good. It will be a matter of searching each region for the gems that have come out well.' Second, it was a vintage for lightness in terms of body, as well as in levels of alcohol. 'It wasn't a vintage for making powerful wines, because the climate wasn't right for making such intensity,' explained Yann Monties, technical director of Château La Dominique in Saint-Émilion. Henri Parent, co-owner of Château Le Gay and Château La Violette in Pomerol, Bordeaux Pierre Courdurié compared it to the stellar and benchmark vintage of 2022. 'It doesn't have the density on the palate and we don't have very powerful tannins compared to 2022. We're not going to see wines that are ostentatious.' Many wines I sampled in April include alcohol levels that range between 12.5% and 13.5%. At one individual tasting of 40 wines from different châteaux, the highest alcohol level was 13.7%. This lower alcohol, incidentally or coincidentally, pairs with current consumer demand trends. Third, many aromatics are perfumed and pronounced to a higher degree than any vintage during the past decade. There is semblance to Beaujolais crus, though with greater structure. Many I sampled included unusually fine, delicate, precise and attractive aromas. 'We have aromatics that are just superior to 2022,' Courdurié of Clos de Labrie noted. 'We kept the bright, vibrant side of the aromatics.' 'The wines of the 2024 vintage are distinguished by remarkable tension and delicate aromatic expression,' Château La Dominique stated. Benjamin Laforet of Château Angélus said. 'To simply translate the crisp side of the Merlot, with its freshness and floral notes, we had to preserve and protect them so carefully.' Fourth, flavors are generally also light, fine and precise and include young ripe red fruit. Vineyard in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France 'The vintage was difficult to understand,' explained Karl Todeschini, winemaker and co-owner of Château Mangot. 'There was enormous work in the vines and a lot of thinking in the cellar. It needed lots of courage to get the expression—which is straightforward purity and delicacy.' Fifth, of four components of fruit, acidity, tannins and alcohol, acidity appears prominent and may help wines from this vintage age well. 'The freshness is perfect and the wines will age well because of the acidity,' oenologist Philippe Nunes from right bank Bordeaux and Entre-Deux-Mers said. 'It's a vintage that, in my opinion, will keep much longer than other vintages that aren't that old,' Courdurié emphasized. Sixth, many wines include a persistent and attractive length. 'The finish is long and comes back in successive layers,' Courdurié said, reflecting my own notes from tasting dozens of 2024 wines. 'We have a lot of precision in the wines, with refined and more precise length,' he noted. Seventh, tannins can be low key but supple. 'Very silky, cashmere-like tannins, very elegant, very chiseled,' Courdurie noted. Château Angelus agreed, stating that the palate includes 'rich tannins with the texture of cashmere.' Eighth, white wines from vintage 2024 fared especially well. Concrete fermentation tanks in Château Beauregard, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France The year 2024 is the fourth year that Vignobles Jade has produced white wine. Owner Caroline Teycheney noted that, 'Our Bordeaux white wine has a beautiful expression and we're developing a distinct style with Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon.' Courdurie agreed, noting that, 'It's a very good year for white wine.' Ninth, the difference between good and poor quality wines for vintage 2024 is large. Although various winemakers mentioned that the vintage is superior to 2021, my limited tasting indicated that the range of difference between excellent and poor quality wines from this vintage is more noticeable than that of vintage 2021. Wines of poor quality from vintage 2024 include excessive green notes in both aromas and flavors and often disjointed flavors. Tenth, wines are ready to drink now, but many are likely to keep for a long time. 'These wines that are drinkable, easy to digest. But it's also definitely a vintage to keep,' Courdurie noted. Fresh fish and white wine during En Primeurs wine tasting in Bordeaux, France In summary? 2024 was a challenging vintage. Winemakers with financial and technical resources and good terroir fared well, whereas those unable to put in the required hard effort faced challenges achieving quality. Aromas from vintage 2024 can be beautifully perfumed, fruit flavors fine, light and precise, and acidity dominant to help wines age well. Many are fresh and ready to drink now, although certainly not all; a good percentage will need years to better integrate components. The length of some wines can be amazing, and this vintage favors wines. The best from Bordeaux 2024 will be remembered for lightness, delicacy and aromatic beauty. Tasting notes for a representative selected wines are included in these two companion articles titled Bordeaux Vintage 2024 - Tasting Notes For Right Bank Red Wines, and Bordeaux Vintage 2024 Tasting Notes - Left Bank, EDM And White Wines.
Chicago Tribune
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego festival puts spotlight on Illinois wineries
Wine lovers flocked to Oswego over the weekend for the annual Wine on the Fox festival held at Hudson Crossing Park along the east bank of the Fox River in the village's downtown. The region's first outdoor spring festival – held Saturday and Sunday – featured more than 100 varietals and blends from Illinois wineries. Bill Fox of Oakbrook Terrace returned to visit his favorite wineries and get acquainted with new ones at the event. He's known among his group of friends as a 'fancy' wine taster because of his slow and steady approach to tasting. 'I gently swirl the glass and use my sense of smell,' Fox said. 'My friends think this is a fancy way to taste wine. It does work.' Experiencing the wine bouquet is almost as good as the wine itself, Fox said while enjoying an offering from Acquaviva Winery, a family-owned 85-acre estate vineyard and winery based in Maple Park. More than 40 acres are under vine there to produce wine for a variety of tastes. 'We harvest and produce on-site,' co-owner Vito Brandonisio said. The family-owned business includes five siblings plus grandchildren, some of whom are beginning to work in the winery as they become of age, Brandonisio said. The Maple Park winery's Don Giuseppe – a dry wine – is named in honor of his grandfather, he said. 'My grandfather had a vineyard in Acquaviva, Italy,' he said. Melanie Hess and Mary Toman enjoyed the Strawberry Peach Sangria – a semi-sweet rose blend – from August Hill Winery in Utica. 'It has the perfect fruity taste,' said Hess, of Yorkville. Toman, of Schaumburg, appreciated its aroma. 'It's a light wine for a sunny spring day,' Toman said. The women said samplings from Illinois wineries at the event were a refreshing change from store-bought labels. Galena Cellars returned to Wine on the Fox, now in its 19th year. 'The Wine on the Fox kicks off our festival season,' Galena Cellars Brand Ambassador Britt White said. She said that Wine on the Fox's turnout is great and the camaraderie of wineries at the event is wonderful. 'The festival runs smoothly from start to finish. Quite honestly, the folks who come are always in a really good mood and that's great for the wineries,' White said. Galena Cellars, which has a tasting room in downtown Galena, is known as one of Illinois' pioneering wineries. 'Our Cabernet Franc won a double gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. We're very proud of that,' she said. Galena Cellars is preparing to officially release a red raspberry sweet red wine, White said. However, the producer did offer some tastings specially for Wine on the Fox, she said. Lisa and Bob Barry are owners of Tres Rojas Winery in Washington, Illinois. The winery's strawberry sweet fruit wine seemed to appeal to festival attendees. 'It's 100% strawberries,' Lisa Barry said. Thanks to the variety of wines and the ambiance, Tracy Gonzalez of Manteo said the festival is a must for her. 'I keep coming back to the Oswego Wine on the Fox every year,' Gonzalez said. 'I appreciate the friendly atmosphere, fine wine and live music.'
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
New French Brand Aims To Build Bridges With Sancerre Wine
Sauvignon Blanc grapes grow in the idyllic Lionel Gosseaume Vineyards. Barbara Banke, president of Jackson Family Wines, fell in love with Sancerre, the Loire Valley's signature version of Sauvignon Blanc. So, she and her team began investigating the possibility of creating a whole brand dedicated to this very French expression of Sauvignon Blanc in 2022, but instead of just focusing on one varietal from vineyards that traverse France's longest river, the Loire, in central France, they decided to create an entire brand focused on the beautiful wines of the Loire called Passerelles. The French name means for 'footbridges,' and it evokes the many bridges that connect winegrowers and wine lovers in this historic river valley. 'The Loire might not be as famous (for wine) with consumers, but it was the playground for royalty,' says Gilian Handelman, vice president of wine education. 'That's why you see extraordinarily old estates and chateaux with these really grand, beautiful landscapes, but at the same time, the wines here are arguably the best values in all of Europe.' 'It's remained humble, and it hasn't been overinflated because it has returned to farming instead of international glitz,' Handelman continues. 'There are lot of young people making wines from these vineyards that are extraordinary.' The Passerelles portfolio currently includes two Sauvignon Blanc wines, a Chenin Blanc, and a Cabernet Franc. The Passerelles brand launched quietly last year, but they official launched the brand in February this year, with the release of 2023 Passerelles Sancerre ($40)) and 2023 Passerelles Touraine Oisly ($30), both Sauvignon Blancs, as well as the 2023 Passerelles Anjou Blanc ($25), a Chenin Blanc, and the 2022 Passerelles Saumur Rouge ($35), a Cabernet Franc. The debut of Passerelles couldn't come at a more advantageous time, as many wine drinkers are shifting from red to whites, says Eugenia Keegan, senior vice president of winemaking. 'They make dry, racy white wines, and as the demand has shifted away from big reds, the timing of the investment of these young people who understand these old estates is great,' Keegan says. 'It's a very special time for the Loire.' 'They make dry, racy white wines, and as the demand has shifted away from big reds, the timing of the investment of these young people who understand these old estates is great,' Keegan says. 'It's a very special time for the Loire.' Passarelles is right on trend. Wine Business notes that consumers continue to clamor for Sauvignon Blanc. 'Sauvignon Blanc remains in favor with consumers,' the journal notes. 'It was the sole varietal among the top 10 sold through NIQ off-premise outlets last year to show growth in both sales value, up 6 percent and volume, up nearly 2 percent.' Also, according to Numerator, the top two wines with increased buy rate among Millennials in the past year are Chenin Blanc, which has a growth of 34 percent, and Cabernet Franc, which has a growth of 22 percent. Sancerre has the potential to grow among young American wine consumers, Keegan says. 'Sauvignon Blanc continues to grow in the double digits,' Handelman says. 'There's a richness to these wines that doesn't come from alcohol or oak - it comes from smart farming and concentrating the chemistry and flavors in the vineyards.' To develop the brand, Keegan and Handelman worked with Dimitri Mesnard, a certified master sommelier and division vice president and international brand ambassador, Marcia Torres Forno, consulting winemaker, as well as four different wine growers in the Loire Valley: Lionel Gosseaume in Touraine Oisly, Domaine Michel Girard et Fils in Sancerre, Thibaut Henrion at domaine de la Treille in Anjou, and Franck Bimont at Domaine des Guyons in Saumur. Passerelles aims to educate Sauvignon Blanc drinkers about the finer points of Sancerre.'People consider Sancerre its own thing,' Keegan says. 'It's really defined in its own category.'
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
In Search Of A Gentler Tuscany: The Story Of Ampeleia Winery
Ampeleia's vineyards and winery afford stunning views of the nearby medieval town of Roccatederighi. Ampeleia From its hillside perch in the Colline Metallifere, Ampeleia Winery looks out over a patchwork of woodlands and olive groves. On early autumn mornings, fog gathers in the folds below the vineyards before lifting with the sun to reveal distant ridgelines. To anyone who has toured wineries in Tuscany, the setting rings of the Italian hinterland. The red-tiled rooftops of the medieval village of Roccatederighi, within view of the winery's terrace, a handy giveaway. Yet, Ampeleia, a biodynamic winery set in a lesser-traveled corner of Alta Maremma, doesn't operate by the region's expected playbook. Rather, it moves at the pace of its landscape: deliberate, adaptive, and closely attuned to its environment. Ampeleia's story begins not with a winery, but with an idea of rural life. In the 1960s, Swiss couple Erica and Peter Max Suter arrived in the hills above the village and purchased a span of abandoned land. They raised sheep and pigeons, and planted the estate's first vines, including Cabernet Franc and Merlot, long before those varieties had gained traction in the area. The estate started a new chapter in the early aughts when Elisabetta Foradori, Thomas Widmann, and Giovanni Podini acquired the property and renamed it Ampeleia. Foradori, well-known for her natural and sustainable winemaking in Alto Adige, notably with Teroldego, lent her brand of minimalism and experimentation to the project's cache. The terrace at Ampeleia Winery. Ampeleia Winery Seeing potential in Maremma's lesser-known mountains, the trio sought to create a model for thoughtful farming and expressive winemaking. In 2009, the group began the meticulous work of converting their largest vineyard holdings from organic to biodynamic farming, an effort that has since expanded to include nearly the entire estate. Today, the Podini family remain stewards of the property with Podini at the helm and Foradori serving on the board. Winemaker Marco Tait runs the cellar and calls his approach to crafting wines one of both "rigor and intuition,' which parallels their relationship with the land, which he calls both 'humble and ambitious." From the beginning, the mission was clear: to farm in a way that respected the land's complexity and create wines that spoke transparently about their origin. Tait attributes the decision to convert to biodynamics as one of practicality rather than ideology: "Biodynamics is not a philosophy for us, it's a method. Healthy soils yield vibrant vines, and vibrant vines make wines with life." The nearby medieval village of Roccatederighi. Ampeleia Winery While the estate comprises nearly 300 acres, only 86 are planted with vines. The remainder serves the flora and fauna, as well as the needs of biodynamic winegrowing through forest, pasture, and farmland. Ampeleia's location within the Colline Metallifere, a region once shaped by the mining industry, now recognized as a UNESCO Geopark, translates to mineral-rich soil. This lends a a distinct clarity to otherwise unfiltered wines. Terroir spans more than soil, however, and within Ampeleia's vineyards, altitude, slope, and aspect shift dramatically. The rumpled topography creates a range of microclimates and expressions. "Some vineyards express themselves best on their own, others when blended from the start," says Francesco Pascucci, the winery's export manager. "Each vintage teaches us something new." Sustainability efforts extend beyond the vineyard. The winery uses gravity flow in the cellar to reduce energy consumption, the viticulture team plants cover crops betweeen vines, and the entire operation runs largely on solar panels. "It's about always asking how we can do better—not just in the vineyard, but in packaging, water use, shipments, everything," says marketing manager Maria Giulia Songini. As for its wines? Cabernet Franc has become central to Ampeleia's identity, not by strategic design but through accumulated experience. "We recognized its potential early," says Tait. "It gives us layers of nuance and lets us understand how different soils shape its voice." In 2025, two single-vineyard Cabernet Francs will be released, each from a specific set of rows selected for their distinctive character. The summer garden thrives, providing ingredients for the agritourism offer. Ampeleia Winery Another key grape is Alicante Nero, which has grown in Maremma since the 1500s but was long overshadowed by higher-yielding varieties. The grape thrives in the region's Mediterranean climate, offering ripe fruit, bright acidity, and subtle spice. In the cellar, Tait gives his wines the oversight of a custodian. Fermentations begin spontaneously. Aging takes place primarily in concrete tanks. Some wines see a technqiue called infusion, where whole clusters float in the fermenting juice, releasing aroma and giving structure without force. The resulting wines are layered and expressive. Though rooted in Tuscany, Ampeleia's voice is distinct from regional tropes. "We are deeply Tuscan, but always in our own way," says Pascucci. That same ethos shapes their work abroad. Rather than adapting their wines to perceived market expectations, the team focuses on storytelling. Songini notes that Unlitro, their one-liter red blend, resonates in the U.S. because it suits a relaxed, convivial setting, whether between friends on an afternoon outing or for a family-style meal at night. "It's not about marketing. It's about sharing," says Songini. Hospitality has become an extension of this philosophy. The tasting room team welcomes visitors for seated lunches and dinners, casual bites, and wine flights or glasses on the terrace. There are several hospality experiences including a cooking class that teaches guests how to make fresh pasta and other dishes with seasonal ingredients from the garden. The tasting room sells organic soaps, olive oil, and other local, handmade products. These newer agritourism and slow-travel experiences invite guests to understand wine not just as a product, but as a medium for connection to time, place, and each other. "We don't offer tastings so much as conversations," Songini explains. "We want people to leave with a sense of why we do what we do." Making fresh pasta for the onsite restaurant and cooking classes. Ampeleia Winery Asked about the future, Tait says his winemaking will focus on refining the current portfolio rather than expanding it. Songini says they want 'to go deeper, not wider." In a region known for bold and showy gestures, this small winery offers something quieter — a gentler side to Tuscany that wine lovers in search of characterful restraint increasingly appreciate.
