Founded by the legend James Halliday, Coldstream Hills sits in the Coldstream Hills area of the Yarra Valley (the clues were in the name...). The first vintage rolled out the winery in 1985 and 26 years later comes the release of the 2007 Coldstream Hills sparkling.
I wouldn't expect anything less from something James Halliday puts his name to but the grapes are hand harvested, bunch pressed, blended, fermented in bottle and aged for three years on its lees as you would find in a traditional champagne. Current winemakers Greg Jarrat and Andrew Fleming have put together a really stylish wine that will age gracefully over the years.
The 2007 has only just been released and it is still a little young and tight but showing very well considering its youth. In some years Pinot Meunier is added to the mix but the 2007 blend is made up of 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay comes mainly from Deer Farm but there is also fruit sourced from the wider Yarra Valley.
Clean, crisp and racy on the palate with fresh lemons and green apples the wine is beginning to show hints of toasty flavours. The wine is not quite as refined as the 2004 which I tried a few years ago also at four years old but it would be churlish to suggest that this is anything other than a delicious sparkling wine which in a few years time will be a little gem to share with someone special.
Sit back, chill out and wait until the right time, just like this chap that I found hanging out under the tree at Coldstream Hills. I kind of like his style....
No comments:
Post a Comment