Firstly, Happy New Year. We hope you had a restful Christmas break, although we know that isn't always possible! At the very least, we hope you got to open and enjoy some of our wine. To begin 2013, we have a couple of new releases, a media appearance by Fran and a 2013 vintage update. And if you'll be in Tasmania on March 10th, there's our annual 'Shakespeare in the Gardens' production.

2012 Naissante Fumé́ Blanc

As mentioned in our previous newsletter, we have made a Fumé Blanc for the first time. Early impressions from Cellar Door have been encouraging. Fumé́ Blanc is the traditional French term for Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak barrels, which gives additional complexity and interest to the variety. Our tasting note, from a rogue bottle that didn't quite get capped properly during bottling (these things happen; we have to drink the consequences) is as follows:

Ripe gooseberry fruit with just a touch of smoky complexity. Clean, lemon finish.

It's now available for purchase at $27/bottle or $291.60/dozen (10% discount).

2008 Blanc de Blanc

All 200 cases of the lovely 2007 vintage have now sold out, heralding the arrival of the 2008 vintage. At this early stage we have high hopes for the 2008. It is already showing some of the famous Blanc de Blanc creaminess and savoury complexity but the firm structure suggests it has a long life ahead of it.

Click here to view our wine list.

New Releases

Fran Austin - Future Academy Award Winner?

Fran was recently interviewed by Brand Tasmania for their segment 'Talking Tasmanian Wines', broadcast on You Tube. In the short video, Fran explains why she chose Tasmania as being the best place in Australia (the world?!) to make the wines she likes to make (and we like to drink). To date, the number of views of the You Tube video is slightly less than that for 'Gangnam Style', but you can help change that.

2013 Shakespeare in the Gardens - 'As You Like It'

The annual Directions Theatre Shakespeare production returns to Delamere on 10th March 2013 at 4pm. Directions Theatre describe 'As You Like It' as 'a passion-filled journey into the Forest of Arden, where the longing of lovers and the wit of fools collide in a frenzy if emotion. Disguises are donned and removed, threats of danger vanish and the heart wins out in a world where there can be found "good in everything". This show is suitable for all who love the poetry and prose of Shakespeare and have ever fallen in love.'

Of course, our wines will be available, along with Yondover cheese plates, or bring along a picnic. Tickets are available at our gate one hour prior.

2013 Vintage - Looking Good, Fingers Crossed

The weather has so far been kind, with consistent warm temperatures and just enough rain. The grass always dies off at this time of the year, but the deep rooted vines have been here for up to 30 summers and know how to survive. With a good finish to the growing season over the next few months, we'll hopefully be looking at some top wines for 2013.

Young Guns of Wine 2012 Finalist - Shane Holloway

A previous finalist for his 2008 Delamere Chardonnay (we had some the other day, and can remember why), Shane has again been selected as a finalist in 2012 for the 2007 Blanc de Blanc and the 2010 Delamere Pinot Noir. Best of luck for December 1st when the winner is announced at a dinner at Virginia Plain in Melbourne.

For more details please see the press release.

Spring has Sprung!

Delamere is not a bad place to be at this time of year. The air is teeming with life as everything scrambles to make the most of the sunshine and warmth. The sun has extraordinary intensity, but is almost always reined in by a cooling breeze which stirs mid-morning, ensuring that excess heat is never a problem. And then once the sun drops, so does the temperature. We could rue the lack of balmy nights, but otherwise we wouldn’t be able to produce the wines we do here in Tasmania.

New Release Wines

All of this eventually becomes wine in a bottle, which, let's be honest, is what we’re all really here for. So this newsletter is dominated by new release wines. Christmas wish lists at the ready (and don’t forget 10% off any dozen):

2012 Naissante Riesling $27
Fresh green apples with a subtle, creamy mouth feel. A fine streak of minerality and a long and balanced citrus finish.
Following on from the success of the 2009 Riesling, we had an opportunity obtain a different parcel of fruit, grown by some friends of ours in the Tamar Valley. They are rapidly garnering awards for their own wines, and we wanted in. Whilst never forgetting its cool climate soul of racy acidity, this wine brings some interesting green apple and stonefruit body to the party.

2012 Delamere Rosé́ $20 (100% Pinot Noir)
Fresh strawberries and cream with some delicate sweet spice. A lovely wine on its own, but with the structure and body to accompany food.
After a brief hiatus for the 2011 vintage due to low crop levels, the popular rosé is back, and just in time for summer. With apologies to Samuel Johnson, if you get tired of drinking this on a sunny day, you are tired of life. At the same time, it can be treated as a serious food wine, courtesy of its 100% pinot noir encepagement and the use of skin contact rather than blending to obtain the salmon hue.

2012 Fumé́ Blanc $27
Released November
Fumé́ Blanc is the traditional French term for Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak barrels and the style is enjoying a resurgence. The use of old oak barrels gives additional complexity and interest to the variety. The wine is still in barrel but will be released when it is ready, hopefully in a month or so (you can’t rush these things). Early barrel samples suggest bright, clean sauvignon character with a lovely texture and delicate, smoky complexity. Sauvignon for the sophisticated.

New Vintages

Almost as good as a new wine, we have released new vintages of the some established favourites:

2009 Delamere Cuvée $35 (70% Chardonnay / 30% Pinot Noir)
Fresh and elegant with stone fruit characters balanced by crisp natural acidity and a lingering finish.
The second release of this sparkler, and no 'second album syndrome' here.

2012 Naissante Pinot Gris $27
Ripe pear and guava fruit with some exotic spice notes. A rounded, luxurious mouth feel and taut, balanced finish.
The slightly warmer West Tamar is the source for this fruit, which makes for a wine in the Alsace style - complex and exotic.

2011 Delamere Chardonnay $40
Intense quince and nectarine fruit on the palate, sensitive oak treatment balanced by light lemon acidity giving great length. A classic cool climate chardonnay created to age gracefully.
Just as we settled into a stable relationship with the 2010 vintage of this, another newer, younger and exciting version comes along. We don't plan on forgetting the '10, but now we get to fall in love all over again. You will notice that the price has increased, but Rolls Royces aren't cheap are they?

2011 Naissante Pinot Noir $27
An enticing nose of briary, dark cherry fruit. Hints of leafy undergrowth and spice. Soft ripe tannins and refreshing acidity.
And the boy became a man. Although never intended to threaten the crown of the Delamere 2010 Pinot Noir, this junior wine is all grown up for the 2011 vintage.

Well that is about as many new wines as we can possibly squeeze into one newsletter, so we're off to play with our new labelling machine. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all well for the festive season and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Cheers, Shane, Fran and the Team