2009 SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2008 SHIRAZ & 2008 ELEVATION CABERNET SAUVIGNON JUST RELEASED
Hot on the heels of the release of our 2009 Viognier, comes the release of our newest wines, the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Frankland Shiraz, and our much anticipated, 2008 Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is different in style to what has become the mainstream "NZ Savvy" style. Our wine has been inspired by the sauvignon blancs that we tasted in Austria at the World Sauvignon Blanc Congress. There's loads of fruit flavours, enhanced with 20% barrel fermentation and maturation, and 12 months on yeast lees. These winemaking methods have produced a wine that is packed with white peach, pear and lemongrass flavours, and that is soft and generous on the palate. It is also a style which is wonderfully versatile matching with food. If you like to age your wines, this style ages beautifully, and we're looking forward to opening a bottle or two in another 5 years time.
Our 2008 Frankland River Shiraz is our departure away from sourcing shiraz in Margaret River. We believe that the Frankland River area, in the Great Southern region, consistently produces outstanding shiraz wines that are characteristically full of fresh blackberry, chocolate and fragrant pepper flavours. Our style is for a wine that is big on flavour, balanced by soft, velvety tannins. The extra time in barrels softens and integrates the wine well, with the end result being an elegant but full flavoured shiraz.
And lastly, but by no means the least, is our 2008 Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon. We have given the title of Elevation to this wine as we strongly believe that this wine is at the pinnacle of what we are striving to do with the growing of our grapes and the making of our wines. The wine is packed with layers of flavours, and has spent 22 months maturing in 100% new french oak barrels. Flavours of mint and tobacco leaf, mixed with fresh blueberries and blackberries, and a flinty mineral character unfold on the palate, complemented by fine textured grainy tannins.The flavour just lingers on and on ...
Our Viognier has also recently been released .. we have only made a limited quantity of this wine, so if you are after something different, out of the mainstream, a little alternative perhaps, then this the wine for you.
WHICHER RIDGE WINES LAUNCHED ON THE WORLD
The World, a luxury cruise ship described as the "most luxurious ship afloat", arrived in Fremantle on the 19th January, as part of an eight week voyage around Australia. We arranged a tasting on board The World with the Head Sommelier, Marinela Ivanova ... " Yesterday I have made a new discovery as a sommelier by tasting your wines. I loved their style very much and I am quite sure that I will read a lot about Whicher Ridge in future. I would also be able to boast that I actually have tried your wines when the winery has first started."
Three of our wines were selected, the 2009 Frankland River Riesling, 2009 Geographe Viognier, and the 2007 Margaret River Shiraz. Go to our News page to read more about The World and our tasting with Marinela.
DONATION TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL
We donated twenty cases of our wine to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), to assist them in raising funds for much needed equipment. The PMH is the major childrens hospital in Perth. the funds raised purchase three feed pumps, which then enabled three children to spend Christmas at home with their families, instead of having to stay in hospital.
If you would like more information about Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, visit their website PMH Foundation. Click Princess Margaret Hospital to read Lesley Hooper's (Director of Corporate Development, PMH Foundation), Whicher Ridge Letter.
WHICHER RIDGE WINERY SWEETHEART SERIES
Being one of only a few wineries close to Busselton, we decided to get involved in sponsoring local events, and with Cathy's interest in horses, we decided to sponsor a race at the Busselton Trotting Club. The Club only holds races over the summer period in January, and the race that we sponsored on the 8th January, was for mares only, The Whicher Ridge Winery sweetheart Series FY & M Discretionary Pace. The race was one by Striking Grace, trained by a local, Kym Neal from Yallingup, and we presented Kym with a case of our wine as part of the reward for his win.
The evening was a lot of fun, and we highly recommend it to anyone living in or holidaying in Busselton to go along on a Friday evening during January. The trots are held at Churchill Park in the centre of Busselton.
LATEST WINE INDUSTRY NEWS
The Australian wine industry is doing it very tough at the moment, and many boutique wineries like ours, as well as many medium to large wineries, are struggling to survive amidst tough economic times and rising production costs.
To keep up to date with what is happening in the wine industry both at home in Australia, and overseas, on this and other recent news, go to our News page.
