最近、オーストラリアを旅された方から、シドニー近郊にあるワイナリーで造られた赤・白のワインを頂きました。重たく、壊れやすいワインのボトルを２本も抱えて持ち帰られたのはさぞや大変だったろうと思います。有り難く頂戴し、特別な日に味わってみようと思います。私はオーストラリアには行ったことはありませんが、ワインを詰めた箱にワイナリーの紹介が書かれてありました。これを読みますと、シドニー郊外とはいっても、静かな山間に広がる豊かな葡萄園とワイン造りに情熱を傾ける人々の姿が想い浮かびます。
VISITOR INFORMATION
Just 2 hours from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can be sipping wine amongst the vineyards of the Hunter Valley.
AN IMPECCABLE WINE PEDIGREE...
The Hunter Valley wine pedigree goes back to the very early years of Australia's history and today the district produces some of the finest red and white table wines in the world. There are now over 50 wineries offering their products to prospective buyers for tasting and sale.
Mount View, the Southern tip of the Hunter Valley Viticultural region produces some of the finest wine made in the Valley. The micro climate, unique to this small area, with cooler nights, protection from the searing westerly wnds of Summer and slightly more abundant rainfall encourages vines to grow with a balanced crop and ripen some two weeks later than the crop of the valley floor.
It is, however, the soils of Briar Ridge which make all the difference to the character of the wines made here. Rich and fertile, with a limestone base but marvellous deep red in colour due to a high content of iron oxide, they produce wines which have a flavour and character found only in this tiny area. In order to ensure the intensity of this character, yields from the vineyard are controlled at a low 2.5 tonnes per acre which allows the winemaker to selectively harvest small parcels of high quality fruit.
Neil McGuigan, Briar Ridge winemaker, is passionate about the Hunter and its renowned wine styles and relishes the opportunity to craft boutique wines with that special Mount View character which make them "Distinctively Hunter". Trained at Roseworthy and vastly experienced in the creation of premium quality Hunter wines, with extensive knowledge gained as an International and Australian wine judge, Neil is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the wonderful flavours which are found only in Hunter Valley wines.
- （白） オーストラリア： BRIAR RIDGE (1998)
- All of the Chardonnay grapes used in this wine were harvested by hand to maximise fruit intensity and eliminate oxidation. This barrel fermented style exhibits intense fruit complexity and a buttery, sustained finish. Cellaring 2-4 years.
Neil McGuigan
Briar Ridge Vineyard Pty. Ltd. Mt. View, Hunter Valley, NSW
いかにも貴婦人ワインのシャルドネらしいスッキリとしたスタイルのボトルです。よーーーく冷やして飲みましょう！
シャルドネにもいろんな味があるものですね。フランス産のシャルドネは切れがよく、冷やせば冷やすほど美味しくなるので夏向きタイプのように思います。カリフォルニアとかチリ産のシャルドネは少し甘みがあります。オーストラリア産のシャルドネもこのタイプのようです。ガンガン冷やしてキュゥッーーーと飲むよりも、やや控えめに冷やしてチーズや鰹のタタキなどと合わせる方が味が引き立つようです。それぞれに特徴があって面白いですね。
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