Australian wines | Beelgara | Products | Sun Dried

SUN DRIED ‘BIANCA’ BOTRYTIS SEMILLON. Pale gold in colour. Nutty almond aromas are complemented by rich honey comb, subtle French oak and orange rind characters. On the palate, appealing sugared mixed citrus rind is deliciously balanced with sun dried apricot characters and lingering soft oak.

VINTAGE: 2006

VARIETY: Semillon

REGION: Riverina

WINEMAKERS: Rod Hooper, Danny Toaldo, Sean Hampel

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Alcohol: 11.5% PH: 3.29 Total Acid: 10.12g/l Baume: 10.4 Oak Treatment: American Oak and minimal French

VINTAGE REPORT: A mild, wet winter and mid-spring storms ensured good fruit set. Unusually warm weather in late December ensured crop levels remained manageable. Vintage began approximately two weeks later than the previous year, with aromatic and light bodied white varieties commencing on the 9 February and the first medium-bodied reds harvested on the 22 February. Weather conditions through harvest remained warm and dry allowing harvest to continue through to the middle of May with little pressure.

COMMENTS: Botrytis cinerea or ‘Noble Rot' is wholly responsible for producing this luscious wine. The Riverina has become world renowned for its production of the Sauterne style wine, Botrytis Semillon. The Semillon fruit's susceptibility to the botrytis infection ensures that flavour and juice concentration remains within the thick skin of the grape. Botrytis inoculation of the grapes starts during vintage, the Riverina's excellent growing conditions ensure that the warm days and moist mornings encourage the infection. Late in the season the grapes are delicately handled in their fragile state before being taken to the winery to be crushed and processed.

FOOD RECOMMENDATION: This wine is wonderful alongside full-flavoured desserts such as almond tart or lemon panna cotta. Also try with a good cheese platter.

CELLARING: Medium term cellaring, 5-10 years

SUN DRIED SHIRAZ. A plethora of complex aromas of prunes, chocolate and leather with a soft, slippery velvet mouthfeel and a fine firm tannin finish. A stylish and soft Amarone style with ripe fruit flavours of liquorice and prunes and chocolate and some sophisticated oak and acid lift.

VINTAGE: 2004

VARIETY: Shiraz

REGION: Riverina

WINEMAKERS: Rod Hooper, Danny Toaldo, Sean Hampel

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Alcohol: 15% PH: 3.52 Total Acid: 6.97g/l Residual Sugar: 6g/
Oak Treatment: 2 years - a mix of American and European Oak 1-2 years old

VINIFICATION: Shiraz grapes were hand harvested at 13 baume and placed on hessian bags for 3-4 days to sun dry. Raisining of fruit increases the concentration of sugar and acidity. Fruit was then crushed and fermented to dryness before being stabilised and placed to oak

VINTAGE REPORT: A season characterised by start-stop conditions commenced with good winter rains and a mild spring, which encouraged strong vine development and slow ripening. Slow, even ripening conditions were maintained throughout January allowing for full flavour development. Harvest was later than normal. March saw good conditions. Whites faired well with good colour in the reds.

FOOD RECOMMENDATION: Rich beef casseroles or Osso Bucco

CELLARING: Medium-term cellaring 4-6 years from vintage year.

AWARDS TO DATE: Not shown