Tower Estate

2004 Tower Estate HUNTER VALLEY SHIRAZ

2004 was a cooler and wetter year in the Hunter Valley, as so often happens after coming off a drought year such as 2003. 

This did no seem to particularly concern our two Shiraz vineyards, as they are mostly unirragated and planted on slopes, thereby allowing excess moisture to run off. 

As in previous years the grapes were hand picked and then hand sorted, before being de-stemmed, cold soaked and then fermented.  Barrel maturation took place in predominately French Oak, of which one third was new, for a period of 20 months.

This is a classic medium bodied Hunter Shiraz – elegance and poise as opposed to power and weight.   It will compliment all manner of meat dishes and will cellar well for the balance of this decade. 

2003 Tower Estate ORANGE MERLOT

Has anyone not seen the movie Sideways?  Does Hollywood not realise one of the most expensive wines in the world is 95 % Merlot?

It is true though, Australia has been on the Merlot trail and mostly for the wrong reasons.  Merlot, to most, is a soft, round and trendy wine to drink………..wrong!

Merlot, sorry good Merlot, should be as structured as Cabernet Sauvignon, with a tannin and acid balance enabling it to age to its’ true glory.  Yes, Merlot is a wine to age.

Sideways has done us a favour.  We don’t make the soft, round style, our Merlot is a serious Merlot.  Sourced from the cool climate region of Orange where the cool nights and long growing season promote the development of pure fruit flavours and stong velvety tannins.

Blackcurrent, black plum and black pepper aromas with solid fruit, velvety tannins and a linear palate structure encouraged by the tight frame in the wine.

Bottle age will see this wine show its’ true colours.  Cigar smoke, violets and shoe polish aromas will couple with the soft, velvety and rewarding palate.

Take a bottle and age it……………….I dare you!

2006 Tower Estate HUNTER VALLEY VERDELHO

Verdelho is a Portuguese variety grown on the island of Madeira, off the coast of Africa, where it was traditionally made into a fortified wine.  It has found a second home in the Hunter Valley, where it makes a generously flavoured table wine

The 2006 Hunter Valley vintage was hot, dry, early and hectic, producing low yields (winemaker’s dream, accountant’s nightmare) of ripe, clean abundantly flavoured grapes.

Typical of Verdelho, this wine displays tropical fruit aromas of paw paw and guava and has a richly flavoured, unctuous palate. 

This wine was made to be enjoyed now and will partner all manner of Asian cuisine.

2005 Tower Estate HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON

Grown by the Howard Family on their Somerset Vineyard, the Semillon comes
from the block planted in 1969, on deep alluvial sands.
The whole winery is designed around gentle handling of grapes, and obtaining
delicate juices, all the wines reflect this, most of all the Semillon.
The grapes are placed in the cool room after they are picked, to bring the
temperature down to 5 degrees. The bunches are hand sorted into the press for
whole bunch pressing. This pressing cycle is used in Champagne, press
rotations are kept to a minimum.

Our 2005 Hunter Valley Semillon is the product of a warm dry vintage.
Immediately evident is the abundance of fruit, on the aroma and palate. Austerity
is not a word one can use in the description of this wine. It bursts with aromas of
juicy fruit, honeysuckle melons and citrus trees in full blossom.

Unbelievably this wine is bone – dry, no winemaking touches used here to
supplement the juvenile fruit flavours. This sweetness is achieved naturally by
the complete maturation of the fruit on the vine.

In true Hunter Valley Semillon style, our 2005 release has that wonderful balance
of fruit and acid, gracing it with the beautiful aging potential we all know and love.
Expect a fuller bodied style from bottle ageing, what a joy it will be to taste this up
against the 2004 in five or ten year’s time!

 

2004 Tower Estate CLARE VALLEY RIESLING

100% handpicked, 100% Clare Valley Riesling
The 2004 Riesling came from a famous vineyard, famous for the fact that it was the
farm that Brian Croser grew up on, a sacred site. Vintage 2004 was very warm in
the Clare, with some fruit becoming sunburnt. Careful and selective hand picking
has helped make a wine that will improve with age.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Pale straw, hints of green
Aroma: Intense citrus lemon zest, minerals, talc powder, some musk
Palate: Overtly citrus grapefruit, lemon/lime, seamlessly silky, “slatey” mineral
acid with great length