You'll Love An Act Like this

De Bortoli Wines are one of the family wineries that often get tarnished because of their heritage. There success was built on affordable wines produced out of the grape processing factory that is Griffith.

And yet with many successful family businesses, the on going generations add depth and diversity to this original success. They adapt to find relevance to the society that they live in, make a living and consequentially creating a legacy.

And this is happening today with Leanne De Bortolli and her Yarra Valley division. With insightful marketing and modern winemaking from De Bortolli's husband Steve Webber.

Located on the Melba Highway in the upper Yarra, DeBortolli's have produced a beautiful range called La Boheme. A node to the Highway named after Australia's first entertainment superstar abroad, Nellie Melba and her role as the tragic Mimi in the Opera "La Boheme"

Be assured that this range is no tragic Opera, but with four distinct acts, the La Boheme is, as discussed earlier, insightful marketing and modern winemaking.

Act One is a Riesling blend, in what is a revisit of the classic Alsace wines of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.

Act Two a Pinot Gris blend is also a  look at the Alsace blends, this time includes riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurtztraminer and the interloping Piedmont varietal, Favorita.

Act Three is the very pretty Pinot Rose.

And Act Four is a Shiraz Gamay red to finish the opera.






Tasting Notes

Act One - Riesling

Blend: Riesling (93%), Pinot Gris (5%) and Gewurtz (2%)

Clean fresh. Slightly briney.White nectarine

Aromatic - rose petal, white peach

Juicy lingering acidity. Slightly bulky green apple middle and back end as the wine warms up.

Yummy.



Act Four Syrah /Gamay

In certain circles the Shiraz and lighter variety blend has quite the following. There are those who don't - only thing wrong with Shiraz Viognier is Viognier? This is a great lunch time wine.


Colour: Magenta - to garnet

Red Rose aromas - anise/clove

Slightly reserved in the fruits: Red fruits - raspberries.

Slightly heavy on the oak to the deteriment of the fresh fruit.

Soft delicate tannins, juicy acidity.

Lingering length

DRINK WINE, MAKE WORDS - The Wine Cellar

Wine cellars are such beautiful places; mostly dark, quiet, peaceful places. Sometimes decorated. Sometimes neat. Sometimes messy. But always likely to present a surprise.

A wine cellar is the repository of the owner's past, present and future endeavors. Maybe it holds the wine that was inherited, or collected for old friends to share and reminisce over. On the other side a cellar whispers the aspirations of the future and places yet to have arrived at. 

Stepping into my own wine cellar, the room has a clean floor and polished walls of refrigeration panel. The wines are stacked in neatly positioned racks. Not obsessively ordered - not far from it. I feel it needs some more work; to make it authentic. But the space was previously a hen house - how more authentic does it need to be?

When the weather is cold and you need to find something to warm the cockles of your heart, accessing wine requires commitment. A trek through the garage, out to the back of the yard, through a shed and into the cellar. 2 sets of keys are required to get through this labyrinth as well as exposure to the elements - it takes commitment.

What to drink? With a large cellar, sometimes the choices are too difficult. But heading to the Pinot section is always fun. You get down on your knees searching for something elusive, something that probably disappeared long ago. 

Hold on. What have I got? Rub the dust and a little bit of mould too.  

You beauty... 2008 Giant Steps Gladysdale Pinot Noir.