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Dear Hal
 Vintage 2010
As I write this, we are bringing in our red fruit, Shiraz first with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot to follow – the last of the whites having already been harvested. The vintage to date has been fast and furious, but free of disease and with even ripening and good yields. A spell of very hot weather in January saw us having to drop sunburnt fruit, as we have a no-compromise approach to quality, but we lost only a small percentage of the crop. Whilst it is early days, it does look as though the 2010 vintage is a worthy successor to the three superb 2007, 2008 and 2009 vintages.
The pictures here show our red grapes being processed, and for those of you who may not be familiar with what happens, the sequence is as follows. First, fruit is hand-picked by a dedicated crew who rise before dawn (!), and fill tubs with grapes which are then taken over to the fruit-receival area at the winery.
As you can see there is a large hopper into which the grapes are placed, which sits on a hydraulic ram which then tips the bin up – this is a new bit of equipment that we have purchased for this vintage. The chassis upon which the hopper sits then starts to vibrate so that fruit drops into the de-stemmer without being forced through an auger – a much gentler fruit delivery system.
After exiting the de-stemmer the fruit is then deposited (as single berries) onto the sorting table which also vibrates so that any ‘shot’ berries (undeveloped unfertilised grapes) fall through slots in the table. The fruit is then passed over a series of ‘fingers’ which remove any MOG (matter other than grape). Lastly the fruit passes under a large blower which removes any bird-pecked fruit (because this is lighter so it gets blown off) leaving us with the best quality fruit that we can produce.
Rest assured, no expense is spared.....
Spotlight on the 2007 Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
The long awaited 2007Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has finally been released. This wine was named Australia’s Best Cabernet Sauvignon in the 2010 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide by Nick Stock, won the Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon at The Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2009, and has won 4 gold medals. In our opinion, it is the best wine that Juniper has released. Due to its limited production, being a single vineyard wine, purchases are limited to 6 bottles, and stock is selling very quickly. Click here for an order form.
Higher Plane
We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce Juniper’s sister estate, Higher Plane , which is in the southern part of Margaret River (next door to Devil’s Lair). It too has also enjoyed great success with its newly released 2007 Higher Plane Cabernet Sauvignon winning 6 gold medals and the Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon at the National Cool Climate Wine Show. The wines are made by Mark Messenger, and like the Juniper Estate wines are hand-picked, hand-pruned, and hand-made. Incidentally, Mark’s 2007 Higher Plane Merlot also appears in 2010 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide as Australia’s Best Merlot. Hats off to Mark. Click here for an order form.
Sponsorship
Juniper Estate continues to support the Arts in 2010 and we have renewed our sponsorship of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the WA Ballet with whom we are the wine partner for the season of Don Quixote, which will run at His Majesty’s Theatre from 7-22nd May 2010. Click here for more information. Juniper will continue its policy of supporting charities that benefit children with medical challenges in their lives. This year we are the wine partner with Telethon Speech & Hearing’s major fundraiser Artitude by Audi, which raises much needed funds for children who have speech and language or hearing impairments. For information regarding tickets please click here.
This year Higher Pane will also be sponsoring a children’s charity - Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation’s fundraiser The Big Quiz which will be held at the Perth Exhibition and Conference Centre on 23rd June 2010. This is an attempt to break the world record for the largest quiz held in the world, the proceeds of which benefit the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. Last year 1040 people turned up on the night which was not quite enough to break the record - but did set a record for the most people to enjoy Higher Plane wines at a single event! Over $50,000 was raised by the event for PMH and Rotary projects.
For further information on the 2010 Big Quiz please click here, or contact Olivia Daly via email olivia.daly@pmhfoundation.com or by contacting the PMH Foundation on 08 9489 1100.
Recent accolades
Our flagship wine, Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 has had some great press recently, including this from Nick Stock:
“I have revisited this several times over the course of writing this year’s Guide and have upped the ante to place this in the very top level of Margaret River Cabernet. This has a youthful allure about it and is just settling into stride on the nose. Smells of mocha-scented oak give way to leaves and cassis, fresh picked roasting herbs and some earthy nuances too. The palate has lively, supple berry uptake amid rich, swirling tannins that straighten through the middle and pin the finish into long, even shape. Toasty oak adds swanky style. This is quite a wine, immaculately complete in every sense - Juniper Estate has truly arrived. 96/100”
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010, Nick Stock
Local wine scribe Ray Jordan reviewed our Juniper Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009 recently noting:
“I reckon this is the best example of this blend under this label yet. I like the small-barrel ferment influence and some subtle bâtonnage to add some texture. At the same time the aromatic characters of these varieties are retained. A beautiful short-term cellaring wine. 93/100”
Ray Jordan, Wine, The West Australian 11th March 2010.
If you’re travelling Business Class with Qantas this year, we’re pleased to tell you that you’re likely to be offered this wine.
Ray also reviewed our Juniper Estate Semillon 2008 in his most recent book:
“For some years now Juniper has been making arguably the best Semillon in Margaret River. This is another pearler. Lovely fresh cut grass and light lemon zesty tropical fruit aromas. On the palate the natural acidity takes over to carry to a long sustained finish. A wine that drinks well now but which will continue to develop in the bottle.93/100; Cellar 5 years.”
Ray Jordan’s 2010 WA Wine Guide
Have a look at Ray’s new website - it is a really comprehensive tool for WA wine lovers.
From Higher Plane our South by Southwest Cabernet Merlot 2007 was recently reviewed by Huon Hooke who said:
“This wine is very cabernet, with crushed leaf, cassis and raspberry fruit and a juicy mid-palate before ample, smooth tannins ride in at the finish. It’s fruit driven, soft and accessible and charming. Cellar 8 years. 93 Points *****”
Huon Hooke, 100 Top New Releases, Gourmet Traveller WINE, Feb/Mar 2010
Following this review the wine has promptly sold out. However, we are able to offer the 2008 vintage which is in our eyes a superior wine (and has won 2 gold medals).
Huon also recently praised the Higher Plane Merlot 2007:
“There could be a touch of Cabernet in this but it doesn’t matter because it’s a lovely wine. Regional and bright, it has crushed-leaf, raspberry aromas with a hint of seaweed. It has good concentration, bags of fruit, is ripe and bracing and has a future in the cellar. Now to seven years. Only 97 dozen made. 93/100 Food: Rare steak"
Huon Hooke, Good Living, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 March 2010
Our South by Southwest Shiraz 2007 collected a Blue Gold medal at the Sydney International Wine Show 2010, and here’s what they had to say about it:
“Very deep garnet black colour. Black cherry and blackberry fruit aromas with a sprinkling of pepper and anise on the nose. Medium to firm finely grained tannins and medium to high acidity with a long finish.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Sydney International Wine Show 2010
Lastly the South by Southwest Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009 also caught the imagination of the Winewise tasting panel:
“2009 Higher Plane South by Southwest Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Shows ripe pineapple-like aromas. It’s quite tropical in flavour, but has good acid balance. Rated: Recommended”
Sauvignon Blanc & Blends Tasting, Winewise Vol 25 No 6, Feb 2010
Places we love
There seems to be a pretty entrenched view that Perth is somehow boring – well there is plenty going on in the hospitality scene. Some of the venues that we recommend if you haven’t already been to them would include the following, because they are run by people with passion and talent, and you will have a great experience:
Bistro Dining: Bistro Felix – Rokeby Road, Subiaco; Must Winebar – Beaufort Street, Highgate
Mod Oz: Halo – Barrack Street, City; Star Anise – Onslow Road, Shenton Park
Japanese Dining: Ha-Lu – Oxford Street, Leederville; Satsuki – Subiaco Square
Lebanese Dining: The Prophet – Albany Highway, East Vic Park
Italian Dining: Divido – Scarborough Beach Road, Mt Hawthorn; Maurizio – Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
Spanish Dining: Pata Negra – Stirling Highway, Nedlands; Andaluz – Howard Street, City
Indian Dining: Maya – Market Street, Fremantle; Go-Go’s Madras Curry House – Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley
Formal Dining: Jacksons – Beaufort Street, Highgate; Restaurant Amusé – Bronte Street, East Perth
Small Bars: Greenhouse – St Georges Terrace, City; Clarence’s – Beaufort Street, Highgate
Beachside Dining: Soda Cafe – West Coast Highway, North Beach; Il Lido – Marine Parade, Cottesloe
For Pizza: La Lola – Hampton Road, Nedlands; Little Caesar’s – Oxford Street, Leederville |
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