You Can't Put New Wine in Old Bottles

With so many big names in the wine world, it's easy to overlook smaller, New World wineries, especially in a city like Hong Kong where French wines tend to reign supreme. Victoria Wines, which started in 2012, is an independent online wine retailer that imports wines from all over the world. Although they do carry a number of wines from larger producers, their main focus is wine produced by smaller, family-owned wineries. We've picked a few wines from Australia and New Zealand, exclusive to Victoria Wines, that are definitely worth a try.

Found on New Zealand’s South Island is the country's pioneer of modern wine, and leading wine producing area, Marlborough. Established in 1873, the vineyard and winery found at family-owned and run Auntsfield Estate are Marlborough’s first and oldest. Although the region is renowned for producing first rate Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir from the area is nothing to sneeze at. Viticulturist, Ben Cowley has a passion for producing Pinot Noir with real depth as it “has the ability to capture the human and physical culture of a vineyard like no other variety. At Auntsfield we focus on letting the wines tell the story of our unique site in Marlborough, where we have a very rare and old soil much like what you get in Europe”. Below are three standout wines from Auntsfield Estate.

Wine

Auntsfield Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (HK$200)

Color

Deep ruby and crimson

Aroma

Dark cherry, blueberry and black plum aromas are complimented by more savoury aromas of cassis, tea leaf, floral notes of dried rosemary, dried spices and forest floor notes.

Palate

The palate of this wine shows a rich silky texture which is full and concentrated. Interwoven flavours of spice, dark fruit and savoury characters are revealed by a succulent and fine tannin structure. The structure of this wine is tight, yet rich and full with seamless length.

Wine

Auntsfield Road Ridge Pinot Noir (HK$475)

Color

Deep ruby/crimson, very intense.

Aroma

Blackberry and cherry fruit aromas with floral rose petal and some dried thyme. Savoury aromas of earthy forest floor, cigar box and warm spices.

Palate

Rich weight with plush juicy fruit of succulent plum and ripe berries. The structure of this wine is tight with an underlying minerality, bright fruit and soft fine grained tannins for an elegant finish.

Wine

Auntsfield Single Vineyard Savignon Blanc (HK$146.70)

Color

Pale straw

Aroma

Lifted and pure aromas of fresh passionfruit, gooseberries and lime. Notes of lemongrass, jalapeno and blackcurrant add pungency and intensity to the aromatics.

Palate

Powerful, tight and elegant. This wine displays intense ripe fruit flavours of passionfruit juice and white peach, with citrus notes of lime and mandarin pith. The palate has intense concentration and generous weight, balanced by an underlying minerality and tight structure to shape a wine with lively tension and textural balance.

A fairly new offering from Victoria Wines is Australian label Jamsheed which has a few vineyards throughout the state of Victoria. Winemaker and founder Gary Mills picks out a few of his favorites. Garden Gully hails from a vineyard that is over 100 years old. After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, Mills says the Riesling vines are now "coming back to life and producing beautiful wines". His Ma Petite Francine didn’t get off to such a great start after it was initially rejected for export, but after local and international support the wine is now one of his most sought after bottles. His Beechworth Syrah comes from "seriously good terroir” Mills explains. "I'm very fortunate to be able to get some fruit from here."

Wine

Jamsheed Great Western Riesling 'Garden Gully' (HK$323)

Color

Light, pale gold.

Aroma

Intensely floral, displaying scents of jasmine, yellow rose, honey and tangerine.

Palate

Pickled pink Japanese sushi ginger lime, jasmine flower and other white flowers, acid sugar fruit balance plays over the palate length, initial sweetness giving way to beeswax and bee pollen, fresh briny acid power and a long smooth petroleum, lime sugar finish.

Wine

Jamsheed Harem Ma Petite Francine (HK$225)

Color

Dark red and purple

Aroma

Black currant

Palate

Dark plums dried green herbs all mashed together. Touch of earthy anise like fennel sausage gameyness. Savoury green finish with a wash of bubbly red fruits finish.

Wine

Jamsheed Beechworth Syrah (HK$485)

Color

Dark purple

Aroma

Smoky nose, blueberries, blackberries, plums passionfruit fruit spectrum.

Palate

Whole bunch shows through as quite cedar like and cooling light herbal touches with meaty gamey rare steak flavours. Tannins are muscular and gripping and fine.

The Barossa Valley, located in South Australia, is primarily known for it's red wine varietals, Shiraz in particular. Located in this wine-centred valley is Langmeil Winery, which lays claim to the oldest shiraz vines in the world. A personal favorite of the family-owned and operated winery is the Valley Floor Shiraz. James Linder, family proprietor, explains why. “It represents the Barossa as a whole. It is still affordable to many people and it is very much still handmade in the traditional sense.” Other standout wines are Langmeil's Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon and their Three Gardens which is a blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Grenache grapes.

Wine

Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz (HK$225)

Colour

Medium to deep crimson with purple hues.

Aroma

A rich and perfumed aroma of Satsuma plum and raspberries mingles with white pepper, sweet spice, earthy tones and savoury hints.

Palate

Quite a mouthful of sweet and spicy fruit, balanced wonderfully with velvety yet youthfully austere tannins. A medium-bodied wine showing nice complexity with hints of cedar and vanilla, which in combination,

flows through to the lengthy, pepper and spice finish.

Wine

Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet Savignon (HK$225)

Colour

Medium depth crimson with purple hues.

Aroma

Rich red currants and black olive dominate the aroma with lifted, minty, menthol notes, cedar, bicsuict and herbacious hints.

Palate

Sweet juicy berry fruits coat the palate and mingle with brambly spice, hints of black olive and licorice. Velvety, fine, grape and oak tannins add to the structure and flow into the long, fruitful and spicy finish.

Wine

Langmeil Three Gardens Shiraz, Mourvedre, Grenache (HK$168)

Colour

Medium depth crimson with purple hues.

Aroma

Lifted, fresh and bright fruit leaps out of the glass with dark cherries, Satsuma plum and blueberries dominating the aroma with subtle hints of chocolate and

white pepper.

Palate

The bright and juicy fruit coats the palate and is well balanced with peppery and sweet spice. Medium bodied in structure with good complexity and lovely silky

tannins which flow through the fruitful and spicy finish.

With so many different wines on offer and a constantly changing inventory in the city, resist the temptation to pick up another run of the mill Bordeaux and branch out with some fantastic wines from down under.

Although Victoria Wines is an online distributor, they offer tailor-made tastings in their Wan Chai tasting room, as well as allowing customers to pick up single bottles.

www.victoriawines.com.hk

Tasting notes: Auntsfield Estate, Jamsheed, Langmeil Winery and Victoria Wines

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