Last thursday we commenced a new and excited chapter.

As an result of my consultancy work in Austria, I have fallen in love with the Blaufrankisch and Gruner Veltliner grapes. While the Gruner is still in quarantine, the Blau is now out and we took the first steps to establishing a Blaufrankisch vineyard in one of the coolest parts of the Yarra Valley.

It will be at least 4 years before we have our first vintage but we are now underway with plantings and from next year graftings onto 30 year old vines.

Enjoy the pics… it was wet underfoot but a glorious first day.

Mac

Mac Forbes planting rootling Blaufrankisch

I got back last week from a great trip to London and Austria.

London to show the wines around to the trade and Austria to check on my Blaufrakisch and Gruner as well as check out an amazing barrel cooper.

Coming home though is always great and it was with somewhat fresh eyes that I tasted the 2010 pinots. And what a lovely range of wines we have in barrel. They are all highly defined, full of weight and character. These will be bottled in January and we can’t wait.

In a month we are bottling the Arneis and our first Tasmanian Riesling!!!

Winter 2010 has rapidly decended into our laps as we count down to our winter Solstice which is now less than a month away (June 21). WHich really translates into winter has only just begun.

As we begin to enjoy winter, we are now rapidly reviewing our young 2010 wines as well as planning for the remainder of the year. The second half of 2010 will fly by as we prune vines, work the soils, get our ‘10 Riesling and Arneis ready for bottling in August and get ready for spring.

I am heading off to the UK in a couple of weeks to visit our sommelier friends in London which is always good fun as well as hard work. This trip will conclude with some days in Austria checking on the 2009 Blaufrankisch as well as continuing my search for large old oak.

Magnum Offer for 2010 pinot

For the first time, we are taking requests for Magnums of the yet to be bottled stunning 2010 pinots. If you are interested in putting your name down in advance for magnums, we can bottle these for you to order. Please contact me directly on mac@macforbes.com and as we get closer to bottling in January, I will be in touch to confirm which wines you are after.

Thanks and see you soon.

Mac

With vintage well and truly done and dusted with the riesling having been picked at easter, we still have loads to do.

Reds are finishing Malo, Whites have been mostly sulfured after primary ferment with some battonage to follow.

But it is the Riesling we are still closely monitoring… It is still fermenting in barrels and tank and it is taking its time. We are finally starting to see the sugar looking more integrated with acid and phenolics balancing the palate. This year, we will sulphur each barrel/tank component on its own merits rather than in consideration of the total blend. This is great fun and we are pumped about what we are going to end up with.

Lance has now made it back to the UK after an enforced stopover in Singapore due to the volcanic ash in Europe. It sure was a testing time for the Foyster gang.

And with vintage behind us, Dylan, Tony and I have already spend time planning for the coming months with pruning and soil preparation…

Must fly…. have to check the 2010 shiraz barrels with Tony.

In the midst of all this Riesling harvesting, we are really excited to be hosting for about 10 days Lance and Isabelle Foyster of Clark Foyster Wines in the UK along with their gorgeous girls Yasmin and Ines. So far they have experienced the great ocean road and today they explored Mornington.

Tomorrow begins the work for them all. Yarra Valley – wine, the sanctuary and a tasty dinner at Bella Vedere. I am sure they will cope just fine.

Isabelle, Lance, Yasmin, Ines and Nina...