Either Tasmania and New Zealand are not part of the globe, or global warming forgot to deal them in with climate change. In New Zealand the growing season was relatively cool and wet, saved by an Indian summer with normal to slightly late maturity dates. In Tasmania, notwithstanding very low crop levels (which normally result in earlier maturity) and the four hot days at the end of January, pinot noir was still being picked in May. Bay of Fires winemaker Fran Austin says the vintage was similar in some respects to 2002, which in both South Australia and Victoria was one of the all-time cool summers and latest harvesting of small crops. Fran says that the chardonnay is the best since 2005, and that most pinot is showing deep colour and great flavour. For those interested in such matters, the pinot gris was left on the vine for much longer than usual thanks to the low risk of disease and this has provided ‘delightful poached pear flavours with some lovely rosewater and Turkish delight floral aromas’.

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It’s an ill wind that blows no-one any good. The PR spat of emails emanating from Sirromet and Wolf Blass was triggered by Sirromet’s claim to be the first Australian producer to release selected wines in PET plastic bottles. It pointed out its release was in January 2009, well before Foster’s release in May. But it turned out not to be that simple. Foster’s had in fact released PET bottles in Europe last year. For those interested in reading more, see the following articles.

http://media.pressconnect.com.au/fosters/2166/index.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,,25422851-7582,00.html

http://www.sirromet.com/news.html

Lest anyone think that glass is about to be displaced by PET, it is strictly for short-life wines, and anyone keeping wine in PET bottles for longer than 18 months may be in for a nasty shock.

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Authors Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh have just released the 2009/10 edition of The Big Red Wine Book. Its points of difference from other annuals based solely on tasting notes are the self-evident restriction to red wines, the inclusion of abbreviated tasting notes for prior vintages of wines of special merit and, for good measure, covering wines across the entire price range. Narrowing the focus, it includes a chapter on organic and biodynamic reds, as well as their top 100 wines at $20 or less. Each of the 750 wines reviewed is rated on price, value for money and investment potential.