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Tim's Ravings
Bogged but happy
We’ve just had 3 tractors bogged in the vineyard, each one trying to drag the other out. It was quite a sight watching this tractor-train plough itself through the row. The vineyard manager had a beer or two that night.And we left the special cow poo spreader slowly sinking in the middle of Block 8 [...]
How do you buy wine?
Buying fine wine today is nothing like it was 40 years ago. Back then, when Huntington Estate was established, there were merchants galore, mostly operating independent wine shops.These merchants travelled extensively through wine regions in Australia and overseas, finding the best wines. They discovered and nurtured winemaking talent and celebrated diversity, and in response the [...]
A Great Time to Visit Mudgee
The weather in Mudgee is glorious at the moment; cool, crisp nights followed by clear, sunny days. Winter and Spring is a great time here, invariably green and languid.For those who haven’t been to Mudgee lately, allow me to paint the scene. Mudgee has rejuvenated its famous streetscape in recent years and is one of [...]
A mess of our own making?
The Australian wine industry is in trouble. Deep trouble.Despite a vision 10 years ago to put Australia on the world wine map with premium, regional wines –such as Barossa shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet – we’re now seen internationally as ‘cheap and cheerful.We all rallied behind that premium, regional goal. All except the big companies who [...]
Chardonnay Here To Stay!!!
I appear to have recently lost a bottle of Grange to friend in a bet. He is yet to receive the wine; I have lawyered-up, to examine loopholes. The bet (which, Your Honour, was not witnessed) was a friend trying to convince me that Sauvignon Blanc would topple Chardonnay as Australia’s top white. I do admit I was blinded by [...]
Estate Grown Made and Bottled.
There is a popular phrase among wine lovers that ‘great wines are made in the vineyard’.It’s a flippant aside that bends reality, because the vineyard is just the beginning of a very complex and treacherous journey to bottle.The analogy is that of a Car Racing Team. Having a great driver is only the start; without [...]
It's Our Birthday!
40 years ago Bob Roberts came to Mudgee, shoved a few thousand sticks in the ground, and hoped they would grow. Bob had a vision, developed in the company of the fathers of the modern Australian wine industry at Bulletin Place in Sydney. The group included the likes of Len Evans and Max Lake who shared the ’wine bug’ that, [...]
I'm Not into Facelifts
I am not into facelifts or other enhancements, as you can see from my photo. I mean, just look at Madonna.In the end, age and time don’t lie. So it is with wine.Traditionally wines - red ones in particular – have been made to age. Its what the French and Italians do so well, particularly [...]
It’s the tannin, stupid
There has been much debate lately in Mudgee Winemaking circles about trying to describe the style of our red wines. The debate has been spurred by continued frustration over the generally low level of promotion Mudgee wines. I must confess to finding the debate a little odd for while I agree we could all certainly be [...]
Wine fashions frustrate
The wine scene has always got caught up in fashions. A great example is in white wine. One day we like overoaked chardonnay, the next we like unoaked chardonnay, the next we hate all chardonnay and critics tell us we must switch to riesling.Invariably, as statistics reveal, well balanced chardonnay comes back and remains the [...]
