RED FIVE STAR WINERY Winery Awarded 5 Red Stars by … · RED FIVE STAR WINERY Winery Awarded 5 Red...

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

RED FIVE STAR WINERY

Winery Awarded 5 Red Stars by

James Halliday Wine Companion“Outstanding Winery Regularly Producing Wines

Of Exemplary Quality And Typicity.

Will Have At Least 2 Wines Rated At 95 Points Or Above,

And Had A Five – Star Rating For The Previous 2 Years.

2016 Houdini Sauvignon Blanc 12.5% Alc

SMIDGEADELAIDE HILLS SOUTH AUSTRALIA

HOUDINI SERIES

James Halliday Winery Rating

***** RED 5 STAR WINERY *****

AROMA = In the glass this wine is extremely pale straw in colour,

initially the nose is full of honeydew and kiwi fruit, with subtle citrus

along with hints of straw and minerals.

PALATE = The palate is fresh and crisp with hints of fine honeydew

melon, gooseberry and subtle passionfruit, followed by soft straw and

minerality. This wine is long and balanced with vibrant acidity.

CELLARING = Smidge recommends drinking this wine over the next

3 to 4 years, with freshly shucked oysters.

Best Private Label Producer Melbourne

International Wine Competition 2014

2016 Houdini Cabernet Sauvignon 14.8% Alc

SMIDGEMcLAREN VALE SOUTH AUSTRALIA

HOUDINI SERIES



AROMA = As soon as this wine is poured into the glass the colour is

black to the core with a brick red rim. The aroma of lifted plums and

blackcurrant with notes of violets, chocolate, tobacco, wet ash and

herbs are immediate.

PALATE = On the palate the wine is juicy on entry and the mid palate

is full of dark fruits with a thread of herbs and spice. The wine finishes

long and juicy, balanced with a mouthful of fine tannins.

CELLARING = Smidge recommends drinking this wine now or with careful cellaring can keep till 2025.



2016 Houdini Shiraz 14.5% Alc


HOUDINI SERIES



AROMA = In the glass the McLaren Vale Houdini Shiraz is black to the

core. The nose evolves with lots of dark fruit, chocolate and mocha,

developing fresh charcuterie and some hints of attractive French oak

and spice.

PALATE = The palate is dense and juicy supported by subtle French

oak, mocha and fine focused tannins.

CELLARING = Smidge recommends drinking this wine now and until 2025.



2015 La Grenouille Cabernet Sauvignon 14.5% Alc


WHITE LABEL SERIES



AROMA = As soon as this wine is poured the colour is black to the

core with a magenta rim. The aromas are deep, with dark cherries

and chocolate, rich blackcurrants, subtle ash, licorice and a hint of

spice and tobacco.

PALATE = The palate continues the dark cherries and chocolate

with a dense juiciness and ripe tannins delivering a long and

structured finish.

CELLARING = Drink now and until 2025 with careful cellaring.



2015 Adamo Shiraz 15.5% Alc



AROMA = Upon pouring, the 2014 Adamo is black to the core with a

magenta rim. Aromas of blackberry and dark cherry jump from the glass

with subtle violets, chocolate and spice.

PALATE = First up on the palate there is plenty of dark fruit and spice with

a vein of delicious chocolate. The wine is soft and tight with a wonderful

balance of acidity and fine tannins giving the palate great length and

complexity.

CELLARING = This wine can be drunk now or with careful cellaring can

be enjoyed until 2030.

Best Private Label Producer Melbourne International

Wine Competition 2014

SMIDGEBAROSSA VALLEY SOUTH AUSTRALIA

WHITE LABEL SERIES

2015 The Ging Shiraz 14.9% Alc



AROMA = It was relatively dry and mild in McLaren Vale with some well

– timed rain events resulting in what will be considered a very solid

vintage. In the glass the Ging has a black core with a deep red /

magenta rim. The aromas are complex and evolving, with lifted fresh

notes of mocha, vanilla and dark chocolate supported by attractive

plums, spice, chary cedar, anise and grilled meats.

PALATE = On the palate this wine is full of juicy soft plums, which run

through the palate, mocha, graphite, cedar and spice and finishes long

and balanced with fine tannins and subtle meaty tones.

CELLARING = Drink now until 2030 with careful cellaring.




WHITE LABEL SERIES

2015 The GruVe Gruner Veltliner 12.5% Alc



AROMA = In the glass the Gruner Veltliner, (or GruVe as we like

to call it) is very pale straw with fine green hue. The nose is lifted

with a flinty minerality and a loaf of citrus (more fresh limes than

lemons) with a subtle herby peppery and floral notes.

PALATE = Again the citrus is prevalent on the palate followed by

a fine peppery note. The mouth watering acidity combines with

the fruit and peppery notes to deliver a long and fresh finish.

CELLARING = Drink now or until 2025 with careful cellaring.




WHITE LABEL SERIES

2014 Pedra Branca Sauvignon Blanc 12.8% Alc



ABOUT PEDRA BRANCA = Pedra Branca is Portuguese for white rock

and is a rocky outcrop ~ 25 km south of Tasmania. Here the forces of nature

create a unique environment with amazing surf. We used this as the

inspiration for our project series to celebrate nature and her capacity to

create something remarkable.

COLOUR = In the glass the 2014 Pedra Branca Sauvignon Blanc is pale

straw in colour with a slight green hue.

AROMA = The nose has subtle pineapple notes, with baked apple and

custard balanced with straw, a brioche yeastiness, minerals and oyster

shell. This interesting array of characters combine giving a complex yet

clean nose.

PALATE = The palate is initially quite tropical, then ripples of subtle straw

and herbal tones build. Coupled with a gunflint mentality and a tight acidity,

the palate is long, vibrant and textural.

CELLARING = Drink now or until 2025 if well cellared.

VITICULTURE = 2014 was a great vintage with generally warm dry

conditions and cool nights. As a result the juice and resultant wine had great

flavour and acidity. The Sauvignon blanc was picked from the Christmas Hill

Vineyard in Kuitpo in immaculate condition, and is arguably one of the best

Sauvignon blanc vineyards in the region.

VINIFICATION & MATURATION = This wine results from juice with fine

solids (fluffy lees) being fermented with wild yeast in 100% new fine grained

French barriques. Usually this wine spends about 10 months in oak with

regular lees stiring (battonage)...the 2014 spent approximately 20 months in

oak as the acidity was laser like and as a result the wine needed some more

time in oak to help integrate it. After bottling, the wine spent 9 months in

bottle before release.




PEDRA BRANCA SERIES

2013 Pedra Branca Mourvedre 13.3% Alc



AROMA = This Pedra Branca Mourvedre has a black core with a

wonderful magenta rim. On the nose, there are immediate red and

black juicy fruits, smokey meats, floral and spice tones, and hints of

cedar and cream.

PALATE = The palate explodes with juicy red fruits onto the early

and mid palate, with an underlying meatiness and spice building to

the late palate. This wine is balanced by fine tannins and a tight

finish.

CELLARING = Drink now or with careful cellaring until 2027.

VINIFICATION & MATURATION = This wine has been wild yeast

fermented with 50% whole bunches and matured in older French

puncheons (500L).




PEDRA BRANCA SERIES

2013 S Smitch Shiraz 15.0% Alc



AROMA = In the glass the 2010 “S” has a black core with a deep red

rim. There are elegant aromas of red black fruits, and spicy earthy

notes with a hint of grilled meats, graphite and controlled oak.

PALATE = On the palate the fruit continues with rich plums, and

blueberries and delicate spice and chocolate which all roll on to a

juicy palate with fine tannins that go on … and on.

CELLARING = Smidge recommends drinking this wine between

2014 and 2030.

95 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion

2017 Edition

JAMES HALLIDAY’S COMMENTS

This is a limited production of the best barriques of the vintage, in this

instance, five. It is exceptionally powerful, luscious and velvety, the

oak and tannins standing back to allow the fruit unfettered freedom to

express itself. A juicy replay unexpectedly appears long into the

aftertaste.

Drink to 2042.




FLAGSHIP PREMIUM

2014 Greenock Barossa Valley Shiraz 15.4% Alc



MAGIC DIRT has been inspired by the various sub regions’ terroir of South

Australia’s Barossa Valley. After several years of trials, we originally chose

three subregions that show profound differences, but still reflect the true

qualities of great Barossa Valley Shiraz. All vineyards selected are trellised

with a single cordon, single catch wire, and planted with the clone 1654. In

2014 the range was relaxed to 4 wines again with the omission of the

Willunga Block. The philosophy has remained the same...the barrel selected

truly showcases the vineyard it is from and not every subregion is selected

every year if the representation is not seen.

COLOUR – Black core with deep red rim.

NOSE – The richest and fullest of the Barossa Valley vineyards, with 2014

being no exception. Aromas are fresh and lifted with red / black fruits,

graphite, scorched earth and spice.

PALATE – Is vibrant with red fruits, earthy notes and underlying cedar with

long fine chewy tannins and fresh acidity contributing to a seamless finish.

CELLARING – There is a lot going on here and as a result, I feel that this

wine will drink well 2019 – 2035.

VITICULTURE – Centrally located this vineyard is 2.4 kilometres south west

of Moppa, and 4.5 kilometres north of Stonewell. It is planted in classic red

brown earth, with rich loam over heavy red clay. This soil encourages

phenolic development and the north-south orientation, with a southerly aspect

reduces exposure resulting in richness of flavour and good tannins.

VINIFICATION & MATURATION – Fermented in a 2t open top vessel,

fermentation lasted 12 days with total time on skins of 21 days before being

drained and pressed. The free run and pressings were blended and then the

component earmarked for this wine was matured in 3 year old French

barrique for 26 months. The wine was then fined lightly and bottled without

filtration. Matured in bottle for 24 months before release.

96 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2018

Edition


MAGIC DIRT SERIES

2014 Mengler’s Hill Eden Valley Shiraz 15.0% Alc

SMIDGEEDEN VALLEY SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MAGIC DIRT SERIES



MAGIC DIRT has been inspired by the various sub regions’ terroir of South

Australia’s Barossa Valley. After several years of trials, we originally chose

three subregions that show profound differences, but still reflect the true

qualities of great Barossa Valley Shiraz. All vineyards selected are trellised

with a single cordon, single catch wire, and planted with the clone 1654. In

2014 the range was relaxed to 4 wines again with the omission of the

Willunga Block. The philosophy has remained the same...the barrel selected

truly showcases the vineyard it is from and not every subregion is selected

every year if the representation is not seen.

COLOUR – Deep red core with magenta rim.

NOSE – Fresh and lifted with red fruits and plums, subtle chocolate, cedar,

five spice and dried herbs.

PALATE – Is full of dense dark fruit on the entry with chocolate, licorice and

spice balanced by fine tannins, resulting in a long and focussed finish.

CELLARING – This wine will drink well 2018 – 2035.

VITICULTURE – This block on Mengler’s Hill is approximately 4.5 kilometres

to the south of Angaston in one of the highest vineyards in Eden Valley at

500m above sea level. The location benefits from clay loam soils riddled with

ironstone and small amounts of quartz. A higher altitude and corresponding

cooler climate offer warm days and cold nights resulting in wines of elegance

that are both vibrant and spicy.

VINIFICATION & MATURATION – Fermented in a small open top vessel,

fermentation lasted 9 days with total time on skins was 16 days before being

drained and pressed. The free run and pressings were blended and then the

component earmarked for this wine was matured in 3 year old French

barrique for 25 months. The wine was then fined lightly and bottled without

filtration. Matured in bottle for 24 months before release.

97 Points & Special Value James Halliday Australian Wine

Companion 2018 Edition

2013 Moppa Barossa Valley Shiraz 14.5% Alc



MAGIC DIRT – has been inspired by the various sub regions’ terroir of South

Australia’s Barossa Valley. After several years of trials, we originally chose three

subregions that show profound differences, but still reflect the true qualities of great

Barossa Valley Shiraz. All vineyards selected are trellised with a single cordon,

single catch wire, and planted with the clone 1654. In 2012 the range was ex-tended

with a wine from a vineyard on Mengler’s Hill in Eden Valley and in 2013 a fifth wine

was included from Willunga in McLaren Vale. The philosophy has remained the

same...the barrel selected truly showcases the vineyard it is from although not every

subregion is selected every year if the true representation is not seen.

COLOUR – black core with deep red rim.

NOSE – is full of dark fruits and spice with fresh charcuterie, graphite, subtle earth

and peppery

PALATE – the most restrained of the Barossa Valley trio, the 2013 Moppa exhibits a

backbone of fresh and juicy dark fruits with subtle spice and earth notes that carry

through to the late palate, balanced with fine savoury tannins giving a long seamless

finish.

CELLARING – Drink now to 2030 if cellared well.

VITICULTURE – Situated on the south eastern slope of Mt Moppa, vine-yard is at an

altitude of approximately 400m above sea level, and a soil profile of deep red/ brown

loam, mottled with quartz and iron-stone fragments. The rows run north-south, and

the combined elevation and southerly aspect contribute to the softness and spiciness

of this Shiraz, with Moppa being the most elegant and restrained of the 3 wines.

VINIFICATION & MATURATION – Fermented in an open top vessel, fermentation

lasted 8 days with total time on skins was 16 days before being drained and pressed.

The free run and pressings were blended and then the component earmarked for this

wine was matured in 3 year old French barrique for 23 months. The wine was then

fined lightly and bottled without filtration. Matured in bottle for 17 months before

release.

95 Points James Halliday Aust Wine Companion 2017 Edition

JAMES HALLIDAY’S COMMENTS = Warmth of cedar and wood smoke curls out of

the bouquet, and the palate picks up the oak line without any hesitation or

prevarication. This is the most elegant of the Magic Dirt Series.


MAGIC DIRT SERIES

2013 Stonewell Barossa Valley Shiraz 14.5% Alc



MAGIC DIRT – has been inspired by the various sub regions’ terroir of South



Barossa Valley Shiraz. All vineyards selected are trellised with a single cordon, single

catch wire, and planted with the clone 1654. In 2012 the range was extended with a

wine from a vineyard on Mengler’s Hill in Eden Valley and in 2013 a fifth wine was

included from Willunga in McLaren Vale. The philosophy has remained the same...the

barrel selected truly showcases the vineyard it is from although not every subregion is

selected every year if the true representation is not seen.

COLOUR – black core with magenta rim.

NOSE – vibrant and perfumed with red and purple fruits, wet stone and earth with

subtle lavender and pepper

PALATE – the early palate is quite restrained then builds with plums and spice and

then remains juicy throughout, balanced with fresh acid and fine fo-cussed tannins

CELLARING – The 2013 Stonewell, although restrained in its youth, is balanced with

plenty of stuffing and will continue to benefit from a few years in the cellar and can be

enjoyed to 2030 if cellared well.

VITICULTURE – The most southern of the Barossa Valley Magic Dirt blocks, this

vineyard is midway down a westerly sloping hill. The rows run north-south and the

vines grow in well drained red clay / loam soils that contain large amounts of ironstone

with smaller amounts of slate and quartz.


fermentation lasted 8 days with total time on skins was 14 days before being drained

and pressed. The free run and pressings were blended and then the component

earmarked for this wine was matured in 3 year old French barrique for 23 months. The

wine was then fined lightly and bottled without filtration. Matured in bottle for 17

months before release.


JAMES HALLIDAY’S COMMENTS = This is particularly complex, with rich blackberry

and plum fruit, sufficient to carry both the new oak and the alcohol without complaint.

The ripe, powerful and balanced tannins are at one with the fruit.


MAGIC DIRT SERIES

2013 Willunga McLaren Vale Shiraz 14.6% Alc



MAGIC DIRT – was originally inspired by the various sub regions’ terroir of South



Barossa Valley Shiraz. All vine-yards selected are trellised with a single cordon, single

catch wire, and planted with the clone 1654. In 2012 the range was extended with a

wine from a vineyard on Mengler’s Hill in Eden Valley and in 2013 a fifth wine was

included from Willunga in McLaren Vale. The philosophy has remained the same...the

barrel selected truly showcases the vineyard it is from although not every subregion is

selected every year if the true representation is not seen

COLOUR – black core with a fine red rim.

NOSE – the aromas are fresh, dense and scream McLaren Vale...with plums,

chocolate, graphite, subtle vanilla and cedar.

PALATE – The palate is dense and dark with juicy plums and dark chocolate. The

fleshy fruit runs all the way through the palate carrying the chewy tannins with it.

CELLARING – Although drinkable now with a good steak, a bit of time in the cellar

would be beneficial...drink now until 2030.

VITICULTURE – Located in the Western outskirts of Willunga adjacent to White’s

Valley at the Southern end of McLaren Vale. The soil profile is deep red/brown

clay/loam mottled with small fragments of quartz and ironstone encouraging phenolic

development. Row orientation is North-South and the single catch wire allows for an

open canopy that provides a good balance of shade and flecked light.


fermentation lasted 10 days with total time on skins was 16 days be-fore being drained

and pressed. The free run and pressings were blended and then the component

earmarked for this wine was matured in 3 year old French barrique for 23 months. The

wine was then fined lightly and bottled without filtration. Matured in bottle for 17

months before release.


JAMES HALLIDAY’S COMMENTS = The bouquet of pure, fresh picked wild

blackberry, becomes the essence of the full bodied palate. Oak maturation has

rounded the tannins to the point where they are welded to the fruit.


MAGIC DIRT SERIES

N/V Blend 1. Rutherglen Grand Muscat 18.0% Alc



AROMA = In the glass this Rutherglen Grand Muscat is deep

walnut in colour with some subtle red to amber hues and a hint of

olive in the rim. The aroma’s start with deep raisons, fruit cake and

subtle fresh rancio notes all balanced with a sweet spirit.

PALATE = The palate is soft, nutty and sweet. The spirit is fine,

and beautiful rancio notes meld with the volume of sweetness, all

the while being refined with vibrant yet soft acid, resulting in a

balanced classical style.

CELLARING = Smidge recommends drinking this wine between

2014 to 2030.




RED FIVE STAR WINERY Winery Awarded 5 Red Stars by … · RED FIVE STAR WINERY Winery Awarded 5 Red...

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