Bellarmine Estate Pemberton Shiraz 2008
While it has only been three vintages under its belt, startin with the 2005 (2006 was not made due to vintage rain), Bellarmine Shiraz has cemented its position as a high-quality cool climate style. The 2008 vintage has an extra element of damson, plum and cherry sitting alongside the core of blackberry, licorice and spice. 15% alc Drink to 2028. 96 points James Halliday, The Weekend Australian 22nd August 2009
When German doctor Dr Willi Schumacher and his wife Gudrun began searching the world for a place outside Germany to establish a vineyard, they could have had no idea they would end up choosing a site in the Pemberton region of Western Australia. It is a beautiful part of the country, with massive eucalypts attesting to the generous rainfall and usually fertile and well-drained soil. But even by Australian standards, it is a long way from anywhere, and the amount of wine/lifestyle tourism is low. That said, the Schumachers have no reason to doubt their decision to choose Pemberton, and more specifically, to choose the site for their 20-hectare vineyard. It is situated on a ridge of gravelly, lateritic soil, and the excess vigour that makes life difficult for some vineyards in the region is not a problem.
Right from the outset I have been an unabashed admirer of the ever-elegant style of the Bellarmine wines, led by its rieslings. Originally there were two: Riesling and Riesling Dry, but in 2006, at the request of the Schumachers, a Riesling Auslese was added. .....All three are sent back (with screwcaps) – exported doesn’t seem quite the right word – to Germany and sold there by the Schumachers. Herein lies an explanation for the exceptional value the wines offer. The reluctance of the German market to pay a reasonable amount for high-quality riesling has led many German winemakers to export much of their production.
I recently attended a vertical tasting of the Bellarmine rieslings, chardonnays and shirazes. The rieslings may be the flagbearers, but the chardonnays and shirazes are also impressive. The chardonnays are equally elegant, but the shirazes may yet be the best of all. Deeply coloured, wonderfully fragrant, they are archetypal cool-climate styles and intensely flavoured. Black fruits, spice, pepper and a touch of licorice do the talking, and will do so for decades to come. James Halliday
Bellarmine Wines produces a range of individual wines made from grapes grown on its picturesque estate in the cool climate region of Pemberton, Western Australia.
The vineyard was planted in 2000 and is owned by German doctor, Dr Willi Schumacher and his wife Gudrun Schumacher. The Schumachers are passionate about great wine and searched the world for a place to plant vines before they chose what has become the Bellarmine property.
Bellarmine vineyard is 20 hectares in size. Varieties planted include Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The vines sit on an elevated site 220 metres above sea level. Sand dunes located on the south coast about 50km away can be seen from the vineyard. Soils are gravel laterite. Irrigation is used very rarely in this high rainfall area. Ever since the first vintage in 2004, Bellarmine has consistently produced stunning wines. Bellarmine Wines is rated 5 stars out of five by renowned wine writer James Halliday in his 2009 Wine Companion.
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