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Summer 2009 Newsletter, Premium Western Australian Wines, Mount Barker

GALAFREY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2009

Galafrey Wines remains the oldest family owned winery in Mount Barker. The Vineyard is over 32 years old,
the grapes are dry grown, giving intensity of fruit and lots of body to the wines.  
  We have 10  wines with scores over  90/100.  
                         James Halliday has given us a four and half star rating.
                                               How’s that for a small  winery!  

 


 


Nigel, Kim, Linda, Paul and Bruce (the dog )

would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010.

 



2006 Dry Grown  MERLOT

 

TOP OF THE CATEGORY Winestate New releases
Best of the New releases

Winestate annual 2008-200


 Tight and tannic wine with nicely focused varietal fruit well integrated with chocolaty oak. Good backbone of fine tannins.

 Has cellaring potential. Beautiful sweet red berry and slightly perfumed aromas. The palate is supple and succulent with quite delicious sweet fruit. Fine grained tannins and attractive integrated oak.

 

 

  93/100  JAMES HALLIDAY

 

 

 

 


 

2005 Dry Grown
SHIRAZ


This wine is very
impressive.
It opens with lifted spice and black pepper aromas cutting through deeper vanillin oak. The medium weight palate is supple and soft with a nice balance of fruit and oak.
A gentle and persuasive wine that creeps and delivers by stealth and is a typical Shiraz that comes from this part of the world.


93 / 100
 JAMES HALLIDAY    

AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION - 2009    

 


 

WINESTATE 2009

AUSTRALIA’S  BEST

SAUVIGNON BLANCS

4 STARS


Pale straw and green in appearance, the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is rich and fragrant on the nose with asparagus, guava, and freshly cut grass characters emanating. The palate is medium bodied with a concentrated density of fruit, balanced by clean fresh mineral acidity.
Luscious and tight, passion fruit, lychee and herbaceous notes meld and linger, finishing fresh and crisp.
 



 2009 Dry Grown  Riesling

Fine Wine Club

Top in Category


 Seductive, Fresh, vibrant and elegant. Pale straw in appearance, with a green tint that conveys vivacity. The nose is lifted with a delicate fusion of floral jasmine, mineral and citrus notes that typify the regional terroir. The palate is a continuance of these characters. Light to medium bodied, the mouth is lively, with a zesty acidity. Balanced and textually complex, mineral granite, lime and white stone fruits combine from the front to back, finishing with a lingering fresh tang.

‘Essence of Riesling here. Really perfumed with roses and violets. The palate is long, fine and complex. There is fine acid structure and zesty fruit too. Sweet fruit to close. ’
Ray Jordan's  2009 WA Wine Guide  
The dry-grown vineyard, planted with most of the regions traditional varieties, added to its list is Muller Thurgau,  a variety Ian Tyrer pursued with some passion in the face of some scepticism. To me, its a tribute to his memory that Galafrey will continue with the Muller Thurgau
Riesling has been one of the estate's best wines, changing in style-and for the better. the last two vintages have been the best I have seen from the estate.
The reds offer excellent value and quality, their soft fleshy character making them immediately appealing with medium-term cellaring potential.
RIESLING 2008 -  90 POINTS
This dry-farmed vineyard produces some mighty fine Riesling. This one is one of the most delicate and fine, yet loses nothing in lingering flavoursome intensity. Fine spicy palate with traces of citrus and mineral with wet, salty finish.
 DRY GROWN SHIRAZ 2005 -  91 POINTS
This old vineyard now approaching 30 years, pumps out deeply concentrated velvety shiraz. This wonderful Seamless and silky smooth wine delivers with poise and style. Will cellar for many years. Great price for a wine of this quality.
DRY GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 -  92 POINTS
Inky Black colour gives the first pointer to the power and concentration in this awesome statement. Blackcurrant and cedary on the nose with a little chocolate and tobacco leaf. The palate  deeply intense and beautifully structured with fine powdery tannins and substantial oak to support a long term cellaring wine."




Meet Bruce!

Galafrey’s new cellar door dog.


Unfortunately Henry passed away this winter of a heart attack. He was 12 years old. Everyone will  fondly remember Henry for his
begging ability at cellar sales and friendly greetings at the cellar sales car park.  Henry learnt at a young age that people in cars generally had food! Not to mention his unhealthy addiction to Smacko’s!

Bruce has big shoes to fill but is so cute we are sure it won’t take long before he’s charming the customers. Bruce alias Bruce Almighty. is the size of a litre of milk, loves hanging out in Kim’s  ‘in tray’ ( the waste paper bin!), loves bones, loves hanging out with the big boys ( Nigel’s  Sheep Dogs). Welcome Bruce!!

 

 


 

Looking for an excuse for a road trip

with friends!


Mt Barker Grapes and Gallops
‘where equine meets the vines’.
www.grapesandgallops.com
17th January 2010

 

March Long Weekend

as part of Taste Great Southern

The Mt Barker Graze
Graze your way around the wineries of Mt Barker
www.grazemtbarker.com
 

 


 

Looking for a Great Gift Idea!


You know the deal, you need a present for someone who has everything. Why not send the a Galafrey Gift Pack. Delivered anywhere in Australia. We also do corporate gifts, wine for weddings etc

 


    A  Magnum of Galafrey’s The Jovial   
 
    A Galafrey 2 Pack of Wine
    and bottle of ‘Olli’ Olive Oil              

    A Galafrey White Wine Six Pack       

    A Galafrey Red Wine Six Pack           

    A Galafrey Christmas Mixed Dozen   

For more information
www.galafreywines.com.au
Or phone  9851 2022



 



I went to a dinner party last night, where I and other guests enjoyed
copious amounts of alcohol.

I awoke this morning not feeling well, with what could be described as flu-like symptoms; headache, nausea, chills, sore eyes, etc. From the
results of some initial testing, I have unfortunately tested positive for what experts are now calling Wine Flu.
 
This debilitating condition is very serious - and it appears this is not an isolated case. Reports are flooding in from all around the country of
others diagnosed with Wine Flu. To anyone that starts to exhibit the
aforementioned tell-tale signs, experts are recommending a cup of tea and a bit of a lie down.

However, should your condition worsen, you should immediately hire a DVD and take some Nurofen (Nurofen seems to be the only drug  available that has been proven to help combat this unusual type of flu). Others are reporting a McDonald's Happy Meal can also help in some cases but I have found an Ulster fry works better.

Wine Flu does not need to be life threatening and, if treated early, can be eradicated within a 24-48 hour period. If not, then further application of the original liquid, in similar quantities to the original dose, has been shown to do the trick. Cheers!
 

 


 

CHRISTMAS DOZEN

Last year we had a great response from our Christmas Dozen. Maybe because it was such a great buy or maybe it was a reflection on how busy we are!

Many happy Galafrey lovers said that they made great (and easy) gifts.
A change from  fruit and nut plates– sorry, standard Christmas present from my sister-in-law. Anyway we are doing it again.

This year’s Christmas Dozen wines -  all drinking well,
a great mix of white and red wines, a few fortified and a bubbly!
Ready for any occasion at special price of
 $195 .00 a dozen  savings of $40


    2008 Unoaked Chardonnay
    2008 Drylands Riesling
    2009 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
    2009 Sauvignon Blanc
    2008 Muller
    2003 Cabernet Merlot
    2002 Frankland River Shiraz
    2002 Pinot Noir
    2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
    Sparkling La De Da
              Sweetie Pie Muscat
    Tawny Port

 



GALAFREY WINES      “The Jovial” 2003

Wednesday, Jun 10 2009 · Posted in Great Southern, Mount Barker, cabernet et al ·
Comment-  By Gary Walsh  

As Mattinson writes so eloquently in the introduction to The Big Red Wine Book 2009/10
 “A great wine is a great miracle. It is the endplay of a remarkable endeavour, and it should be cherished.”
And never was a quote so apposite as it is to this wine, dedicated to the memory of Ian Tyrer of Galafrey Wines, who passed away in 2003. I’m not sure that this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is still commercially available, as it came along with a box of samples from this delightfully and quirkily named winery. Never mind, I’m enjoying it immensely, and I’m glad it made the trip across the Nullarbor safely to find an appreciative home on this cold Sydney winters night. Update’: winery says yes - still available.
Mint, liquorice, sweet rolling tobacco, vanilla, truffle and ripe blackcurrant fruit - a comforting gentleman’s club scent that’s so very appealing to this taster, and for which it earns an extra point. It’s medium bodied and sweetly fruited with firm dry tannins that grip and hold, yet don’t dominate although appropriate food is of great benefit. Fresh and expressive with an abundance of character, no shortage of length and no annoying excess of alcohol. Lovely wine - one where the total effect and charm overrides a more clinical and technical appraisal.
Rated : 92 Points

 

 


 


The 2009 Ian Tyrer Award Winner
 Jack Bendat











Linda Tyrer, Ian Tyrer’s wife and Chairperson of the Ian Tyrer Award said “This years winner, Jack Bendat took a small winery to a national brand and with that took the region, Mount Barker along for the ride. Jack always made his staff and facilities available for any promotions. With special mention to the D’vine Festival, held on the grounds of Goundrey Wines for many years. Jack Bendat brought down VIP guests and the media to the area, as well as advertising on his radio station which encouraged many wine lovers down to the Mount Barker area to sample the local product. A very worthy winner”

 


 

Cellaring Tips

Wine storage after bottling is essential in preserving the wine and being able to experience it at its full potential. If wine is stored incorrectly, often the flavour and aroma of the wine becomes affected.

What are the advantages of cellaring?
Cellaring may have varying benefits depending on the type of wine. Some wines are best consumed on release, around 1-2 years after production. Others need the time to mature and develop.

Where to store my wine?
Wine storage is an important factor in determining the life and quality of your wine. The following factors should be considered:

Temperature
Temperature control and stability are essential in preserving your wine, and should be stored between 12-15°C, with a relative humidity of 65-75%. This is the single most damaging factor to wine when cellaring.
Galafrey Wines stores all wines in temperature controlled warehouses ensuring that when the wine is purchased via cellar door or the restaurant you can be assured that it is in the best possible condition. Purchasing wine from cellar door makes a very smart decision when this factor is considered.

Darkness
Wine is ideally stored in darker conditions, as excessive light can lead to premature aging.

Vibrations
Continuous movement caused by vibrations can spoil the wine as the sediment is unable to settle to the bottom of the bottle. Therefore, it is a good idea not to store wine on top of the fridge.


Storage
Corked wine should be stored on its side, slightly tilted upwards. This is necessary to keep the cork moist so as to ensure that it does not dry out. Screw cap lids however, are able to be stored standing upright. Galafrey Wines uses the Stelvin seal for its range of wines, and there have been numerous recognised advantages to this type of wine