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| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 3 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by rmarkey on 9/1/2015 & rated 90 points: Very good wine, better than the Vat 6 of some years. 13% alc.
Colour: bright dark cherry
Bouquet: smokey strawberry and cherry, savoury charry oak characters
Palate: as bouquet, quite full bodied and developed forest floor and mushroom and Burgundian characters, long and very dry finish. Good acid and balance.
September 2015 (900 views) | | | Tasted by rmarkey on 3/4/2015 & rated 93 points: Excellent, 13% alc.
Colour: dark red berry
Bouquet: spicey red fruits, raspberry and strawberry
Palate: as bouquet, nice balance between fruit and oak, good firm soft but grippy tannins, long palate, good firm mid body. Meaty and forest floor flavours after breathing a couple of hours. Great mouth feel, and berry dry finish. Better than the Vat 6 for this year that we tasted back in January because it has more fresh fruit.
March 2015 (971 views) | | | Tasted by graemeg on 1/17/2015: Hunter Valley - 6 Cellar Doors (Hunter Valley): {screwcap, 13%, A$20} Light garnet. Soft, vague berry aromas; not terribly intense. A bit glue-like on the palate. Some ripe red fruit, but simple and easy. Little oak, light-bodied, minimal tannins, fairly short finish which lingers on the front palate only. A kind of Beaujolais plus some hunter dirt. Quaff. (1953 views) |
| Tyrrell's Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
Nothing is great unless it is good The Tyrrell family wine story
2008 marks the 150th anniversary of our family’s arrival in Pokolbin to commence its future in the Australian wine industry. 150 years of one family with a constant base and industry in which it operates is a rarity in the country. We Tyrrells have been on our vineyard for two thirds of Australia’s modern history. The motto of ‘nothing is great unless it is good’ came with my great grandfather from England and has been a guiding beacon for the family through the 150 years. It has been and will be the basis of all we do.
We have passed many milestones along the way, with the past 50 years contributing the most. The introduction of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to the modern Australian industry, our expansion outside our beloved Hunter Valley to Mclaren Vale, Limestone Coast and Heathcote, and the championing of the introduction Semillon variety from the Hunter are, to me, the outstanding achievements.
The Heathcote move will see us at the forefront of the development of what I believe will be the next great Shiraz area of Australia; one that will rival and then surpass the Barossa and Mclaren Vale.
Hunter Semillon has provided us with the rare opportunity to work with one of the truly unique wine styles of the world and I trust that in my lifetime it will be recognized worldwide for its great quality.
The continuation of Tyrrell’s Wines as a family business for another 150 years, at least, is my greatest dream. Family businesses always have a longer term view of the world, its operation and its people. It is from the family businesses that the innovation and leadership required by the wine industry, nationally and locally, will come. Wine is forever in our blood and in our dreams.
Pauline and I will probably not see the 200th anniversary of Tyrrell’s but the future of it will be in safe hands. Our three children Jane, John and Christopher, will have created their own part of our family’s history and tradition.
M. Bruce Tyrrell AM
Managing Director
Tyrrell’s Wines
Established in 1858 by English immigrant Edward Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s Wines is one of Australia’s pre-eminent family owned wine companies with vineyards extending from their historic home in the Hunter Valley to the Limestone Coast (SA) and Heathcote (VIC).
Headed up by fourth generation family member Bruce Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s is home to some of Australia’s most awarded wines including the iconic Vat 1 Semillon. Since 1971, Tyrrell’s has been awarded over 5,000 trophies and medals and in 2010 was named “Winery of the Year” in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion.
With the fifth generation, Chris, Jane and John, involved in the business, Tyrrell’s will continue to remain family owned with the simple philosophy of producing high quality wine that people love to drink.
Philosophy
My great grandfather arrived in Pokolbin in 1858 and took up a concessional allotment of 320 acres. This marks the start of over 150 years of the Tyrrell’s being a constant in both the Hunter Valley and Australian wine industries. The motto he brought with him from England “nothing is great unless it is good”, remains as a guiding beacon of what we have been, what we are and what we will be in the future.
The past 50 years has been an era of growth and innovation. We have purchased, or leased many of the great vineyard blocks of the Hunter, introduced chardonnay and pinot noir to the modern Australian wine industry and have been lucky enough to work with Hunter semillon - one of the truly unique wines of the world. Hunter semillon has been the obsession of my generation and it is wonderful to now see international acceptance of the greatness and unique quality of this wine.
When I joined the business full time in 1974, we were a small winery with 95% of the business being at Cellar Door and having made about three export sales; one each to the USA, UK and Sweden. Today, we are a medium sized family business with vineyards in the Hunter Valley, Limestone Coast and Heathcote, and export to more than 50 countries around the world.
The two great developments of the last 20 years have been the selection of the land for our vineyard in Heathcote in Victoria; an area which, I believe, will join the front rank of great quality region in Australia. In the past four years, we have identified the six vineyard blocks that we have which are greater than 100 years old and when the quality was good enough, produced and bottled them as stand alone wines. These are amongst the rarest vineyards in the world.
It is the wish of the current generation that the family goes on for at least another 150 years. Without family business our economy would lack length of vision for the future and the long term commitment to quality and innovation.
We are proud to be a member of the Australia’s First Families of Wine as we all share the same long term vision of the Australian wine industry.
M. Bruce Tyrrell AM
Managing Director
Our Home
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's premier wine growing regions and takes in an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres. It is bordered by mountain ranges, all of which are part of the Hunter River system catchment. The upper Hunter (around Scone, Murrurundi and Merriwa) is undulating country while the lower Hunter (Maitland, Cessnock) is reasonably flat country, some of which lies in the flood plains of the Hunter, Paterson and Williams Rivers. Much of the economy in the Hunter region is based upon mining, light industry, steel production and agriculture.
Only a two hour drive north of Sydney, a car is recommended if you plan on exploring the Hunter Valley during your stay. Cessnock is the southern gateway to the Hunter Valley wine region. Pokolbin is located about six kilometres west of Cessnock and is the major centre in the region. With plenty of beautiful accommodation, restaurants and live entertainment, it is the perfect location for a weekend getaway.
Tyrrell’s Wines manage a large number of vineyards throughout the Hunter Valley in NSW, totaling just over 500 acres. The majority of the plantings are semillon and shiraz, for which the region is renowned. The winery is based in Pokolbin and is the home of Tyrrell’s Wines, with the original slab hut built in 1858 still standing. The Cellar Door is located at the same address and is open seven days a week with daily winery tours operating at 10.30am.
Our Vineyards
Building upon their inheritance of just 60 acres to 900 acres today, Tyrrell’s premium vineyards extend from their historic home in the Hunter Valley to other distinguished grape growing regions of Australia including Heathcote in Victoria and the Limestone Coast in South Australia.
Pinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)New South Walesd we’reHunter Valley Mudgee Wine Country |
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