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Welcome to Winter 2010The Patina 2010 vintage is looking very promising. It was a very difficult season for many vineyards in the region however our grapes came in relatively unaffected by vine disease. We didn’t get as much Riesling as normal so stocks could be a bit tight later in the year. The season began quite warm and got off to an early start with some serious drought concerns. Then the sky opened up at Christmas and relieved everyone. The rains continued along with cooler temperatures throughout the remainder of the season resulting in good fruit from vineyards that didn’t have disease problems. The initial indication in the winery is of excellent flavours and I look forward to sharing these wines with you in the years to come. 
Patina ClubEnjoy the Winemaker selected club dozen or select your own. CLUB MEMBERS receive one dozen in June and one dozen in December each year at 25% discount! You can select your own club dozen! Just send us an order form by the 17th of June and the 1st of December if you wish to choose your own; alternatively don’t bother with the order form and a Winemaker preselected mixed dozen will be automatically sent to you (complete with notes to make your dinner party interesting). Simply send us an email (click here) requesting to join, and we'll contact you with the details. Additional Club Member Benefits • Delivery is FREE in NSW (and also that little place in the middle called ACT). Deliveries outside NSW are charged at a reduced rate (subsidised by Patina). To join Patina Wine Club simply click here to contact us. We’re starting to get quite a few members so be sure to let us know you’re a CLUB MEMBER when buying wine so you don’t miss out on the discount. Winter 2010 Club DozenWinemaker preselected dozen will include: 2 x 2004 Patina Cabernet Sauvignon (not many left) The Winter Dozen is selected with a bias toward Reds and weightier Whites to suit winter food and fireside nights. The preselected Patina Club Winter dozen is $227, a saving of $76. Click here to join the club and receive our winemaker's dozen.
The bar...“Some recent laws would indicate that lawmakers not only passed the bar but also stopped there.” Anon Introducing Patina 'JEZZA'We are particularly excited to release our Flagship wine, the Patina 'Jezza' Cabernet Merlot 2003. This is a wine that we have matured and tended over the past seven years in order to ensure that it is drinking wonderfully upon release. It is an elegant wine that will continue to mature and age well over the next 15 years. What’s in a Name: Jezza is what my nephews dubbed me when they were at boarding school in Orange. They spent most of their weekends with us and this period is filled with good memories so I thought it appropriate to call my signature red wine 'JEZZA'. Winemakers Notes: Made up primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the cool climate volcanic soils of Orange, this wine is complimented by a small portion of Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine nuances of black currant flavours with good up front palate intensity and a lingering soft tannin finish. Merlot rounds out the mid palate and contributes rich berry flavours while the Cabernet Franc contributes a lightly lifted floral note, sweet spice and intensity to the mid palate. $35 per bottle | $399 per case 
The Dry Finish; Why we dislike H2SH2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) is a rotten egg gas. I suppose I could stop here and everyone would know why we dislike H2S, however its personality is a little more sinister. A little Chemistry: In bottled wine H2S is a byproduct formed when there is a lack of oxygen. Young wines (especially reds) continue evolving in bottle and are hungry for oxygen so wine benefits if there is some dissolved oxygen available. Dissolved oxygen can be beneficial whereas leaving a wine open to the air oxidizes wine because the oxygen concentration on the surface is too high and the number of wine molecules in contact with it are too few. When the concentration of H2S is high enough one quick sniff tells us ‘this wine pongs’! If the concentration is quite low it will simply mute the fruit and the wine will be drinkable but not very exciting. Now for the sinister personality of H2S: A wine that has unacceptable levels of H2S can score quite high in a wine show, this is because H2S is very pungent at first but quickly deadens the sense of smell and we become less sensitive to it. So in a lineup the first glass with elevated levels of H2S will be detected but the following wines with only slightly lower levels of H2S appear acceptable. Later when a show winner is evaluated on its own it can smell very ordinary. Decanting a smelly bottle or vigorously swirling the glass to introduce oxygen will usually greatly improve wines showing mild levels of H2S. |
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In this issue
2008 Patina Riesling
Gerald's Notes: Riesling is a variety that I find very exciting in the cool climate of Orange. It is a noble variety that displays floral aromatic characters that are unique to wines such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Albarino and a few others. While there are some excellent Rieslings produced around Australia, our soil, intense sunshine and cool climate - a result of our high elevation - play a large part in bringing out the best in the variety. If I can do anything about it, you will be seeing a lot more Riesling coming out of Orange in the future. "From the cool volcanic slopes of Mt. Canobolas, this is Riesling with a convincing and complex array of exotic aromatics. Tropicals, stone fruits and sweet floral perfumes and a whiff of spice - the palate has plenty of flavour yet holds an elegant, smooth line. Superb. LIMITED STOCK 2004 Patina Merlot
Gerald's Notes: Merlot is renowned amongst viticulturists to be a difficult variety. It often grows irregularly and suffers from a condition known as “hen and chicken” where some berries form with seeds and some don’t, making small and large grapes. Merlot grows well in Orange. It sets fruit well with very little tendency to “hen and chicken” and produces wine with good colour and fruit intensity. Orange region Merlot tends to show good fruit, acid and tannin resulting in a very inviting wine with finesse and complexity rarely seen in this variety. Nick Stock, WINE100 Magazine, March 2010 "Maybe it's odd to see an older vintage like '04 but don't despair because time has worked some savoury magic. Lovely cedary notes and fragrant cherry/berry fruits with meaty nuances. The palate speaks of the volcanic soils - quite precise, nicely ripe tannins and good even resolve. Drink now. 90 POINTS" Patina Chardonnay Unwooded 2007
Gerald's Notes: Orange consistently produces world class chardonnay; the Orange terroir seems to draw out the best of the variety. It is a very versatile variety that expresses beautifully as an un-wooded style or as a barrel fermented and lees aged wine which shows rich flavours and velvety mouth feel. $19 per bottle | $216 per case Patina Mudgee Shiraz 2005
Gerald's Notes: Mudgee has great soil and climate for Shiraz as it yields wine with rich, ripe dark fruit characters and good intensity. My preference is to use a high proportion of new American oak on this fruit to give the wine up front softness and oak sweetness with some good chocolate characters in the late palate. $27 per bottle | $307 per case 2008 Patina Pinot Gris
The Key Report on Wine, April 2010 "Full bodied and oily with clean, dried pear characters make this well made, well balanced wine a delightful accompaniment to food. 92 points and good value at $22." Jenny Stonier. $22 per bottle | $250 per case Art Gallery
Angie Naef's recent paintings reflect her passion for wine, fruit, and flowers, as well as the orchard and vineyard landscapes where she lives. Click here to see more of Angie's works. Pass it onUnsubscribe
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