ENTWINED THE JOURNAL OF FRANKLAND ESTATE GOLDEN YEAR Reflecting on what may well be a near perfect 2018 vintage Royal Melbourne Wine Show Triple Triumph Discover our new and exciting varietals No.11 Spring/Summer 2019 The Frankland Estate Journal TOP OF THE CROP: OUR FINEST RIESLINGS IN 30 YEARS? Frankland Estate’s Hunter Smith reflects on what may well be a near perfect 2018 vintage. E’VE BEEN MAKING RIESLING in the Frankland River region since we first Wplanted vines over thirty years ago, it’s the varietal that we’re often renowned for. Whilst winemakers often talk of idyllic vintage conditions, there’s been few years that we’ve been so excited about as we are 2018. It was near perfect – a wet three months from July to September 2017 set up the vines beautifully for a flourish of spring growth. The weather gods then shone upon us with sunshine sparking an onset of good flowering, which resulted in average to above average crops. Rainfall was below average, but the cool daily temperatures meant that the vines showed no water stress.When the time came to harvest the fruit and see it carefully make its way into the winery, it was nothing short of pristine. We knew we had both excellent flavour ripeness and good acid levels – mouth- wateringly good! PATIENCE NOW BEING REWARDED Whilst the perfect ripening conditions have helped produce an exceptional 2018 vintage, the three decades of vineyard management and evolution of viticultural practices are also starting to pay dividends in terms of quality. Tweaking our pruning regimes and trellising systems, selecting particular varietal clones of wines and utilising organic fertilisers to encourage a unique microbiology in our soils to allow them to flourish, are all having an impact on the evolution of what defines our brand. It’s now been fourteen years of managing the vineyards organically and we’re confident that the depth and complexity of the flavours is due to this constant pursuit of excellence. WHAT THE CRITICS HAVE TO SAY... The exceptional 2018 ISOLATION RIDGE 2018 POISON HILL 2018 FRANKLAND ESTATE conditions are now being VINEYARD RIESLING VINEYARD RIESLING RIESLING “OMG. Incredible complexity on the nose “Wonderful clarity to this riesling with “A delightful citrusy, appley nose with some highlighted in the wines, with crushed-stone, slate and lemon character. white peaches, minerals and hints of stone fruit in the background. Complex, with the 2018 Isolation Some nutmeg and white pepper, too. Full- spearmint. Full-bodied, dry and fruity. textured and layered example with good bodied with a crunchy and creamy palate Beautiful length. Stones and tangy fruit development potential. Drink now Ridge Vineyard and 2018 that highlights the bitter-lemon and mineral at the finish. Drink now.” or within 10-15 years.” Poison Hill Vineyard flavours. Very, very long.” James Suckling, June 2019 Decanter WWA, 2019 Rieslings living up to our James Suckling, June 2019 ........................................................................... ........................................................................... ........................................................................... very high expectations 96 points Nick Stock 95 points James Halliday 95 points Decanter World Wine Awards for the vintage. We jamessuckling.com, June 2019 2020 Australian Wine 2019 96 points Huon Hooke Companion 95 points James Halliday guarantee you won’t The Real Review, May 2019 94 points Gary Walsh 2020 Australian Wine be disappointed. 96 points Top 100 Wines 2019 The Wine Front, May 2019 Companion Gourmet Traveller Wine 2019 94 points James Suckling 93 points Toni Paterson 95 points Gary Walsh jamessuckling.com, The Real Review, May 2018 The Wine Front, May 2019 August 2019 Buy online franklandestate.com.au 95 points James Halliday or call our Cellar Door on (08) 9855 1544 2020 Australian Wine and we’ll help with your selection. Companion Vol: 11, 2019 3 LOOKING TO ADD SOME OF OUR 2018 SINGLE-VINEYARD RIESLINGS TO YOUR CELLAR? Don’t delay, they are drinking superbly right now and with accolades continuing to be received they won’t last long. FLYING HIGH When the time came to harvest the fruit and see it carefully make its way into the winery, it was nothing short of pristine. QANTAS & ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS SERVING OUR RIESLING rankland Estate Isolation Ridge This year marked All Nippon Airways’ F Vineyard Riesling has had a long (ANA) maiden flight from Perth to history of being selected to be served Tokyo, and we had a fortunate turn of in the First Class cabins on Qantas. events. Hunter had a chance encounter On showing the selection committee with a few of the wine selection panel the 2018 Isolation Ridge Vineyard for ANA and he just happened to have Riesling they have again put it up the a bottle of riesling in his hands. very pointy end of the plane alongside While not many words were exchanged the 2015 Olmo’s Reward. it was decided on the spot that the We’re sure Dr Harold Olmo, would be 2018 Frankland Estate Riesling would pleased to know (in his humbled way), be served in Business Class. that the wine Judi and Barrie named in his honour is now flying at 30,000 feet A great accompaniment to the across to his homeland of America Daichi Ramen. in First Class! The Journal of Frankland Estate Royal Melbourne Wine Show TRIUMPH A TRIFECTA OF TROPHIES FOR FRANKLAND ESTATE TROPHY WINNER 2019 TROPHY WINNER 2019 TROPHY WINNER 2019 BEST ORGANIC OR BEST WESTERN THE TREVOR MAST TROPHY BIODYNAMIC WINE AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ FOR BEST SHIRAZ HE ROYAL MELBOURNE WINE organically over 14 years ago and gained Matt Harrop, Chair of Judges at the Royal SHOW IS ONE OF THE MOST Australian Certified Organic accreditation in Melbourne Wine Awards, said “It’s T PRESTIGIOUS SHOWS ON THE 2009 so it is particularly satisfying to receive beautifully fragrant with a poised palate - AUSTRALIAN WINE CIRCUIT. recognition for our pioneering efforts.” spicy, intriguing and just so lovely. That wine is the complete package.” The 2019 show was certainly one to Hunter Smith, Owner & Vigneron remember for Frankland Estate, with the “Despite all the changes in the wine industry, Unsurprisingly the Frankland River region The 2017 Shiraz 2017 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge one thing has remained the same; great wines is widely becoming recognised as being is selling quickly. Vineyard Shiraz, picking up the Trophy one of Australia’s finest Shiraz growing are made in the vineyard. Organics has Don’t miss out on this for Best Organic/Biodynamic Wine, Trophy brought our Isolation Ridge Vineyard to life, regions. The Mediterranean climate of warm days and cold nights, combined award-winning wine. for Best Western Australian Shiraz and the literally! Enormous energy, over many years, with the unique ironstone soil found in This is your last chance famed Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz has been poured into the Isolation Ridge our Isolation Ridge Vineyard, produces to order the 2017 Isolation of Show. Vineyard Shiraz and we’re proud to be Shiraz of power, refinement and finesse. Ridge Shiraz, Visit our Hunter and Brian were on hand to receive recognised as one of Australia’s best wines.” This Shiraz aims to capture all the website or see enclosed the awards and were thrilled, it is a great Brian Kent, Head Winemaker. quintessential fruit opulence, black order form. result not only for our wines but for awareness Shiraz accounted for 25 percent of all pepper and spice notes for which the of the region on the national stage. entries in the competition, but it was the region has become renowned. “Shiraz in Western Australia has seen some 2017 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge great advances and I’d say the heartbeat of Vineyard Shiraz that came up trumps this change is here in the Frankland River in a field of 745 wines beating many well- region. We started managing our vineyard known and higher priced wines. “It’s beautifully fragrant with a poised palate - spicy, intriguing and just so lovely. That wine is the complete package.” Matt Harrop, Chair of Judges Royal Melbourne Wine Awards Above Hunter Smith and Brian Kent celebrate at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Vol: 11, 2019 5 SHOWCASE: FRANKLAND ESTATE SHIRAZ OWNER AND WINEMAKER HUNTER SMITH ON THE CONSTANT LOVE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT’S REAPING REWARDS Above from left Cold morning shiraz pick, new barrel for shiraz, shiraz on the vine. rankland River as a region has fruit the time needed to ripen well but different bunch characteristics not only in building different dimensions into our shiraz established a great name for slowly. Combined with the cooler aspect appearance but in taste and texture. Seen as a wines. Viognier provides texture and softness F producing top shiraz for a number of the southern part of the Frankland River chance to trial some new material in the aim to shiraz, a delicious moreishness and of years. Planted as early as the late 1960’s, region, we are achieving fresher, crunchier of providing greater complexity, the new shiraz aromatic lift with the smallest of additions. shiraz has established itself as a benchmark and brighter wines. clones 174 and 470 are from the heart of the After many trials it is common place for variety in the region. Rhône Valley and whilst exerting all the viognier to be added to select ferments of MINIMAL INTERVENTION quintessential classic shiraz characteristic they shiraz the day of harvest at about 5% which Through the early 2000’s Frankland Estate IN THE WINERY set about redefining shiraz from the region. can vary in flavour very subtly and provide after blending with different ferments A number of changes were implemented In the winery there has also been some an extra dimension to our final shiraz wines.