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by Michelle Gadd, revised October 2011

The role of preservatives in wine

Despite alcohol being a natural preservative, most wine has had preservative added as a protection against oxidation and bacterial spoilage. The preservative used is one of a number of forms of sulphur: sulphur salts or sulphur dioxide...  » read more

by Rich Bowden, October 2011

The practice of fining is widespread in Australian and New Zealand winemaking however it is little understood by the average wine drinker. Fining involves using substances that may be of concern to people with food allergies or those on a vegetarian or vegan diet, and they may not be aware of the fact that they are consuming animal material when they drink their favourite drop....   » read more

by Tracey Jarvis-Ball

In March Michelle and I were lucky to attend the International Return to Terroir tasting, part of Melbourne's recent Wine and Food Festival. Here we asked a few of the many Biodynamic producers what they found was different as a result of introducing biodynamic practices – including the renown guru himself – Nicolas Joly from Coulee de Serrant in France's Loire Valley and Vanya Cullen from Margaret River's Cullen Wines.

"we are helping wines catch the climate and soil"
Nicolas Joly » renowned French biodynamic winemaker

Recurring themes were:

» The soil is more alive and diverse with much more water holding and deeper rooting capacity with a better capability to withstand the vagaries of climate change, producing improved wine quality through all vintages .......

McLaren Vale > SA

organic > no added preservative > vegan suitable

Pricing
mixed case: $21.00 » straight case: $240.00 ($20pb)

Tasting Notes from Battle of Bosworth: The Battle of Bosworth Preservative Free Shiraz is our take on a Spanish ‘Joven’ style which refers to a wine that has been made with little or no oak-ageing and is designed to be drunk when young.

Once again you might be hearing the BoB wheels heading off road onto a slightly different path, as our BoB PFS is not made using Spanish varieties, (such as Tempranillo or Grenache.) only SHIRAZ.

A super vibrant black/purple colour in the glass heralds a lively dark forest fruit and black cherry nose, as well as a lushness and hints of liquorice and spice. The wine has a rich, textural and even palate tied together with beautifully structured tannins. This is a medium to full-bodied style of wine.

reviews »

"If you’re going to do this sort of thing, then do it well. And this is done to perfection. Smells and tastes of purple. Vigorous, juicy crushed berries, violets, licorice and meat. It’s medium to full bodied and bursting with fruit and spice. Has freshness and purpose, proper tannins, and for a wine that’s barely out of nappies, has a degree of complexity and vinosity that’s quite something. Length too. True Joven style. Hard to rate, but very easyto drink."  Rated : 91 Points » Gary Walsh THE WINE FRONT www.winefront.com.au

"Extraordinarily deep purple-crimson; the dense fruit bouquet and palate follow on logically; bypassed oak barrels altogether. Paradoxically, needs a year or two to settle down, but a very good example of preservative-free wine. 90 points drink to 2013, $20, Screwcap, 14% alc." James Halliday Sept 2nd 2010 » www.winecompanion.com.au

readmore »

Henty > Western VIC

biodynamic > low preservative > vegan suitable > wild yeast ferment

Clearance Price
mixed case: $14.50 » straight case: $168.00 ($14pb)

Tasting Notes from Hochkirch Winery: The wine is very pale yellow and the nose positively exudes lemon, spice and peach/apricot stonefruit. Palate opens with a salty minerality followed by fresh riesling fruit with nervy acid all of which continue into a long finish with our typical fruit sweetness.

Riesling is the most complex and noble of white wines, demanding intellectual engagement. It flourishes in our cold climate and high iron basalt soils. A generous crop in 2008 yielded 500 cases.

Another dry winter was followed by a wet spring then a mild summer helping our deep rooted vines avoid moisture stress in March. Another precocious vintage saw Riesling hand-picked on the 24 of March at perfect ripeness. De-stemmed fruit was pressed then settled for 48 hours without enzymes (or anything else!) then racked to wild ferment which finally finished in November.

Falling bright with gravity our wines are neither fined nor filtered and the 08 Riesling was bottled by hand on 5 December 2008 using high quality natural cork.

reviews »

"This is about as close to the ideal biodynamic vineyard as you could imagine: the 8 hectares of unirrigated vines and the winery are just one part of the Nagorcka family’s farm which also produces sheep, pigs and grain. The farm has been biodynamic since 1998: the wines get better with each vintage."  Max Allen » www.redwhiteandgreen.com.au www.winefront.com.au

readmore »

No Added Preservative Wines from $12pb

Drummond > Macedon Ranges > VIC

no added preservative > vegan suitable

Made from estate grown fruit. The vines are un-irrigated, grown without chemicals and are nurtured with organic compost and biodynamic preparations. The wine is not filtered and contains no fining agents.

Pricing
mixed case: $14.00
straight case of 6: $144.00
less than a case buy: $16.00

What is the difference between organic and biodynamic?

$220 plus freight

Babich 2009 Individual Vineyard Headwaters Organic Block Sauvignon Blanc – intro price only $18.50

OWS 2009 Organic Hunter Semillon

OWS 2009 Organic Hunter Chardonnay

OWS 2009 Organic Hunter Verdelho

Great Value $180 per case or $16 pb mixed case

Buy Salena Estate Wines

Beautiful Wines - Exceptional Value

Only $15.70 per bottle in a mixed case or $14.90 per bottle straight case.

Buy Spring Seeds Four O’Clock Chardonnay