And it begins....

In 1698 Jean Portet was born in the town of Cognac, France and became a winemaker. From the craftsmanship he learnt in his life, he taught his son. This eager ear listened, refined the mastery and passed his expertise onto the next in line. Nine circles later these techniques are reproduced each year in the hills of Australia’s Yarra Valley. In these bottles you will find the culture, skills and secrets that have passed hand to hand, through all Ten Men. If you get yourself close enough you might just hear them….

2011 Ten Men Sauvignon Blanc Yarra Valley

This year was one of the coolest and wettest growing seasons on record for sometime. The fruit thrived however and was handpicked on the 30th March. It was frozen for 5 days and then left to thaw at ambient temperature and eventually pressed into french oak barrels where the finest quality juice was fermented and aged. It underwent regular battonage (stirring of the dead yeast cells) to add complexity and structure which has resulted in a wine that drinks well now but will age without problem.

2010 Ten Men Shiraz Yarra Valley

The fruit was handpicked on the 19th March on a steep west facing slope in Gruyere. It was then crushed and destemmed with a small percentage of whole berries being left to cold soak. Once the juice was fermented, the wine was left on skins to build on its soft structure. It was then drained to barrel where it underwent 14 months maturation in french oak barrels. A wine accessible young but will develop gracefully with careful cellaring.

A TOUCH OF DIFFERENCE:

I’ll be posting a few happenings from time to time. I hope its informative with a fresh approach to wine!

Here is the first, a rare take on Shiraz where this barrel is being aged below water. A friend, Craig Hawkins is also doing the same at Lammershoek Winery in the Swartland region of South Africa….it will be an interesting comparison when released sometime next year. The idea is a wine effectively aged under completely reduced conditions (no O2 diffusing in or out of the barrel) and the result….well, you’ll have to wait and see!

Santè

Ben Portet

Contact: ben@dominiqueportet.com