By John Rozentals.
Mike Mudge: “Petaluma has developed a prestigious winemaking reputation.”
From its humble beginning in the Adelaide Hills in 1976, Petaluma’s sole objective has been to produce ultra-premium wines mindful of its distinguished-site philosophy of growing the right varieties in the right wine region, earning an enviable status with Langton Classifications.
The Yellow Label range is an exploration of this founding belief and an exquisite example of truly classic wine in both style and regionality, crafted exclusively from premium grapes grown in premium vineyards.
Senior Winemaker Mike Mudge explains: “With distinguished vineyard sites and meticulous attention to detail, Petaluma has developed a prestigious winemaking reputation over the past four decades. Every year these wines are our pride and joy and the 2020 vintage release is no exception.
“This year’s Yellow Label wines epitomise the style that Petaluma is known for by using only the finest fruit, picked by hand to ensure optimum quality from the varied terrain.
“All wines are drinking beautifully now but they will reward those with the patience to carefully cellar and enjoy with generous bottle age.
“After a tough end to 2019 and navigating the uncertainties at the beginning of 2020, we are excited to release these highly anticipated wines to the world.”
As the coolest viticultural region in South Australia, Piccadilly Valley in Adelaide Hills creates a modern style chardonnay that is delicate in flavour with high natural acidity.
The B&V vineyard in Mount Barker, Adelaide Hills, is planted on micaceous schist soils which are perfect for growing shiraz.
The Evans Vineyard in Coonawarra is named after one of Australia’s wine legends and the former chairman of Petaluma, the late Len Evans.
The old cabernet sauvignon and merlot vines were planted in 1986 and are hand-tended, growing on the famous terra-rossa soil.
WINE REVIEWS
Petaluma 2019 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay is a full flavoured, textured wine. Yellow peach and nectarine dominate as is typical with all Piccadilly chardonnay. The wine displays hints of grapefruit and toasty cedar spice complement the soft alluring acidity. A wine of immediate appeal, the 2019 Chardonnay had the ideal vintage conditions despite the extremely small yield and will continue to cellar well over the next decade.
Petaluma 2015 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a single-vineyard wine from the Evans Vineyard at the northern end of the famed terra rossa. It is a blend of 85 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 15 per cent merlot. Plum and blackcurrant compliment spice and cedar, with wonderful soft abundant sandy natural tannin. Full and rich, it has Coonawarra elegance and suppleness, with ripe spicy fruit and is a great drink now proposition, but is a wine that will age gracefully for decades.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Petaluma 2018 B&V Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz displays red berry fruits layered with white pepper and spice with long lingering tannins with a hint of char. Enjoy this elegant wine now but the 2018 B&V Shiraz will age gracefully with five to 10 years of careful cellaring.The B&V Vineyard is on the western escarpment of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills and is planted on micaceous schist soils. Two small parcels were whole-bunch fermented in the traditional pigeage method (pressed gently by the winemakers feet) to give carbonic maceration (meaty) characters.
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