St Maur October 2024 Newsletter
October 10, 2024 8:46 amWelcome to our St Maur newsletter for October 2024. In this newsletter:
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- October 2024 Vineyard & Winery Update
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- The Difference Between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
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- Ancient Roman Wines – Could They Match Wines of Today
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- Cellar Door Hours
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- Recommendations from our Cellar
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October 2224 Vineyard and Winery Update
I hope that our members are enjoying spring, just as we are here in the highlands. In typical highlands style, after a brief period of sun and warmth, we were thrown some chilly days, just to remind us that our micro climate is quite unique.
With the warm weeks hopefully signalling warmer days ahead, many of our members will share my enthusiasm to hear that we have released the 2024 vintage of our popular Lot 41 Pinot Noir Rosé.
The 2024 Lot 41 Pinot Noir Rosé is a great example of a typical premium cool climate wine. Full of bright fruit including Morello cherry with hints of pear, the wine is a lovely orange blush colour and the palate delivers a clean and crisp wine with a light dry finish.
Spring and summer will provide many occasions to serve our 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé well chilled with your lunch or dinner. Demand for our Rosé is always strong and I urge you to put a few bottles away while we have plentiful stocks.
We also have a great article on the differences between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. We have long held the view that our more nuanced reds – including Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Sangiovese can deliver outstanding wines of character. We like to blend our Merlot with our Cabernet Sauvignon to deliver a more rounded wine. An interesting read.
Keep an eye out in the next weeks – I hope that we will be able to announce some new members events that we will be hosting. And I am very happy to announce that the cellar door is back open five days a week, every week.
Until we get together, happy reading.
The Difference Between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are two of the most distinguished names in red wine, particularly prized for their deep, complex flavours and their role in the legendary blends of Bordeaux. These two varieties are not only prominent in Bordeaux but have also made a global mark, especially in wine regions like California’s Napa Valley and in Australia.
While they often appear together in blends, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot each have unique characteristics that make them stand out in their own right. Understanding these differences can enhance your appreciation of each wine and help you find your favourite.
Although Bordeaux is their birthplace, both grapes are now grown worldwide. Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, has become the most planted red grape in the world, a distinction boosted by its success in the historic 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting, where a Napa Valley Cabernet outshone its French counterparts. As a result, excellent expressions of both Cabernet and Merlot can now be found across the globe, from Chile and Australia to Italy and South Africa.
In Bordeaux, the differences between these two grapes begin in the soil. Merlot thrives in the cooler, clay-laden soils of the Right Bank, which help to temper its vigour and produce wines with softer tannins and rounded fruit flavours. Cabernet Sauvignon, on the other hand, favours the rocky, well-draining soils of the Left Bank, where the vines are forced to struggle, developing the grape’s bold tannins and concentrated flavours.
Outside of Bordeaux, both grapes perform best in warmer climates that allow them to fully ripen. While Merlot is more adaptable to cooler regions like northeastern Italy and regions in Australia like the Southern Highlands, Cabernet Sauvignon generally prefers heat, flourishing in sun-drenched areas like California and South Australia.
Cabernet Sauvignon has long been a favourite of wine afficionados, thanks to its robust structure and ability to cellar. Merlot, although equally respected, took a public hit in the early 2000s when the film *Sideways* dismissed it in favour of Pinot Noir. Despite this temporary dip in popularity, Merlot remains a versatile and beloved grape that continues to win over drinkers with its approachable elegance.
When it comes to flavours, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot share some similarities, but the differences are where your palate will decide. Both are full-bodied wines with rich fruit character and can exhibit savory, peppery notes thanks to their shared Cabernet Franc ancestry. They’re also commonly aged in oak, adding layers of vanilla, cedar, and tobacco to the mix.
Merlot, however, is often smoother and more fruit-forward, with flavours of plum, blueberry, and softer tannins. It’s the wine to reach for when you want something plush and approachable. Cabernet Sauvignon, by contrast, is more intense, offering bold blackcurrant, cassis, and firmer tannins, making it ideal for aging or pairing with hearty dishes like steak or lamb.
In the end, whether you prefer the bold, structured nature of Cabernet Sauvignon or the softer, fruitier profile of Merlot, both wines offer a rich and rewarding experience for any wine lover.
Ancient Roman Wines – Could They Match Wines of Today
Two thousand years ago, during the Roman period, it’s likely people had access to a variety of wines that were as complex and flavourful as the ones we enjoy today. This view challenges the common assumption that Roman wine was crude or poorly made. Recent studies on Roman winemaking techniques have revealed that the wines of this era may have even rivalled today’s fine wines.
One of the key insights into ancient winemaking comes from the use of large clay vessels called dolia, which were used for fermenting and aging wine. These vessels were often partially buried to maintain a stable temperature. The porous nature of dolia allowed the wine to breathe, a crucial factor in its fermentation process. This method was widely practiced throughout the Roman Empire, including in regions like Israel, where archaeological evidence has revealed a robust wine culture among Jewish communities.
The study of these vessels has prompted a reassessment of Roman wines, challenging the view that they were heavily spiced or mixed with other ingredients to mask poor quality. Instead, research suggests that wines made in dolia were likely diverse in flavour and colour, influenced by local grape varieties and winemaking techniques. In fact, some of these wines may have been comparable in quality to the fine wines we drink today.
Israeli wine expert Amichai Lourie, CEO of Shiloh Winery, supports this view. He argues that ancient winemakers were highly skilled and valued the quality of their products. He suggests that the wine produced during this period was likely “very great,” reflecting both the sophistication of the winemakers and the importance of wine in daily life and religious rituals. Jewish textual sources, including the Talmud, highlight the central role of wine in Jewish culture, further indicating that Jewish people, like their Roman neighbours, were deeply engaged in the art of winemaking.
While Jewish law imposed restrictions on wine to ensure its ritual purity, the shared practice of winemaking across the Roman and Jewish worlds demonstrates the enduring cultural and spiritual significance of this ancient beverage.
Current Cellar Door Hours
I am happy to let our members know that we’ve settled into new Cellar Door hours at St Maur – we’re open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.
It’s always good if you can let us know that you are coming in so we can make sure you have the best experience. Give us a call or drop us an email.
Please note that tastings for groups of six or more are by appointment only and require you to book ahead with confirmation from St Maur.
Remember you can order your wines online, by email or over the phone. Contact us by email info@stmaurwines.com.au call (02) 4883 4401 or visit us online at www.stmaurwines.com.au
We hope to see our members soon.
Recommendations from our Cellar
Get in fast for the 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé. Our latest vintage of this incredibly popular wine with our members, be sure to secure a few boxes and put them away for the summer season now.
And following on from our article on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, why not try a few bottles and see if you are able to pick the differences in the two wines.
A soft stylish wine with a silky finish and complex flavours. The classic blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot balance the dark fruit richness of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the velvety, plumy texture of Merlot. The palate delivers upfront berries with a delicate finish. Drink now or cellar to 2031.
RRP $39.00 Bottle $234.00 Box of 6 Members discount available for members
2019 LOT 41 Cabernet Sauvignon
A magnificent dry red wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has been matured in French and American oak for 20 months. It displays a delightful balance of oak, and fruit – blackcurrant, and cherry, and capsicum. Blackcurrant and plum flavours dominate the nose. Drink now or cellar to 2031.
RRP $39.00 Bottle $234.00 Box of 6 Members discount available for members
The 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé shows the typical fruit characters of a premium cool climate wine. A lovely orange blush colour, the nose is full of bright flavours; Morello cherry dominates with hints of pear. The palate delivers a clean and crisp wine with a light dry finish. Serve chilled and drink now.
RRP $29.00 Bottle $174.00 Box of 6 Members discount available for members
Our 2023 Pinot Gris wine shows great cool climate character. The wine has a delicate colour with intense nose of fruit that gives way to strong notes of pear and apple. This Pinot Gris is medium bodied, fresh and well balanced. Perfect served chilled and ready to drink now.
RRP $37.00 Bottle $222.00 Box of 6 Members discount available for members
Members can order wines by phone (02) 4883 4401, via email: info@stmaurwines.com.au or through our website: stmaurwines.com.au or at our cellar door, now open Thursday to Monday between 10.30am – 4.30pm.
And just like that, daylight saving is less than a week away and we are heading through spring and towards a highlands summer.
As the days start to get longer and the ground heats up, our vines will continue their development. We are hopeful for favourable weather over the next three months to put us in great shape as we move towards Vintage 2025.
Until then, get outdoors, or in your garden and enjoy the longer afternoons and evenings we are afforded through daylight savings.
I look forward to speaking to you all soon.
Kindest regards,
Marco
This post was written by John Giro