Bancroft news from Down Under: Australia Day bottled

In the lead up to next weeks' Australia day tasting and a day of celebration for all our antipodean cousins, here's a round up of latest news from our four prestigious producers:

Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Still considered one of the top Estates on the Peninsula, Ten Minutes by Tractor is an emblem of quality in terms of cooler climate, quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that comes out of Oz. Ten Minutes by Tractor will be featured as part of Roger Jones' from the Harrow at Little Bedwyn mini-feasts as part of Restaurant Australia, with the 10x Pinot Noir 2012 being matched to fillets of seared venison and puy lentils. We challenge you not to fall in love. Anthony Rose did recently in his review of the 10x in The Independent: 'This is a voluptuously savoury Aussie pinot noir from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula'

Schild Estate, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Schild Estate — Moorooroo Limited Release Shiraz is awarded the Barossa Trust Mark. This is a highly esteemed mark of recognition has been awarded to products and experiences have made to the rich history and culture that defines the Barossa today. The Moorooroo is one of only ten wines of the 26 items to be recognised, otherwise including 'A German bread loaf that’s been baked in the same wood oven for 90 years, a Shiraz made from ancient vines over 167 years old, a tour that takes you through the private cellars of a family winery that’s existed for more than 136 years. The stories behind each of the Trust Mark recipients are rich in history and tradition and the Trust mark is a way of sharing those traditions with consumers and visitors, so they don’t miss out on what is truly a special and unique way of life.'

It would be difficult to find a winery in the world with vineyards as old as the Moorooroo Vineyard at Schild Estate. Schild Estate announces the release of the 2010 Moorooroo Limited Release Shiraz. 'is is the 10th consecutive release of Schild Estate’s icon wine, sourced from ancient vines over 167 years old, some of the oldest known Shiraz vines in the world.

The 2010 vintage has been recognised as one of the best South Australian vintages in the last decade with decent rain in late winter and spring followed by mild ripening conditions and cool nights. As the season heated up the healthy vines produced low yielding but exceptional quality fruit.

New vintage releases of the 2012 Barossa Valley Shiraz and the 2010 Ben Schild Reserve Shiraz will also be on show. The 2011 Ben Schild Reserve Shiraz, 2012 Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012 Barossa Valley Shiraz and their flagship 2010 Moorooroo Limited Release Reserve Shiraz were all awarded GOLD in the most recent round of Mundus Vini. The 2013 Barossa Valley Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz also took a SILVER medal in its category.

Hay Shed Hill, Margaret River, Western Australia

The Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 has swept the floor in how much it has wowed the industry at large over recent months.
"The Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the strength of Margaret River for this, the noblest of red wine varieties. This is classic, intense, ripe and elegantly structured Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the great Margaret River vineyards." Winemaker Michael Kerrigan.

The consistent results, vintage to vintage have cemented the quality of the Hay Shed Hill vineyard to produce world class Cabernet. Here are some of the recent reviews on this wine......

 

GOLD MEDAL | Sydney International Wine Competition 2015

GOLD MEDAL | Qantas Wine Show WA 2014

95 POINTS | Tyson Stelzer

"There is an intensity and magnitude to this vintage for Hay Shed Hill, yet at every moment maintaining focus and control.  It finishes very long and enticing, presenting a grandeur well beyond it's price." TS

SILVER MEDAL l International Wine Challenge 2014

It was also chosen in the Best 100 Australian Wines by Matthew Jukes, and received an impressive 18.5 points in September's Decanter Magazine Panel Tasting.

Pitchfork, Margaret River, Western Australia
Pitchfork unveils a brand new look with new label designs. The new labels and brand image sees the departure of their little devil to a more elegant, bright and fresh image that has greater familial tie into Pitchfork's bigger brother, Hay Shed Hill. The Pitchfork remains a key element of the branding linking Hay Shed Hill to Pitchfork and recalling the history of the farm that is now Hay Shed Hill.

Bancroft Wines is exclusive importer for all of the producers above in the UK market.