Ask Jim: Cellaring for a special occasion
Jim Chatto
Leading young winemaker, Jim Chatto
Dear Jim
My son was born in August 2007 and we want to buy a few bottles of 2007 vintage “something” to drink at his milestones – 18th, 21st, finishing uni, getting engaged, getting married, first grandchild (assuming he does all these things). What will last well?
- HelloSailor
Vintage 2007 was, as we are all aware, a drought year with very hot dry conditions across many of Australia’s wine regions. For this reason many of the reds should be very concentrated with good structure, both important attributes of wines that age well.
In my experience the wines that age best are intensely flavoured yet are still medium bodied, that is not excessively alcoholic or tannic (astringent). The 2007 shirazes from the Hunter Valley are looking very good and as a rule age very well. Look out for Thomas Wines ‘Kiss Shiraz’, Brokenwood Graveyard, Tyrrell’s Vat 9 and Capercaillie ‘The Ghillie’. Most of the 2007 reds will not be released till next year.
White wines generally do not fair as well in such hot dry conditions, becoming fuller and broader in style. Generally these whites mature quickly and would not last the distance. Perhaps you could find some whites from your son’s year of conception 2006. There are plenty of good Rieslings from The Clare and Eden Valleys as well as southern WA that will age very well. Look out for Ferngrove Vineyards Cossack, Leo Buring Leonay, Forest Hill block 1, Wilson Vineyard Polish Hill and Jacobs Creek Reserve.
It might be a good idea to look out for large format bottles such as magnums (1.5L) or double magnums, as these tend to mature more slowly, as well as fill more glasses at such milestones.
And remember good cellaring conditions (a constant 12 to 16 degrees) are vital if these wines are to look their best in the future.
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Please note, Jim will endeavour to answer as many questions as he can, however there may be delays between submission of questions and publications. Emails will not receive personal responses.
About Jim Chatto
Jim is a Wine Science graduate from Charles Sturt University and in 2002 was a star scholar at the illustrious Len Evans Tutorial. Having worked in the Hunter Valley; the Yarra Valley; Orange; Tasmania; Hungary and France, Jim's philosophies and techniques are reflective of a winemaker of the world. Aside from his role as chief winemaker at Pepper Tree Wines, Jim is a National Wine Show Judge and the Principal Consultant and Director of his own winemaking consulting business - Alchemy Wine Consulting - giving him great insight into the rich and diverse wine landscape that is Australia. Jim also operates his own tiny Pinot Noir vineyard at Glaziers Bay in Tasmania's Huon Valley.
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