In France, ‘cru’ is defined as a vineyard, or group of vineyards, of particularly high quality. The great ‘Grand Crus’ of Bordeaux, Burgundy and elsewhere are recognised the world over, with prices to match, but year-in-year-out, they more than live up to hype that precedes them.
At Glenguin, we have recognised the particular importance that two wines have in our range – to us, they are equally as important as any Grand Cru from Burgundy or Premier Grand Cru from Bordeaux. These wines, the Schoolhouse and Aristea Shiraz, epitomise the quest for quality that permeates everything we do. Schoolhouse is the wine that, we believe, represents the very best of the vineyard and the vintage; whilst Aristea is, simply put, our search for perfection and only produced when vintage conditions allow us to produce fruit of exceptional quality.
With the official release of the Cellar Aged 2013 Schoolhouse Shiraz fast approaching, Glenguin’s vigneron – Robin Tedder MW – has compiled these tasting notes of our current ‘cru’ wines.
2009 Aristea
At nine years of age this seductive wine is in the classic “Hunter River Burgundy” style. Coined long ago in the time of Maurice O’Shea this phrase reflected the great Hunter shirazes of the day. They were medium weight in body with modest levels of alcohol. They were not oaky or over extracted with harsh tannins. They were soft, beautifully balanced red wines capable of long lives similar in weight ; just like the wonderful red wines of Burgundy at that time (1930s). With restrained primary fruit characters and with a terrific long line running through it this wine is capable of developing further in bottle for another decade or more. With a firm backbone of refreshing acidity balanced by damson fruits and supported by layers of fine dusty tannins this intriguing wine showcases the unique gravel bench at Glenguin, on which the vines are grown. Mature now as winter 2018 approaches 2009 Aristea demonstrates the heights shiraz can achieve in the finest Hunter vintages.
2013 Schoolhouse
From a small single block of shiraz in front of our house this delightful shiraz exemplifies the mellow soft tannin style of the best Hunter reds. Descended directly from the Busby cuttings taken from the hill of Hermitage the vines are now twenty five years old and have always been hand trained, hand pruned and handpicked. No pesticides have ever been used and the Schoolhouse Block is full of life with permanent grasses. The wine has an enticing savoury smoky bacon aroma with lively red berry fruit characters supported by mouthwatering acidity. Drinking beautifully now at five years of age 2013 Schoolhouse has become quite complex, with a lot going on, and is beginning to mature. With its balance of medium alcohol, restrained primary fruit characters, subtle use of oak and multiple layers of fine fruit tannins this wine will continue to develop in bottle for another three to five years, possibly longer.
Robin Tedder MW
April 2018
Both of these wines are available for purchase now at our cellar door and online.
