The 2006 Signature Range is at the heart of Bimbadgen
Introducing the 2006 Signature Individual Vineyard Semillon and the 2006 Signature Shiraz.
The very best of Bimbadgen Estate Wines is represented in the newly released 2006 Signature range - premium wines made with estate grown fruit from selected vineyards.
The premium wines retail at $40 for the Signature Semillon and $50 for the Signature Shiraz and typify the style of Bimbadgen Estate Wines according to winemaker Simon Thistlewood.
“We refer to our wines as being made in a modern style, super clean, vibrant and fruit driven,” Simon said. “We focus on highlighting the regional and varietal characters and making wine in our own style, which is different to what a lot of people expect from the Hunter.”
All the fruit used in the Signature range is Estate grown and sourced from vineyards surrounding the property.
“We identified our best Semillon and Shiraz blocks for the Signature range and have spent the last seven years developing them into premium low yielding vineyards. “We have re-trellised and improved the vine structure through pruning to get the most out of these blocks, and the hard work and money we invested in them is beginning to show.”
The “modern style” Simon has strived for is evident in the methods behind the 06 Signature Semillon. “The Semillon was picked later to achieve some rich sweet fruit characters and balanced acidity,” Simon said. “It was left on lees post ferment to enhance the middle palate, is unoaked and minimally filtered. “Unlike the more traditional Hunter style of Semillon it doesn’t need significant bottle age, hence we are releasing the 06 now, which can be drunk straight away, but will also benefit from careful cellaring for over ten years.”
Similarly the Shiraz has not received extensive maturation in either the barrel or the bottle. “It was aged for seven months in a mixture of new and one to five year old French oak,” Simon said. “We used only 20% new oak and limited barrel maturation so that it doesn’t dominate the palate but we still get the oak structure and tannins. “This has allowed the aromatic floral lift and the raspberry and mulberry characters to come through.” These varietal characters are enhanced through sacrificing yield for flavour in the vineyard. “The pruning methods that we have utilized mean the Shiraz blocks only produce one to one and a half tonnes per acre (to the dismay of our accountant), but the quality and flavour justifies the lost tonnage.”
The conditions of the 2006 vintage were conducive to releasing a signature range in 2007. “We don’t make a signature wine unless the quality is exceptional, and this depends largely on the growing conditions,” Simon said. “For the 2006 vintage the hard work we put into developing the vineyards began to show through and we had an exceptional winter and spring. “The ripening period was on the warm side, but there were no extreme conditions that put undue stress on the vines.”
For more information or bottle photography contact:
Karen Evans
Bimbadgen Estate
Phone: 02 4998 7585
Mobile: 0439 436 366
Email: kevans@bimbadgen.com.au
Will Fuller
Fuller Communications
Phone: (08) 8363 6811
Email: will.fuller@fuller.com.au