1. Home
  2. General Wine Forum
  3. odd ball......

odd ball......

I have sitting on the desk before me a bottle.

Front label

2004 Domaine Tournon Limestone Coast Shiraz or Syrah M. Chapoutier Wine of Australia

Back label:

Inter alia:

Mise en bouteille par M Chapoutier (26600 Tain) a Courthezon - France

Produced by Tournon pty ltd Limestone coast road...... Imported by M Chapoutier..........France

[ie produced in Australia, by French house, shipped in bulk, bottled in France]

I've checked out the web site:

formatting link

"The goal is to produce premium shiraz from premium terroir, and to combine the skills of top Australian vignerons with the experience of the Rhone Valley."

>>

So we have a top Rhone producer, growing in Australian Terroir producing some form of hybridized French/Australian Shiraz/Syrah.

Now, I've heard a lot about Australian Flying wine makers bringing New World techniques to the French Regions, and Champagne houses setting up off shoots in a whole host of places. But the idea of searching out "old world terroir" in the new world for the likes of Shiraz in a new one on me.

Is this a one off or a trend?

pk

Reply to
p.k.
Loading thread data ...

Dunno yet!

I'm going to set it up against a compartable Aussie limestone coast shiraz & a Cahpoutier Rhone. I'll report in due course!

pk

Reply to
p.k.

There's nothing too novel here, really. In the US, Ravenswood (now an arm of Constellation) bottles an SE Oz Shiraz for sale in the States. Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon buys Madiran and other wines from S France for bottling and sale in the US. I expect that Chapoutier is doing the same for the same reasons: the grapes are cheap enough that it's financially attractive even after factoring in transportation costs. As for Old World winemakers looking for "Old World terroir" in the New World, think of Chandon's international operations, or Drouhin's. There's limited land available in the prestigous AOCs, so why not look for land with potential outside of Europe?

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Chapoutier's wines here are aimed at the mid range buyer ($AUD15-20) who have a desire for French influence (for some that reads trying to impress others..:>)), and is selling quite well locally. Their distributor is having their portfolio tasting on Feb 21st, so I will be better able to judge then.

hooroo...

Reply to
Matt S

Bonn Doon also uses a little over 24 percent Mosel Riesling in his Pacific Rim.

Reply to
sibeer

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.