The Member’s Block Ruby Cabernet is ripening rapidly despite all the rain! We are seeking 30 hard working men and women to give as hand to pick, and of course, stomp our Ruby Cabernet.In addition to the picking and the stomping, we will share a ploughman’s lunch with plenty of great wines.Saturday evening, you are invited to dine with the Winemakers at Mojo’s Restaurant on Wilderness Rd.

When: Saturday 1 March 2008

Since the last weekend in November, we have had no less than 225mm of rainfall. When I look back at earlier Cork Club newsletters in which I nervously describe the vulnerability of our vineyard to drought, and the critical lack of water that has characterised our last few vintages, it is quite extraordinary to consider how things can change so rapidly. The abundance of spring rainfall has led to tremendous growth in the vineyard canopies, and very healthy looking vines. The dams overflow every time it rains, and we haven’t even thought about irrigation. The birds are chirping, and the kangaroos and breeding like mad, in fact the grounds are so lush the property looks like it belongs somewhere in New Zealand…

Offer 1: The Estate Pack - six 2007 Fatso’s Revenge Semillon Sauvignon Blanc & six 2007 Pavilion Rosé for only $177.00, save $45.00!!!

Offer 2: The Reserve Sparkling Pack - six 2004 Methode Champenoise Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay & six 2004 Sparkling Malbec for $312.00, save $78.00!!!

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In our Estate Shiraz ($18) we aim to highlight fruit quality and balance. To offer a clear distinction between our Bridie’s Reserve Shiraz (see below), and the Estate wine, we blend in a parcel of McLaren Vale Shiraz (40%). This is to give the wine greater fruit depth and a contrasting flavour profile. We blend and bottle after 18 months maturation in mainly one and two year old oak hogs heads. The 2005 Estate Shiraz has an alcohol of 14.0%, a pH of 3.35, and a TA of 7.2 g/L.

Our 2005 Bridie’s Shiraz has just been released. Within two weeks of it hitting the shelves, the Bridie’s landed a silver medal at the 2007 Hunter Valley Boutique Winemaker Show and a review by Gary Walsh on his “Winorama” website. He gave the wine an excellent 92 points out of 100. We are also looking forward to a review in the Sunday Telegraph by John Fordham. We expect to sell out of the 2005 Bridie’s Shiraz within a few months.

Hard to believe but Budburst has arrived. As I write this newsletter the last of our vines are breaking their buds wide open and launching new shoots skyward with significant haste. The Chardonnay blocks actually started shooting on the 23rd of August, some three weeks earlier than expected, and now boast shoots carrying three leaves or more. More surprising though was the Member’s Block Ruby Cabernet; whilst it only started shooting on the 29th, its growth has been phenomenal, almost catching the Chardonnay. It must be the “unique” pruning styles employed by our dedicated squad of members! Our Vineyard Manager, Scott Ling is so far very pleased with the consistency of the budburst and the rate of growth thus far.