Comments on: Kester Tester http://nickonwine.com/index.php/2010/02/13/kester-tester/ Purveyor of words - fine wines, spirits and cocktails. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:29:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Keith Tulloch http://nickonwine.com/index.php/2010/02/13/kester-tester/comment-page-1/#comment-1218 Keith Tulloch Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:03:12 +0000 http://nickonwine.com/?p=1236#comment-1218 Many thanks Nick, Joe, Constance, and Phillip for the comments about my Kester Shiraz. (Phillip - I'd like to say that the article could have been written about any Vintage release, they are all of that style and balance...) To weigh in a few words about the HHD it is indeed useful but not really adequate to use as a stand-alone comparison : the HHD figure for the Barossa Valley is lower but climatically the area is caterogized as "Mediterranean" with high daily Summer temperatures, zero Summer rainfall, low humidity and typically no cloudcover or cooling breezes. The Hunter Valley's Summer weather is not "Mediterranean" at all - it is influenced by more sub-tropical systems - and as such it has high Summer temperatures, quite variable Summer rainfall, higher humidity, and reliable cloudcover and cooling afternoon sea-breezes. In many ways this cloudcover and sea-breeze influence is the key for the Hunter Valley : although the HHD figure is higher, the weather is more moderate. As a result the Hunter reds generally have a more refined medium-bodied elegance and balance, and more moderate tannins than their Barossa counterparts. Many thanks Nick, Joe, Constance, and Phillip for the comments about my Kester Shiraz. (Phillip – I’d like to say that the article could have been written about any Vintage release, they are all of that style and balance…)
To weigh in a few words about the HHD it is indeed useful but not really adequate to use as a stand-alone comparison : the HHD figure for the Barossa Valley is lower but climatically the area is caterogized as “Mediterranean” with high daily Summer temperatures, zero Summer rainfall, low humidity and typically no cloudcover or cooling breezes. The Hunter Valley’s Summer weather is not “Mediterranean” at all – it is influenced by more sub-tropical systems – and as such it has high Summer temperatures, quite variable Summer rainfall, higher humidity, and reliable cloudcover and cooling afternoon sea-breezes. In many ways this cloudcover and sea-breeze influence is the key for the Hunter Valley : although the HHD figure is higher, the weather is more moderate. As a result the Hunter reds generally have a more refined medium-bodied elegance and balance, and more moderate tannins than their Barossa counterparts.

]]> By: Philip S. Kampe http://nickonwine.com/index.php/2010/02/13/kester-tester/comment-page-1/#comment-1215 Philip S. Kampe Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:09:42 +0000 http://nickonwine.com/?p=1236#comment-1215 This is a Great Wine that impresses everyone who has a glass. My wine buddies and I get together on occasion. Each of us must bring a wine that retails around $40 a bottle. I brought a 2003 Kester Shiraz. It blew everyone away!! What year was the Kester that you wrote this article about? This is a Great Wine that impresses everyone who has a glass.
My wine buddies and I get together on occasion. Each of us must bring a wine that retails around $40 a bottle. I brought a 2003 Kester Shiraz. It blew everyone away!!
What year was the Kester that you wrote this article about?

]]> By: Michele Anderson http://nickonwine.com/index.php/2010/02/13/kester-tester/comment-page-1/#comment-1214 Michele Anderson Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:03:34 +0000 http://nickonwine.com/?p=1236#comment-1214 Hi Nick (and Joe) How warm or cool a climate is in an Australian wine region is difficult to address in term sof Heat Degree Day terns due to the extreme differences in vintage dates. Joe is right in the HDD measurements but vintage in the Hunter (mid January in 2010) starts months before the Barossa and so the grapes are all picked before the hottest Hunter weather. It is certainly true that Hunter reds are almost always less full bodied and more savoury in style than their bigger, sweeter Barossa counterparts and I think there are a few factors, including Climate, behind this. I'll send a note to Keith to weigh in on this good conversation. Cheers, Michele Hi Nick (and Joe)

How warm or cool a climate is in an Australian wine region is difficult to address in term sof Heat Degree Day terns due to the extreme differences in vintage dates. Joe is right in the HDD measurements but vintage in the Hunter (mid January in 2010) starts months before the Barossa and so the grapes are all picked before the hottest Hunter weather.

It is certainly true that Hunter reds are almost always less full bodied and more savoury in style than their bigger, sweeter Barossa counterparts and I think there are a few factors, including Climate, behind this. I’ll send a note to Keith to weigh in on this good conversation.

Cheers, Michele

]]> By: Constance C http://nickonwine.com/index.php/2010/02/13/kester-tester/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Constance C Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:38:52 +0000 http://nickonwine.com/?p=1236#comment-1213 Hi Nick, I have actually had the pleasure of tasting this wine and also, of meeting Keith Tulloch, himself as I worked for the distributor in NYC who is responsible for the distribution of this wine. Truly is a great pick - was part of the first real exposure I had to quality Australian wines and definitely changed my mind instantly from the cliche view that all Australian wine should be cheap. Keith is also a delight. If you haven't had a chance to try his other wines, I recommend you find them soon... one of my personal favorite dessert wines is his Botrytis Semellion. Hi Nick,

I have actually had the pleasure of tasting this wine and also, of meeting Keith Tulloch, himself as I worked for the distributor in NYC who is responsible for the distribution of this wine.

Truly is a great pick – was part of the first real exposure I had to quality Australian wines and definitely changed my mind instantly from the cliche view that all Australian wine should be cheap.

Keith is also a delight. If you haven’t had a chance to try his other wines, I recommend you find them soon… one of my personal favorite dessert wines is his Botrytis Semellion.

]]> By: Joe Czerwinski http://nickonwine.com/index.php/2010/02/13/kester-tester/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 Joe Czerwinski Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:27:46 +0000 http://nickonwine.com/?p=1236#comment-1210 Nick, Actually, the Hunter is considerably warmer by conventional measures than Barossa. Wine Australia gives the following heat degree days: Lower Hunter 2070 Barossa Valley 1710 There are significant variations in the distribution of day-night temperatures and sunlight hours from region to region that affect how the grapes ripen, but to suggest that the Hunter is cooler than the Barossa is misleading. Nice wine pick, though. Nick,

Actually, the Hunter is considerably warmer by conventional measures than Barossa. Wine Australia gives the following heat degree days:

Lower Hunter 2070
Barossa Valley 1710

There are significant variations in the distribution of day-night temperatures and sunlight hours from region to region that affect how the grapes ripen, but to suggest that the Hunter is cooler than the Barossa is misleading.

Nice wine pick, though.

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