November 26th, 2023Wine notes …
with Clive Hartley
Glenhope Vineyard is both an old and new vineyard. It was planted in 1995 by Tom Lazar from Virgin Hills, so it is coming up to 30 years old and in its prime.
It is the largest vineyard in the region, with 94 acres under vine, but probably you haven’t heard of it – it has had owners from outside the region for most of its life.
But in recent times it has finally fallen into the hands of people who care about the land and vines. Firstly, the vigneron Scott Harrington who has been caring for the vines since 2018. Secondly, the land has new custodians, Melbourne entrepreneurs James and Marlin Gevergizian bought the property in 2021.
The vineyard is on a number of different soils including decomposed granite and sandy, iron-rich loams. It is located in the Baynton area on the Burke and Wills Track, heading towards the Heathcote region in the slightly warmer northern part of the Macedon Ranges. These factors allow the vineyard to grow a range of grape varieties including reds such as cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec and shiraz as well as the traditional chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir you would expect.
With such a large vineyard most of their grape production is sold to other local winemakers including the likes of Matt Harrop, Owen Latta and Michael Dhillon. But for the first time they have released a collection of wines made by Scott, and they have had instant success in being awarded the trophy for the Best Red Variety (other than pinot) and the Best Winery at the recent Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition.
The winner was the Glenhope Vineyard Granitic Shiraz 2022. It’s a cool climate example displaying raspberry, nutmeg and a host of cake spice aromas. Some cool climate white pepper also develops with hints of graphite. On the palate there is a bag of sweet, black, brambly stewed fruits, with hints of spice to accompany the dry, powdery, tannic finish. Scott only uses old oak, he wants the fruit to do the talking.
Other recommended wines out of their range include a smooth, plummy merlot, a floral cabernet franc (which received a gold medal at the show), a cabernet sauvignon, merlot, shiraz blend, and a wine for summer, the 2022 rosé. This old vineyard is one to watch with wines available soon through their website.
Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. Want to learn more about wine? Try his Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) now available for purchase from Paradise Books, Daylesford, Stoneman’s Bookroom, Castlemaine or via his website – www.australianwineguide.com.au
