Petaluma - Good with range managment

One thing I always think Yellow Tail and Wolf Blass have done wrong is on adopting the same label name entering different range of market.

E.g. you will see wolf blass selling $26 in convenience store, $100 in supermarket and $399 for the premium version. Indeed, using different coloring: red label, blue label, black label, platinum label...
who cares if they don't look into details? They count by whatever they see the most -- the lower end ones.

In Hong Kong, what the conglomerates do is to wear different brands targeting different industries, different segments so that at the end of the day, residents don't even realize they are surrounded by the same company: supermarket, convenience store, electric stores, real estates, gas station, airlines...all are owned under one.

Petaluma in fact did our way: the 2 brands way.

Petaluma carried 37 years of history, and in the name of Petaluma town. 

Croser and Petaluma are the 2 lines - one concentrating on sparkling wines, another targeting the mid range supermarkets and hotels. 

Comparing to the Adelaide hills, Petaluma is slightly commercial, in a sense that it provides own restaurant called Bridgewater Mill, right next to watermill view. 

When serving, the long bench breaks the ice among visitors and the hosts, with piano upstairs serving as a background soundtrack. Though this couldn't be concluded as warm welcoming, it is decent enough to hold huge wine tasting event in here.
 

After the hectic driving day we barely catch the last tasting batch. Tasting note:

2008 sparkling: strong aromatic nose, acidic n dry, bitter end, stone n citrus  fruit, high alcohol, slight yeast/ biscuit 

5/10

2008 rose 100% Pinot noir

Nose is more acidic, floral

Taste: strawberry hint, balancing end, fruity light end, 

6/10

2011 Riesling super light white

Peach pear aroma pungent fresh

Simple, petrol, flat, 

3/10

2009 viognier like green

Nose Leather smell, gasoline cigar hint

Taste: woody, balance, savory, crisp

6/10

2009 Chardonnay

Nose: little gamey

Taste: lengthy aftertaste, gamy, oaky, hint of peachy as a finishing

8/10

2008 cab merlot

Nose: blend half

Taste: well balanced, chalky, tannin of cab, hint of oak, merlot's smoothness, cherry n berries on the end

8/10

2010 Shiraz

Nose perfume pear lime

Shiraz: peppery, mild, spicy, balance not strong character end 

6/10

I am quite interested with Petaluma project. Anything they can share more with would be good.

First Growth Dinner - mouton 1981 2003

Seldom put aside the dishes when describing my wine dinner. Just that they weren't a good marriage in the beginning. Imagine a simple concept of having  pork companying with Cabernet Sauvignon?

Mouton 1981
Colour not reaching brick red. If not knowing the vintage, the closest guess would be 1999. Nose is very thick, slight hint of oak. Peak after opening for 2 hours, think already passed the peak. Drink immediately within the year, with mild steak or stewed beef.

Mouton 2003

Looking orange-red. However the aging of wine has not reached its peak. You can tell from the aftertaste that the ending is abrupt and not smooth. The indication of good potential is that the abrupt ending node is still swelling in mouth in a frozen state. Less potential to age ones are with deteriorating taste in palate and flat ends. Goes well with ribs and steak. However I was "enjoying" that with pig organs...mmm...

Lalande 1999

Hope I can taste it. I give away this chance to Work...well that's the source to support my luxurious wine life~

Now that I realize what matters to me is not solely the wine. It's everything that makes a dinner perfect. It's fate that I can't live a simple life with only with wine at Dai pai dong.

Vineyard Visit - inside view of Adelaide Hills

Well, this is nothing about the inside story of whoever's family, not even tiny about the history how a family owned vineyard grow the vines to become the gold trophy of whatever competition.

This is about life of running a vineyard through lens.

Most of the vineyard owners in Adelaide are retiring from lawyers, doctors. Instead of having a very commercial display at the frontdoor, like Robert Mondavi or D'arenberg. (Will elaborate the art / magic of it in separate blogpost).

This looks village like, and that's how I love it. Homely, family run. No need to hide, no need fancy. Well, while I am taking these photos, owners were out...wide open. Friend open arms~

You can see the busy life running the vineyard, from:

Clearing the webs from vines...

Pasting labels

Doing the finance

Taking pictures for webpage display

Not that they have time to make a good outlook for their trophies!!!

They'd rather put focus onto handmaking the brands with wires

Workplace with a view like this...

That is what impresses me working in the vineyard. This is reflecting the true meaning of life, coordination with nature and enjoy what is growing from the deeds in the hill.