Burch Family Wines Spring 2012 Newsletter

Second generation, Richard Burch recently joined the family business as Brand Ambassador and has just completed his first overseas trip spreading the story of Burch Family Wines to the UK market. He has documented some highlights from his visit below.

As members of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW); Mum, Dad and Nat have travelled around the world to tell the story of Australia’s premium family produced wines. This was my first overseas trip representing the family and I was keen to meet our UK contacts and sample some traditional British hospitality.

15TH MAY 2012 – BELFAST, IRELANDHighlight of the night was on the walk home with Dad, where we decided to get beer at one of the local pubs. Dad, being a very occasional beer drinker, asks the bar tender for a ‘Bass’ and points to a stained glass artwork on the wall which reads ‘Bass Draught’. The bartender looks at him with an odd look then quietly says, “We haven’t served one of those for over 40 years because they are no longer making them. That’s just a bit of pub decoration.” I burst out laughing at Dad. What a rookie!

17TH MAY 2012 – LONDONWe met with the other AFFW families for a trade tasting. The tasting was split up in two parts – a blind tasting of 24 AFFW wines followed by a “speed dating” segment which involved small groups of people moving to each table and spending just four minutes with each family tasting their wines. At the end of the night Howard Park Flint Rock Chardonnay was voted the best white wine.

It was also a great opportunity to showcase Howard Park Flint Rock Pinot Noir to an audience that knew nothing about WA Pinot Noir.

22-24TH MAY 2012 – LONDONLondon International Wine Fair is the second largest wine fair in the world; we joined wineries from around the world to showcase our new wines such as Howard Park Flint Rock Chardonnay, Flint Rock Pinot Noir and MadFish Grandstand. Both the Howard Park and MadFish Rieslings were very popular and surprised a lot of people who did not know WA had a cool climate-growing region and produced top Riesling and Pinot Noir.

After the wine fair, Dad and I headed straight to a small village called Dulwich to do a vertical tasting with the Dulwich Wine Society, a group of seasoned and very knowledgeable wine buffs based at their local watering hole, “The Crown and Greyhound” pub. The tasting was a huge success and Dad kept them entertained with his humorous stories and detailed technical information on each wine. The group loved the tasting so much they said that was the best tasting of Australian wine they have ever had. This is pretty impressive as the Society has been going for over 20 years and they have had some big names hosting tastings. Best of all Dad and I have been invited back again next year!

RICHARD'S TRAVEL TALES

TRADING AS HOWARD PARK WINES PTY LTD

- SPRING 2012 -

For information on any of these events please visit www.burchfamilywines.com.au or call (08) 9336 9600.

INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR TASTING

6 October 2012 - 10.00am onwards

Margaret River WineryPinot Noir lovers rejoice as Howard Park once again hosts this annual event. Join wine luminaries James Halliday, Ralph Kyte-Powell, and local wine experts in a special tasting of 20 Pinot Noirs from across the globe. Iron Chef Australia’s winner, Herb Faust will craft a sumptuous lunch for guests as they dance away the afternoon in the cellar door.

MOVIE EXTRA TROPEST

2 – 3 March 2013

Margaret River & Denmark WineriesMadFish annually hosts the screenings of 16 short films from Movie Extra Tropfest 2013, under the stars at both wineries. Enjoy fine wine, gourmet hampers and a guaranteed giggle as you are entertained by the thrilling work of Australia’s finest upcoming film makers.

BRISBANE GOOD FOOD & WINE SHOW

9 – 11 November 2012

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition CentreJoin second gen Richard Burch, who will be pouring our best-selling MadFish wines for you to enjoy, including the NEW Grandstand wines!

DENMARK SUMMER FILM SERIES

Sat evenings, Dec 2012 - Jan 2013

Denmark WineryGrab your picnic rug and enjoy family-friendly films under the stars at the Denmark winery.

BURCH FAMILY WINES CLUB MEMBERS’ TASTING

24 October 2012 - 5.30 - 7.30 pm

Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, Marine Parade Cottesloe WAGet the first look at new releases from the BFW collection as they are available for tasting, and meet the winemakers to hear all about the exciting new wines.

MARGARET RIVER GOURMET ESCAPE

All events at the Margaret River winery24 November 2012 – 7.00pm

Exquisite Dinner with Chris Taylor from Frasers and Chng Po Tiong, International Wine Personality Howard Park wines will be showcased against Old World Varieties in a vinous challenge. Champagne will be served on the terrace followed by Alsace, Burgundy, Rhone, First Growth Bordeaux and finishing off with a D’Yquem.

25 November 2012 – 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30- 3.30pm

Blend your own Grand Cuvée with Janice McDonald Join our winemaker Janice McDonald as she takes you on a journey behind the scenes of creating a Grand Cuvée. You will visit our sparkling wine cellar and freeze a neck or two before you blend your very own “Grand Cuvée”, leaving with a bottle of your own creation!

25 November 2012 – 3.30pm

Old World and New World Cheese with Nick BathCheese and wine are synonymous with excellence in dining, so meet Nick Bath, Founder of Blue Cow Cheese who introduces old and new world cheeses to extend your culinary journey, all with matching Howard Park wines.

EVENTS

Happy 20Th Birthday MadFish!

MadFish’s 20th birthday has quietly snuck upon us. As we reminisce on the monumental memories which MadFish has played a star role, - the lazy summer time drinks at sunset, beach cricket or a cheeky glass or two with dinner, we also recognise the evolution of MadFish with the introduction of two new names under the label, - SIDEWAYS from Margaret River and GRANDSTAND with a Great Southern focus. Both of these labels demonstrate our philosophy of sourcing

the best fruit from each region at the price level. However, we don’t forget the Originals; the true veterans of MadFish, who play the most important part of the portfolio, and frankly, the biggest part of the ‘MadFish pie’. These are the Premium White and Red, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Shiraz and more. Some of you will remember the Gold Turtle label, this is now exclusive to Dan Murphy stores.MadFish has always had a bright, social personality of its own and has played sponsor to many cultural happenings across Australia. Such sponsorships include Movie Extra Tropfest, SurfAid, the Film & Television Institute of WA, Inside Film Awards, Sydney Writers’ Festival and many more.

15 MadFish wines were submitted to James Halliday for his 2013 edition of the Wine Companion, and out of those, 10 wines scored 90 points and above! That is 60%. 20 years on and MadFish is still turning heads! Check out the wines section to read more about MadFish’s recent successes, or see our upcoming events below to join in on the fun with MadFish.

Dear Friends,As budburst is just about to appear, this signals the start of yet another vintage – 2013, marking the cycle of life in the vineyard. With spring around the corner we reflect on what a busy year was 2012. I smile to myself as I think of the many highlights over the year, and the foremost would have to be MadFish’s 20th Anniversary which we are celebrating until vintage 2013. The name MadFish has been synonymous with fun, cafés, barbecues, easy living, and after 20 years it is the biggest selling part of our portfolio.

When October comes around every year the winery is a buzz with activity as we prepare for the most important wine event of the year - the International Pinot Noir Tasting. We have been doing international comparative tastings since 2006, and this year again concentrating on the very popular Pinots. Paul McArdle, our wine master and Sales Director has been quite excited by the quality of Pinots he has been able to access for our tasting. Speakers this year are James Halliday, international wine luminary, Ralph Kyte-Powell wine writer from The Age and local wine experts. It is all shaping up to be bigger than Ben Hur!

Well, the last of the family members has joined us, the youngest Richard. He has started the year doing vintage at Margaret River and soon after was off to London with Jeff representing us in Ireland and London. We are indeed lucky when our family enjoy being involved with us in the future of Burch Family Wines. Please note Richard’s report of his time spent with Jeff overseas on the back page.

Also in this newsletter are articles from; Janice McDonald, who we discovered is a beautiful wordsmith as well as winemaker,

and David Botting, Chief Viticulturist for our vineyards, both share their passions with you, and commitment to the best of this noble pursuit – excellent wine.

We wait anxiously for the Wine Companion and this year is no exception as James Halliday reiterates our hard work by some amazing scores across all of our brands.

I would like to take the time to thank you for following our progress over the years, as we too have matured as we learn more about the craft of winemaking. James Halliday just published recently “A Life of Wine”, and looking back ourselves there are many moments that we savour…nothing can beat finishing the day’s toil with a good glass of wine.

Cheers,

Over the past 26 years Howard Park Wines has changed dramatically. From the very beginning at the Denmark Agricultural College shed, to opening our Denmark Winery in 1997, and three years later the new winery in Margaret River. Over this time we have expanded the range of wines we offer.

Given the scope of our current range and our development as a family business, Howard Park Wines will progressively be known as Burch Family Wines. The Burch name reflects our family ownership and was needed to bring together all of our different brands.

“The business has grown from two Howard Park wines in 1986, to over 80 wines across a variety of different labels, so it was time to update the name to reflect the changes” explains Amy Burch, General Manager of Burch Family Wines.

“The second generation of the Burch family, Natalie, David and Richard are now fully involved in the business and I think it’s important that the name fully reflects our family commitment to producing quality wines.”

The Howard Park name is an important part of the history of the company, when John Wade, the original winemaker, began Howard Park Wines, it was named to commemorate his father, Howard. The Howard Park name will continue as our premier brand of wines.

We thank you for being part of this journey with us.

- SPRING 2012 -

MOVIE EXTRA TROPEST

2 – 3 March 2013

24 October 2012 - 5.30 - 7.30 pm

25 November 2012 – 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30- 3.30pm

EVENTS

Cheers,

- SPRING 2012 -

MOVIE EXTRA TROPEST

2 – 3 March 2013

24 October 2012 - 5.30 - 7.30 pm

25 November 2012 – 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30- 3.30pm

EVENTS

Cheers,

MADFISH SIDEWAYS SAUVIGNON BLANC SEMILLON

80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% SemillonAn abundance of exotic tropical fruits with hints of sweet herbs and lemon curd.

92 Points “…positive bright colour…an all-purpose food wine…” – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion

MADFISH SIDEWAYS CHARDONNAY

Full of texture and creamy lemon butter flavours.

93 Points “…the wine has great energy and drive to its mix of grapefruit and stone fruit flavours…” – James Halliday, 2013 Wine CompanionSilver Medal – MRWIA Wine Show 2011

MADFISH GRANDSTAND SAUVIGNON BLANC

Exotic tropical fruits with hints of sweet herbs and poached citrus fill this plenteous basket on the palate.

91 Points “…interesting stone fruit and lychee nuances…and crisp acidity. Has attitude.” – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion

MADFISH VERA’S CUVÉE SPARKLING WHITE

75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot NoirFresh and light with a fine bead and a crisp lively finish.

94 Points “…lively and fresh, with fine grapefruit and stone fruit flavours…” – James Halliday

MADFISH SHIRAZ

Flavours of chocolate and black morello cherries, complexed by subtle, savoury textures and fine, soft tannins.

92 Points “…strongly textured and structured palate…” – James Halliday, 2013 Wine CompanionSilver Medal – Syrah du Monde 201291 Points – Campbell Mattinson, TheWine Front

MARCHAND & BURCH CHARDONNAY

Zesty citrus fruits through the middle palate, the wine has delicate underlying layers of nutmeal and hazelnut crème wafer which provide a rich texture, balanced by a finishing mineral acidity.

97 Points “…utterly exceptional intensity and length…” – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion94 Points – Huon Hooke, www.huonhooke.com

MARCHAND & BURCH BOURGOGNE ROUGE

Spicy plum fruit, cinnamon and clove spice characters combined with a touch of forest floor.

91 Points “…by some distance the best Bourgogne I have tasted…” – James Halliday, The Weekend Australian92 Points – Ray Jordan, West Weekend91 Points - Tyson Stelzer, Wine Taste Weekly

MARCHAND & BURCH SHIRAZ

Supple and soft red fruits provide a mouth filling richness, while soy and oyster give an interesting savoury finish.

94 Points “…this is all about elegance and balance…” – James Halliday91 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown,www.eRobertParker.com

MARCHAND & BURCH CHABLIS

Pale straw in colour. The nose shows fine lifted lemon and grapefruit citrus aromas with mineral notes. The palate is finely structured with lemon zest flavours, herbal hints and a chalky mineral texture. It has a generous mid palate weight checked by minerally zing and subtle acidity on the finish.

HOWARD PARK RIESLING

Fresh and lightly sautéed lemon-lime citrus and nashi pear provide a rich fruit palate.

“Consistently one of the best Rieslings made in Western Australia…” Top 100 for Summer Drinking - Ray Jordan, The West Australian92 Points – Huon Hooke

HOWARD PARK SINGLE VINEYARD SERIES

“…A refined wine of power and intensity that carries to a very long finish…” – Ray Jordan, The West Australian [on the 2010 Leston Cabernet Sauvignon]94 Points – Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion94 Points – Leston Shiraz 2010 – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion95 Points – Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion94 Points – Scotsdale Shiraz 2010 – James Halliday, 2013 Wine Companion

NEW BURCH FAMILY WINES WEBSITEThe Burch Family Wines website was created this year to bring together our whole collection of wines under one site. With Howard Park, MadFish, Marchand & Burch, the Grand Cru Champagne Houses we represent and more! This new site has a host of functions that we have been dying to incorporate to ensure that at your fingertips you have access to the latest information, and ease of functionality you would desire. So now we have one shopping cart and can order across the entire range easily, making up cases as your fancy takes you. Also we include comprehensive details of each wine listing, vintage reports, vineyard details, the latest reviews, tasting notes, food pairings and social media integration. This site has incorporated a new video section with interviews of Janice McDonald, Jeff Burch, Pascal Marchand, David Botting and Margaret River Vineyard Manager David P. Burch on bio-dynamics in the vineyard.

Upcoming features with the next update will include new blogs with multiple contributors covering various topics such as wine education, wine with food, wine and philosophy, and related news. All this is to ensure that we are at the forefront of giving you more service…always a work in progress. We hope you enjoy browsing through and welcome your comments.

www.burchfamilywines.com.au

TASTING NOTES &

HOWARD PARK CHARDONNAY

Mineral and citrus notes lead to creamy cashews and subtley integrated oak.

96 Points “This is an exhilarating Chardonnay…” – Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine.Blue-Gold/Top 100 Medal – Sydney International Wine Challenge 201196-97 Points – Paul Ippolito,www.paulippolito.com.au95 Points – Gary Walsh, Wine Front

HOWARD PARK ABERCROMBIE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Dense and very ripe blackcurrant fruits with hints of sweet mint, freshly rubbed savoury herbs, earth and truffle.

96 Points “…classically powerful Cabernet Sauvignon…” – James HallidayGrand Gold Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 201297 Points – Tyson Stelzer, Wine Taste Weekly95 Points – Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT US...

Since its establishment over 15 years ago, we have been waiting patiently for Leston Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon to show its real potential. Even though its quality has been evident for some time in Howard Park’s Leston Cabernet Sauvignon, we are only now starting to see the benefit of vine age and maturity in our original plantings.

Things are looking good for the future. Underpinning our confidence in Cabernet from the Leston Vineyard site is the outstanding fruit quality we are already seeing from younger plantings.

We will see the first crop in the upcoming 2013 vintage off our ‘dry land’ Cabernet block which we have been establishing slowly without irrigation but with copious amounts of compost and mulch. Less irrigation generally and no irrigation at all in some blocks at Leston is proving to be beneficial. We continue to fine tune canopy management in each block of vines at Leston to get the best out of all of them.

In contrast, Mount Barrow, our younger specialist high-quality, cool climate vineyard, is revealing its potential early, which is very pleasing but not surprising given the effort that has gone into selecting the site and developing this vineyard. It was specifically selected and planted for Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Each of the white varieties from Mount Barrow is already featuring prominently in Howard Park.

Our focus at Mount Barrow is on further improving vine health and grape quality by building and maintaining biological activity in soils. We are also increasing the already diverse range of clones at Mount Barrow, in Pinot Noir particularly. Mount Barrow is a reasonably large vineyard but has been deliberately designed to have many small, separately managed parcels of grape to maximise the quality potential from the site.

We currently have six different clones of Chardonnay, including the best available to us from Burgundy, established in 20 separate blocks. Similarly, we have three of the best available Pinot Noir clones already established and are about to establish three new clones we have imported directly from Burgundy. We see genetic diversity within each variety as an important tool for maximising the expression of Mount Barrow Vineyard’s terroir in our wines.

David Botting, Chief Viticulturist

FROM THE VINEYARD

some snippets...

Pascal Marchand was in Perth in June 2012 to attend the opening night of French restaurant, Bistro Des Artistes, on Hay Street, Subiaco in Perth. Alain Fabrègues and Emmanuel Mollois, legendary French chefs in their own right have teamed up to produce traditional French bistro food. Marchand & Burch wines can be spotted on the wine list.

Marchand & Burch recently received an enquiry from Gibraltar in Spain. So now, Howard Park, MadFish and M&B wines are now exported to Spain!

Pascal and Jeff at Clos de Vougeot

Emmanuel Mollois and Alain Fabregues

The Australian Embassy in Washington with Ambassador Kim Beazley A.C. drinks Marchand & Burch wines with their guests. Beazley writes, “Many thanks for your support…The wine is a great part of our public diplomacy. Guests love it! All the best, Kim.”

MARCHAND & BURCH IN WASHINGTON

Cards from Washington

NEW BISTRO OPENING IN PERTH

NEW CHEVALIER OF BURGUNDY

SPANISH ACQUISITION

In June 2011 at Clos de Vougeot, Jeff Burch was inducted into the Brotherhood of Knights at Burgundy, the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. Jeff was recognised as a Chevalier because of his reverence for Burgundy and love of the grape. He is now an official ambassador for the Chevaliers.

PERCENTAGES FROM JAMES HALLIDAY’S 2013 WINE COMPANIONFigures tell a story: From Howard Park of the 13 wines entered, 100% were above 90+.

Nine wines are 94+ points = 69%MadFish – 15 wines were sent, 10 are 90+ = 60%

Marchand & Burch – only 4 wines were submitted, 100% received 94+

Senior winemaker, Janice McDonald explains the concept of ‘regionality’ as the binding thread of Burch Family Wines.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

If Burch Family Wines was a book, it would be a chronicle of grape growing and winemaking in Western Australia, and regionality would be its binding thread.

With one foot firmly buried in the earth of two premium grape growing regions of Western Australia, our belief in the notion of regionality as defining in our wine styles is even stronger today than it was 26 years ago.

Significant vineyard plantings in Mount Barker and Margaret River, wineries in Denmark and Margaret River and wines first released under the Howard Park brand from Mount Barker in 1987 and Margaret River in 1990 demonstrates this belief.

This level of commitment to regionality is unique in the wine industry of Western Australia. Our Mount Barrow vineyard in the Mount Barker sub-region of the Great Southern covers an area of 62 hectares and our Leston vineyard in Margaret River, 75 hectares.

These two vineyards are the primary source of grapes and inspiration for our newest range of wines under the Howard Park label, the Regional Range.

Whilst the climates and soils of these two premium grape growing regions allow many grape varieties to thrive, the Regional Range is focused on what we have deemed, over many vintages, to be the regional stars.

Such a choice of varieties, amply suited to both regions made the task complex and compelled us to apply a strict selection criteria to our Regional Range.

Our selection was driven by:

• The delivery of high quality wine, vintage to vintage.

• The typicity of the region and site to be the primary and identifiable expression of flavour, aroma and texture in the wines.

• The winemaking practices employed were to enhance rather than dominate regional expressions of variety and site.

Over much discussion and tasting with Jeff and the winemaking team, the range has evolved.

Wines that were successful and well established under existing Burch Family Wines brands, such as the Howard Park Rieslings, were omitted.

As well as making the wine choice, it was important to coin a name that engendered a regional connection or spirit.

For the Great Southern wines we chose the name “Flint Rock” as it epitomises the fine mineral structure and subtle fruit flavours produced from the cool climate Mount Barker region.

The name chosen for the Margaret River wines was “Miamup”, after the principal road that winds along the northern boundary of the Leston vineyard and through the heart of Wilyabrup.

And now for the wines...The development of the Mount Barrow vineyard provided enormous impetus to the regional project. Jeff ’s love of and commitment to Pinot Noir and Champagne has seen new clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay beginning to bear fruit; hence two easy choices. Shiraz, which has shown a great natural affinity with the region over many vintages, was an important inclusion.

From Margaret River, Chardonnay could not be ignored, nor Cabernet Sauvignon, nor the region’s signature white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

The Regional Range was first released in 2011 and included the Flint Rock 2009 Pinot Noir and 2009 Chardonnay and Miamup 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.

Tasting notes for all of the Regional Range are on our website. Please taste and enjoy these truly regional expressions of West Australian wines as you raise a glass to the long standing commitment of Burch Family Wine’s to grape growing in regional Western Australia.

New release Regional Range wines are now available for purchase on the order form.

“OUR BELIEF IN THE NOTION OF REGIONALITY AS DEFINING IN OUR WINE STYLES IS EVEN STRONGER TODAY THAN IT WAS 26 YEARS AGO.

MADFISH SHIRAZ

TASTING NOTES &

FROM THE VINEYARD

some snippets...

SPANISH ACQUISITION

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

MADFISH SHIRAZ

TASTING NOTES &

FROM THE VINEYARD

some snippets...

SPANISH ACQUISITION

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

MADFISH SHIRAZ

TASTING NOTES &

FROM THE VINEYARD

some snippets...

SPANISH ACQUISITION

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

- SPRING 2012 -

MOVIE EXTRA TROPEST

2 – 3 March 2013

24 October 2012 - 5.30 - 7.30 pm

25 November 2012 – 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30- 3.30pm

EVENTS

Cheers,

Burch Family Wines Spring 2012 Newsletter

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