DAN'S THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN:  Late last Friday afternoon I received a tragic email from Mark Kirby and the crew at New England’s, TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN (a quality producer of emerging varieties). They advised that due to bushfire damage they had to cancel their, “ALL TOGETHER! – Picking & Party Day” event which was to be held on the Sunday. The bushfire in Topper’s Mountain State Forest had burst out of the forest and paid them a devastating visit! As they said in their email: “Once in there, we couldn’t stop it. Abt 80% burnt, driplines gone, 10% of the posts burnt off, no idea of vine deaths yet & worst of all, vintage 2019 is finished before we really started.”

Can you imagine losing a year’s income plus the damage to future income all in one afternoon? Shattering!

Over recent years I have waxed lyrically and even raved about the unusual, interesting and sometimes even funky wines that these guys make. I have yet to try one I don’t like.

I have met the affable Mark a few times at wine events and last year I got to know and became friends with, Jan Taborsky, when he came down to Adelaide – first, to Judge at the Winestate EVAs (Emerging Variety Awards) and later at the inaugural, Global Grüner Challenge (judging Grüner Veltliner from around the world) also run by Winestate Magazine and in conjunction with the Austrian Wine Marketing Board.

My heart bleeds for you guys – and to all who read this, I say, please consider buying some of their wonderful wines as a way of helping them survive this catastrophe and get back on their feet.

The TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN wines that I can personally recommend are:

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2016 GEWüRZTRAMINER: 5-Stars, Top in Category – Inaugural (2018) EVAs (Emerging Variety Awards) – An absolute cracker wine!

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2016 BARREL FERMENT GEWüRZTRAMINER:  Complex, multi-dimensional and supremely elegant – YUM!

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2015 BRICOLAGE BLANC: A delicious slick and classy blend of Chardonnay, Sav Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Petit Manseng.

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2015 BARREL FERMENT SAUVIGNON BLANC: Oh, so European in style but with greater depth.

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2016 WILD FERMENT PETIT MANSENG: 3? Stars – Inaugural (2018) EVAs (Emerging Variety Awards).

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2014 WILD FERMENT NEBBIOLO: 3-Stars – Inaugural (2018) EVAs (Emerging Variety Awards) – Extract, my judging notes: “very svelte and moreish”.

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2014 BRICOLAGE ROUGE: The epitome of an emerging blend – Tempranillo/Nebbiolo/Tannat/Shiraz/Viognier – bloody magnificent!!

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2014 WILD FERMENT PINOTAGE VIOGNIER: Unique! The only such blend in the world. Tannic but smooth, a great food wine.

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN 2013 WILD FERMENT TANNAT:  Reviewed in an upcoming WBM article on Tannat as: “..one out of “left field”. This natural yeast fermented wine is tremendous with a funky bouquet, unlike any of the others (Tannat), a palate with masses of complex flavours making it rich and seductive. Not typical of the variety but a divine wine!!”

So how about doing your taste buds a favour whilst helping out a great mob who make smashing “out of left field” wines? Go to www.toppers.com.au and place an order for some superb wines. I promise you that you won’t regret it!!!