Young Guns of Wine – Part 4

By Alex Russell on May 19, 2015 in Food

Welcome to part four of my five part series on the Young Guns of Wine Awards (younggunsofwine.com), which highlights some of the best young winemakers coming through the ranks in the Aussie wine industry.

Joe Holyman (Stoney Rise/Holyman)

Based in Launceston, Joe makes wines under two labels, Stoney Rise and Holyman. The Stoney Rise label will set you back $29 per bottle and you have the choice of a Chardy, a Pinot and a Gruner Veltliner. Gruner is a lovely spicy white grape that a few winemakers are working with. It’s really worth trying. The Chardy and the Pinot are great value too.

The wines under the Holyman label ($45 for the Chardy and $50 for the Pinot) are very good. If you like Pinots or Chardies you really must try these wines.

The most recent addition to Holyman’s stable is the ‘Project X’ Pinot Noir ($90). Project X is about pushing boundaries, in particular the use of whole bunch ferments and 100% new oak. It’s a dark wine made in a funky style. If you’re serious about Pinot, get some.

Taras Ochota (Ochota Barrels)

I’d been reading about the Ochota wines for a while, but they’re made in such small quantities that every time I checked their website they’d sold out.

I checked the other day and almost all were available, so I bought up big, and I’m glad that I did. The ‘Fugazi’ Grenache is a sensational wine ($40) and the ‘I Am The Owl’ Syrah ($40) is a belter too.

Ochota’s wines start at $25 and there are a few options: Chardonnays, Pinots, Grenaches and Syrahs. They’re fascinating wines; the kind where you take a whiff and then stop and think about what’s in the glass before you drink it. It’s little wonder Taras was named Young Gun in 2013.

Gary Mills (Jamsheed)

Jamsheed is one of those labels that sommeliers really go nuts for. In fact, Gary was awarded the Sommeliers Australia ‘Victorian Winery of the Year’ in 2012.

The 2013 Jamsheed range consists of four Shirazes (around $54 a bottle) from different regions, like the Yarra Valley and Beechworth. They’re all about location. Handpicked and made naturally, they’re fascinating, subtle, delicate wines. They sell out in a hurry though, so get in quick.

There are also two whites in the range, including a $32 Roussanne, which is a fascinating grape that’s popping up more and more these days. It blends very well with Viognier and sometimes with Shiraz. Think taut minerally wines with a bit of peach going on.

You’ll also find a slightly off-dry $32 Riesling – again a lovely wine. Try it with your next Thai meal.

The ‘Harem’ range from Jamsheed is a bit of fun. Names like ‘Pepé Le Pinot’, ‘José the Rosé’ and ‘Le Blanc Plonk’ should give you an idea of what they’re about. Don’t let the names fool you though – they’re very good value. They’re priced in the $20-$30 range and I see them around quite a bit. Don’t be afraid to give them a try.