I have sitting on the desk before me a bottle.

Front label

2004
Domaine Tournon
Limestone Coast
Shiraz or Syrah
M. Chapoutier
Wine of Australia

Back label:

Inter alia:

Mise en bouteille par M Chapoutier (26600 Tain) a Courthezon - France

Produced by Tournon pty ltd Limestone coast road......
Imported by M Chapoutier..........France

[ie produced in Australia, by French house, shipped in bulk, bottled in
France]


I've checked out the web site:
http://www.mchapoutieraustralia.com/default.html


"The goal is to produce premium shiraz from premium terroir, and to combine
the skills of top Australian vignerons with the experience of the Rhone
Valley."

>>>

So we have a top Rhone producer, growing in Australian Terroir producing
some form of hybridized French/Australian Shiraz/Syrah.

Now, I've heard a lot about Australian Flying wine makers bringing New World
techniques to the French Regions, and Champagne houses setting up off shoots
in a whole host of places. But the idea of searching out "old world terroir"
in the new world for the likes of Shiraz in a new one on me.

Is this a one off or a trend?

pk

On Thu, 2 Feb 2006 19:49:05 +0000 (UTC), "p.k."
> wrote:

>I have sitting on the desk before me a bottle.
>
>[ie produced in Australia, by French house, shipped in bulk, bottled in
>France]
>
>
>I've checked out the web site:
>http://www.mchapoutieraustralia.com/default.html
>
>
>"The goal is to produce premium shiraz from premium terroir, and to combine
>the skills of top Australian vignerons with the experience of the Rhone
>Valley."
>
>So we have a top Rhone producer, growing in Australian Terroir producing
>some form of hybridized French/Australian Shiraz/Syrah.
>
>Now, I've heard a lot about Australian Flying wine makers bringing New World
>techniques to the French Regions, and Champagne houses setting up off shoots
>in a whole host of places. But the idea of searching out "old world terroir"
>in the new world for the likes of Shiraz in a new one on me.
>
>Is this a one off or a trend?

I would suspect it is an example of aggressive Australian marketing
seeking alliance with a recognized European name to bring Oz wines to
the Continent.

Recently I've been watching a TV series (HD stuff where you watch the
life cycle of the fruit fly because the fidelity is so incredible), on
"Wines of Australia". They visit one or two vineyards each show, meet
the people and see the facilities then they sit in lush gardens
sipping glasses of Oz wine. Unusual, since there are only so many ways
you can photograph a vine, a grape, a press, a vat, a bottle and a
glass. Yet, the show indicates how seriously Australia is about
getting their due recognition.

They've done an excellent job in the US, bringing both budget and
high-end wines to the marketplace and carving a huge niche for
themselves.

I'd bet that the somewhat medieval tax laws, labeling requirements,
etc. of Europe lead to the sort of economic marriage that you are
describing. The questions remaining for me are, how does it taste;
what does it cost; what kind of tax is imposed on the bottling, and
would you buy it again?


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Ed Rasimus wrote:
>
> I'd bet that the somewhat medieval tax laws, labeling requirements,
> etc. of Europe lead to the sort of economic marriage that you are
> describing. The questions remaining for me are, how does it taste;
> what does it cost; what kind of tax is imposed on the bottling, and
> would you buy it again?


Dunno yet!

I'm going to set it up against a compartable Aussie limestone coast shiraz
& a Cahpoutier Rhone. I'll report in due course!

pk

p.k. wrote:

> So we have a top Rhone producer, growing in Australian Terroir producing
> some form of hybridized French/Australian Shiraz/Syrah.
>
> Now, I've heard a lot about Australian Flying wine makers bringing New World
> techniques to the French Regions, and Champagne houses setting up off shoots
> in a whole host of places. But the idea of searching out "old world terroir"
> in the new world for the likes of Shiraz in a new one on me.

There's nothing too novel here, really. In the US, Ravenswood (now an
arm of Constellation) bottles an SE Oz Shiraz for sale in the States.
Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon buys Madiran and other wines from S France
for bottling and sale in the US. I expect that Chapoutier is doing the
same for the same reasons: the grapes are cheap enough that it's
financially attractive even after factoring in transportation costs. As
for Old World winemakers looking for "Old World terroir" in the New
World, think of Chandon's international operations, or Drouhin's.
There's limited land available in the prestigous AOCs, so why not look
for land with potential outside of Europe?

Mark Lipton

On Thu, 02 Feb 2006 17:43:25 -0500, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>p.k. wrote:
>
>> So we have a top Rhone producer, growing in Australian Terroir producing
>> some form of hybridized French/Australian Shiraz/Syrah.
>>
>> Now, I've heard a lot about Australian Flying wine makers bringing New World
>> techniques to the French Regions, and Champagne houses setting up off shoots
>> in a whole host of places. But the idea of searching out "old world terroir"
>> in the new world for the likes of Shiraz in a new one on me.
>
>There's nothing too novel here, really. In the US, Ravenswood (now an
>arm of Constellation) bottles an SE Oz Shiraz for sale in the States.
>Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon buys Madiran and other wines from S France
>for bottling and sale in the US. I expect that Chapoutier is doing the
>same for the same reasons: the grapes are cheap enough that it's
>financially attractive even after factoring in transportation costs. As
>for Old World winemakers looking for "Old World terroir" in the New
>World, think of Chandon's international operations, or Drouhin's.
>There's limited land available in the prestigous AOCs, so why not look
>for land with potential outside of Europe?
>
>Mark Lipton

Chapoutier's wines here are aimed at the mid range buyer ($AUD15-20)
who have a desire for French influence (for some that reads trying to
impress others..:>)), and is selling quite well locally. Their
distributor is having their portfolio tasting on Feb 21st, so I will
be better able to judge then.

hooroo...

Bonn Doon also uses a little over 24 percent Mosel Riesling in his Pacific
Rim.


"Matt S" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 02 Feb 2006 17:43:25 -0500, Mark Lipton >
> wrote:
>
>>p.k. wrote:
>>
>>> So we have a top Rhone producer, growing in Australian Terroir producing
>>> some form of hybridized French/Australian Shiraz/Syrah.
>>>
>>> Now, I've heard a lot about Australian Flying wine makers bringing New
>>> World
>>> techniques to the French Regions, and Champagne houses setting up off
>>> shoots
>>> in a whole host of places. But the idea of searching out "old world
>>> terroir"
>>> in the new world for the likes of Shiraz in a new one on me.
>>
>>There's nothing too novel here, really. In the US, Ravenswood (now an
>>arm of Constellation) bottles an SE Oz Shiraz for sale in the States.
>>Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon buys Madiran and other wines from S France
>>for bottling and sale in the US. I expect that Chapoutier is doing the
>>same for the same reasons: the grapes are cheap enough that it's
>>financially attractive even after factoring in transportation costs. As
>>for Old World winemakers looking for "Old World terroir" in the New
>>World, think of Chandon's international operations, or Drouhin's.
>>There's limited land available in the prestigous AOCs, so why not look
>>for land with potential outside of Europe?
>>
>>Mark Lipton
>
> Chapoutier's wines here are aimed at the mid range buyer ($AUD15-20)
> who have a desire for French influence (for some that reads trying to
> impress others..:>)), and is selling quite well locally. Their
> distributor is having their portfolio tasting on Feb 21st, so I will
> be better able to judge then.
>
> hooroo...