Shepherd’s Hut launch -
2023 Estate Pinot Noir & 2023 Estate Chardonnay alongside the
2023 Heritage ‘Michael Mayo’ Pinot Noir, &
1st ever 2023 Heritage ‘Valerie Ann’ Chardonnay…
With 3 x Verticals, 5 x Pinot Noirs, 4 x Chardonnays & 4 x Rieslings.
Including the Champion Pinot Noir Trophy Winner
from The Wine Show Of Western Australia,
A couple of us looked at a dozen under $40 Great Southern & Pemberton Pinots a couple of years ago.
The fruit was better than in the past, the winemaking is better and the wines were young fresh modern and
delicious. In short, most were lovely and the best, quite simply are amongst the finest values around -
and, in context, seriously underpriced.
The tiny Shepherd’s Hut were in the thick of it.
The Verticals
Riesling - 2021, 2022, 2023, & ‘The Hut’ Heritage Riesling 2023
Reserve Chardonnay - 2021, 2022, 2023, & ‘Valerie Ann’ Heritage Chardonnay 2023
Estate Pinot Noir - 2021, 2022, & 2023
’Michael Mayo’ Heritage Pinot Noir - 2021 & 2022
(2021 - Champion Pinot Noir Trophy Winner)
Hosted by the owning family’s custodian
and creative, energetic youthful driving force,
Laura Wishart
Lunch: 12-3pm, 14 Wines & 5 Courses, $125
Masterclass: 4-6pm, 14 Wines with Nibbles, $65
Dinner: 6.30pm, 14 Wines & 5 Courses, $125
Sunday June 23rd
Erin Larkin’s precise and articulate breakdown of the Great Southern
Pinot Noir perspectives
Pinot from the Great Southern
(Porongurup, Denmark, Mt Barker)
Of the five subregions in the Great Southern (Frankland River, Denmark, Albany, Porongurup and Mt Barker) three stand out as regions producing excellent pinot noir.
Denmark is home to the KarriView Vineyard (now owned by Paul Nelson Wine and has been responsible for beautiful, savoury, ageworthy pinots since 1989. I recently looked at the 1989 (June 2020) alongside the current vintage with Paul and at 30+ years on (from vines that were 4yrs old at the time!) it retained graceful fruit, spice and balance.
A standout producer in the region for pinot is Single File Wine: it is always recogniseable for the gentle suggestion of fresh coffee grounds that sit alongside the black cherry nose. Many wineries in Denmark produce Pinot Noir, so it is certainly worth taking the time to explore the region in depth (Harewood Estate is a winery to mention here).
Porongurup, to the northeast (broadly speaking) of Denmark, is a region better known for riesling (and with good reason, I believe that the best of the Porongurup rieslings rate amongst the very best in the country), however the pinot vines are still gaining age and with it, reputation. The best examples come from Castle Rock, Sheperds Hut (both featured in the below tasting, however the Shepherds Hut coming out just on top by a whisker) and others.
The pinots from Porongurup are typified by sweet red berry, raspberry, red cherry, spice and acidity. They are not unlike the juicy plushness we have come to expect of the wines from Tasmania, albeit finer in body. As is present in the rieslings, there is a distinct floral character to the nose of these wines.
Another winery to seek out in the area is Zarepath. Mt Barker is home to the Mt Barrow vineyard which has good elevation (380m) – I have stood and looked out from it, and the vista is impressive. Marchand & Burch have used the fruit to very good effect in the wine we tasted, below.
Erin Larkin.com
The Wine List & Menu
Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Our Price $24
Wagyu Bresoala, sourdough, olives
Riesling 2023, Our Price $27
Riesling 2022, Our Price $27
Riesling 2021, Our Price $30
‘The Hut’ Heritage Riesling 2023, Our Price $40
Tempura asparagus, caramelised miso
Reserve Chardonnay 2023, Our Price $27
Reserve Chardonnay 2022, Our Price $27
Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Our Price $30
‘Valerie Ann Heritage’ Chardonnay 2023, Our Price $40
Seared salmon, shiitake, salsa verde
Pinot Noir 2023, Our Price $33
Pinot Noir 2022, Our Price $34
Pinot Noir 2021, Our Price $36
Duck rillette croquettes, leafy greens
Michael Mayo Pinot Noir 2023, Our Price $52
Michael Mayo Pinot Noir 2022, Our Price $55
Paysan Breton, crostini, quince
A little more about our host - Laura Wishart, Owner & Winemaker
Sheperd’s Hut Context:
Shepherd's Hut in the Porongurup wine region is producing an array of unbelievably cheap and delicious wines, made by Rob Diletti. The Porongurup wine region is east of Mount Barker. The increasingly winding road trails through vivid scenery created by the rocky out-crops of the Stirling Range. There is some outrageously good value to be found out there, and none more so than the wines from small family-owned winery, Shepherd's Hut. Rob Diletti has been making the wines since the property was bought by the Wishart family in 1996.
Take this insider's tip: If Rob Diletti has anything to do with the winemaking, they are going to be very, very good. As these are.
Erin Larkin.com