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Glenn James rises again

Glenn James & Amanda James-Pritchard

Like a cat with nine lives, born-again former McLaren Vale corporate winemaker Glenn James has turned up in Tasmania.

James worked in senior winemaking roles for Fosters and Constellation before going back to getting his hands in the ferments, establishing Ducks In A Row (tastings) in McLaren Vale with his wife Amanda James-Pritchard. Old-vine mataro (labeled ‘Erect Habit’ for ampelographic reasons - previous tastings), nero d’avola, fiano and vermentino were some of their favourite grapes.

Fermenting juice in clay amphorae became one of James’s new passions, and he made some very good white wines from fiano, vermentino and moscato giallo that way. Named Pandora’s Amphora, they were acclaimed firstly for their character and originality, and secondly for being technically sound, well-made wines produced in a ‘natural’ way.

James is making wine this vintage in Tassie, but he’s also teamed up with Alpine Valleys (Bright, Victoria) winemaker Jo Marsh, whose outstanding Billy Button 2014 white wines (tastings) made a big splash in my tastings late last year - especially her friulano and vermentino.

James is nothing if not a questing soul. Also last year he made wine in Coonawarra with his friend Sue Bell of Bellwether Wines (tastings). She let him have just under a tonne of her precious Wetherall-grown cabernet grapes destined for Bellwether Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (tastings), to ferment in amphora. James has brought at least one of his clay fermenting vessels to Tasmania. Amphora aficionados will be eagerly hanging on all of the outcomes.

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