Mudgee’s Nullo Mountain is Australia’s coolest for 2012
The ongoing debate about what classifies individual winegrowing regions as cool climate comes down to degree-days and, using data from the Bureau of Meteorology, Nullo Mountain within the Mudgee G.I. is officially the coolest for 2012.*
Meteorological data from the ripening period of December 2011 through to February 2012 highlights Nullo Mountain’s 488 degree days, the lowest by far, with Tasmania’s Scottsdale second at 627 degree days, and then Orange in NSW at 630 degree days.
Whilst the measuring of degree days during this key growing period is only one of a number of measures of climate, it gives a fairly clear indication that with the increasing move to more elegant, refined cool climate wines, the Nullo Mountain vineyard has the potential to produce some of Australia’s best aromatic wines.
“The data for Nullo Mountain came from a weather station situated at 1045 metres. Our vineyard sits a further 100 metres up the mountain, which would make it marginally cooler.”
The degree days from the Mudgee valley floor also showed a decline from 1103 degree days in 2010/2011 to 935 this vintage.
“This year is the latest that we have seen in Mudgee for 12 years. There has been a lot of rain, and subsequent humidity.”
“We will be expecting lower alcohol reds this year, more in the style of Canberra and Sunbury in Victoria, with spicy aromatics and lots of background pepper. Cabernet Sauvignon looks to be Mudgee’s star performer this year.”
“With the white varieties, the Nullo Mountain Rieslings will be aromatic, austere and slow to age. They will continue to be the performing variety of 2012, along with the lower alcohol Chardonnays.”
David Lowe makes wine from Nullo Mountain, under the individual vineyard Louee brand, his estate vineyard in Mudgee and vineyards on the slopes of Mount Canobolas in Orange.
For further information about Lowe Wines visit www.lowewine.com.au
* Information collated by Stephen Doyle from Bloodwood Wines from data collected from the Bureau of Meteorology weather stations located within the wine growing regions.
For more information, interviews and images please contact:
David Lowe at Lowe Wines on 02 6372 0800 or [email protected]
David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications on 0414 736 342 or [email protected]
Lowe Wine was established in Mudgee in 1987 by David Lowe and now comprises the Lowe and Louee brands. The winery and vineyards gained organic accreditation 2004. David Lowe is a high profile proponent of NSW regional wines and a key advocate in re-establishing NSW wines as the wines of choice with consumers in Australia. David is also a leading advocate of organic winemaking.
Mudgee’s Lowe Wines has recently released two new 2011 vintage wines, the 2011 Louee Chardonnay ($25) and 2011 Louee Riesling ($25). Both these wines are from Mudgee’s highest vineyard, Nullo Mountain that sits at an impressive elevation of 1100 metres.
The new vintage wines form part of Lowe’s single vineyard Louee Range. The Louee vineyard is located at Rylstone, on the south eastern boundary of the Mudgee GI, a genuine sub region of Mudgee.
“No where in Mudgee can produce wines of this style,” explained Lowe Winemaker and owner David Lowe. “The elevation of the vineyard and its subsequent high sunshine hours offers the vines increased ultra-violet light which can increase the levels of phenolics that build flavour and mouth feel.”
“What we can therefore achieve with this vineyard is lovely flavour and ripeness at lower baumé and subsequently lower alcohol levels.”
This is something that, as Vice President of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, I recognise that we need; to progress wines of lower alcohol. We like the taste of wine, and if we can have wine with a good taste and lower alcohol it is all the better for our community and our social responsibility.”
“The key is to use the correct sites and clones to ensure that the wines produced show the terroir and not just a featureless expression of the variety. We believe that the wines from Nullo Mountain achieve this, as well as showing exceptional longevity.”
“Our older vintages, such as the 2003 Riesling, are drinking really well, showing how the natural, cool climate acidity maintains the wine structure over time.”
The new vintage Louee wines join the other Louee wines including the Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Late Picked Riesling, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Price & distribution: The 2011 Louee Chardonnay $25.00 and Riesling $25.00 are distributed by Vines to Venues and via the Lowe website, www.lowewine.com.au
For more information, samples and images please contact:
Further information about Lowe Wines visit www.lowewine.com.au
Lowe Wine was established in Mudgee in 1987 by David Lowe and now comprises the Lowe, Louee and Tinja brands. The winery and vineyards gained organic accreditation 2004. David Lowe is a high profile proponent of NSW regional wines and a key advocate in re-establishing NSW wines as the wines of choice with consumers in Australia. David is also a leading advocate of organic winemaking, sustainable farming and regionalism, with a focus on the Mudgee and the Central Ranges.
