N u m b e r 18 - D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 5
SHIRAZED UP
Usually “Penny’s Worth” is
people centric. This issue,
we spotlight the huge
success our Shiraz has
achieved; a big elephant
stamp for winemaker, Ben Riggs
and his team and another for our
venerable viticulturists, David Paxton
and Toby Bekkers. Way back in
1988, Paxton noted that the site upon
which the Penny’s Hill shiraz vines
now flourish, would be a great Shiraz
patch, and with the help of Graham
Cross, the local land guru, the plot
was acquired and the planting begun.
tavern doors to celebrate the arrival of
the new vintage wines, or fresh mead.
Members of our McLaren Vintners
winemaking team, Greg Jackson and
Nic Bourke were called to the throning
ceremony and suitably dubbed co-kings
by King Ben who made a fine
acceptance speech following the ritual
coronation ceremony.
On the way to its crowning glory,
Penny’s Hill 2004 Shiraz achieved
gold and trophy for Best Shiraz over
$25RRP, Mr Riggs Shiraz (gold) was
joint runner-up in the class and
The Gaffer took top gold and gained
the trophy for Best Shiraz under
$25RRP. Besides the three gold
medals achieved, our stable collected a
further two silver and five bronze
gongs - a nice haul to be sure!
MORE GOLD
In addition, Penny’s Hill Shiraz 2004
lined up again for a Blue Gold and
Top 100 Place at the Sydney
International Wine Show - along
with Mr Riggs Shiraz and The Black
Chook Shiraz Viognier. And Mr Riggs
Shiraz 2004 placed runner-up and
Gold Medallist in the Great
Australian Shiraz Challenge too.
Hail mighty Ben, Shiraz maker
extraordinaire!
RIGHT ROYAL RIGGS
PARKING THE POINTS
Just a week after fathering little
Prince Nelson, King Ben returned to
the throne he held in 2000, with a
resounding conquest; the title of
Bushing King for 2005.
From the latest Robert M. Parker
Jnr. review of Australian wines in
The Wine Advocate #161, our Shiraz
products impressed - our Bushing
King Trophy wine reviewed as follows:
“The 2004 Shiraz (tasted prior to bottling)
reveals layers of fruit along with pure crème de
cassis characteristics interwoven with notions of
blackberries and smoke. Possessing a layered
texture, a huge, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel,
superb purity, and a fine finish, it has the
potential to be even better than the 2003.”
(91-94 points)
King Riggs… Shiraz his King hit!
Awarded for the Best Wine of the
McLaren Vale Wine Show, Penny’s
Hill Shiraz 2004, the Bushing King
has been a tradition in McLaren Vale
for over 30 years, and was taken from
a medieval custom which saw tavern
owners place ivy bushes above their
Added to this, our Penny’s Hill
McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 powered up
a fine 93 points, Footprint 2004 (yet to
be released) cracked a 93-95, the new
release 2004 Vintage Fortified Shiraz
rated 90-92 and the humble Red Dot
Shiraz managed a very happy 90 points.
All in all, a terrific Parker review and a
credit to our super enthusiastic US
importer, Ben Hammerschlag who puts
a huge effort into getting the wines
before the great judge.
GLOBETROTTERS
MR MUSIC
Recent visitors to Penny’s Hill included
an intrepid group of sports car
enthusiasts whose trusty steeds had
taken them through many countries,
multitudinous terrains and places mere
mortals only dream of. To this group,
lunch at Penny’s
Hill, surrounded
by a healthy
turn out of local
car buffs, was a
highlight of their
adventures; and
thanks in no small way to the work of
Penny’s Hill regular customer, Tom
Pearce, who rallied the troops. Titled
the London to Sydney “Friendship
Rally”, it featured a mouth-watering
collection of classics - Ferrari, Aston
Martin, Austin Healey, Mercedes Benz
among them!
Young Mr
Lucas Spiler,
son of
Jean-Marc,
layout man for
“Penny’s Worth”,
gained valuable
kudos with a
Young Mr Spiler, old Mr Riggs!
bottle of Mr
Riggs best for the raising of funds to
help send the Marryatville High
School Big Band to New York to
represent Australia at the International
Association for Jazz Education
Conference (after they won the
National Big Band “Generation in Jazz”
Championship last June). Go Lucas!
VINTAGE VINTNERS
During 2005, our winemaking has
been undertaken at the former
Maglieri site on Douglas Gully Road
at McLaren Flat. Ably managed by
Ben Riggs, Greg Jackson, Nic Burke
and of course, our former front-ofhouse, Jane Stewart, the joint
venture with the owners of what is
now dubbed, McLaren Vintners, has
been a great success and has seen the
winery grow and prosper, with all our
good trophy winning efforts, a great
omen for the future of the Vintners.
McLaren Vintners: a joint-venture success. Representing the
proprietors, Richard Woolcock and Roger Sexton
chat with Ben Riggs (centre).
THINKING DISTRIBUTION
Sales of Penny’s Hill are being boosted
in Adelaide with the addition to our
team of a new distribution venture.
Operated by experienced local wine
devotees, Kane Jaunutis and Alister
Mibus, the enterprise is cunningly
called Vintellectuals. To date the boys
have logged successful appointments
at most of the town’s trendy and
talked-about restaurants and bottle
outlets, with a couple of challenging
assignments yet to be landed. Not to
mention Big Al’s recent engagement to
Sophie! Congrats in order.
red dot off a larger than life PH
magnum. Spotted in the same late
afternoon quaffing space were Mix 102
Programmer, Kevin Mulcahy and a
gang of the station’s best management
while local photographer
extraordinaire, Christo Reid and
daughter, Isabel, joined in for a taste of
galvanized hospitality.
BABY WYGIRL
Soon after Nelson Riggs arrived, our
busy General Manager, Dale Wyman
and wife, Michelle, announced another
arrival, 3.63 kilos of beautiful new Zoe
Marie, a welcome addition for big sister,
Emma. With three girls in the house,
Dale expects to be more in touch with
his feminine side. Let’s watch how much
viognier he drinks from here on!
S WA I N G A I N
Famed regional chef and all-round
good bloke, David Swain, after a good
stint at neighbouring Salopian Inn,
during which time he scored many
accolades, including best Chef of the
Region Award in 2004, is parking the
little red wagon at Penny’s Hill to add
his not insignificant cheffery skills to
those of the Kane and Tammy team.
Sir Swain, welcome.
TO CROW ABOUT!
In an up and coming SA Life article in
which our friendly freelancer, Test
watcher and ecstatic equine part-owner,
Lance Campbell will examine winery
architecture, our very excellent Drew
Dowie-designed Galvanized Tasting
Hall will rate a mention. To illustrate
said article, local picture snapper, Tony
Lewis, took his lens
on a walk round the
grounds recently,
favouring a shot of
sculptor, Andrew
Munn’s, badly
behaved crow,
captured nicking the
Hot chefs! The Swain (left) joins the Kane at Penny’s Hill.
Telephone: (08) 8556 4460
Fax: (08) 8556 4462
Mobile: (08) 0408 805518
Functions and Catering
Telephone: (08) 8556 4000
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.PennysHill.com.au
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