Best's Great Western Pinot Meunier

Wine information: Best’s Wines has been producing wine in the Great Western wine region of Victoria for over 140 years. Only 2 families have owned Best’s since it was founded – wines were first made by the Best family in 1866 and the estate was bought by the Thomson family in 1920. For the past 50 vintages fourth generation vintner Viv Thomson has been in charge of crafting Best’s wines, taking the “best” of modern innovation and blending it with tradition to arrive at wonderfully balanced and distinct Aussie wines. Best’s is now run by Viv’s son, Ben Thomson, the fifth generation of the Thomson family. The headquarters of Best’s is located at “ Concongella very close the Great Western and “Salvation Hills” at Rhymney. The unique terroir at Great Western contributes to the success of Best’s - the land along the Concongella creek is flat with powdery loam overlaying a deep clay sub-soil while newer plantings are sited on frost free hills. A long, slow-ripening period and continental climate are characteristics of Great Western. Wines under the Great Western label are produced from grapes grown on Best's Great Western estates.  Until recently they were entirely from the historic Concongella estate but with the "baby" of the trio, Salvation Hills coming on stream, future Great Western wines may have a percentage component of Salvation Hills grapes. Referred to as “Millers Burgundy” in Henry Best’s daily journal, these original Concongella vines are considered among the oldest vines in Australia. In culinary terms Meunier means dusted in flour. The vine leaves have a fine white gossamer appearance, hence “Millers Burgundy.”

Tasting Notes: Best's Great Western Pinot Meunier is matured in French oak barriques, the wine has a wonderful clarity and richness. Silky, elegant and vibrant it is produced entirely from original vines planted at Concongella, Great Western in the late 1860’s by Henry Best. Today the Thomson family, fifth generation vignerons are the custodians of these wonderful old vines. Cellaring under good conditions will further develop these magical complexities.

 
     

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