WineLovers Discussion Group

So I was doing some wine shopping and stumbled across: M. Chapoutier Mt. Benson shiraz. Is this the same Fench producer I know making syrah downunder? If so, how's the wine, and are any other French producers doing this?

Jenise
Yes, the same producer, though I understand there's been a geographical movement in recent times (some vineyards bought, others sold). If the free content is still on winepros.com.au (in fact if the site is even still there!) then they'll have James Hallidays overview of the winery.

Of other French producers, Domaine Chandon in the Yarra are pretty big (Green Point is their big brand).

Dominique Portet spent years at Taltarni and now has his own winery in Heathcote (The shiraz is worth trying if you see it).

I know there's others (Francois "Franky" Jacquard springs to mind), in fact there's a book by John Beeston called a concise history of Australian wine, which (I recall) also charts the involvement of the French since the early colonial days (Velmai Henkel also wrote some similar - and fantastic - articles in Winestate, which almost made up for the rest of the magazine!).

Oh and then there's the Germans, Austrians, Serbs, Croats, not to mention the Italians et al. You don't think the English could foster a great wine industry do you

Hope this is of interest

Ian

I was tempted by the Mt Benson a couple years ago when it was available at the bargain price of $14 at a local, mostly Aussie, wine store. I went back after drinking the bottle and snapped up a case. Robin posted a TN on this wine in the old WLDG, which pretty much matched my impressions.

Established in 1998, M.Chapoutier (Australia) - located near Robe on the far south coast in South Australia (roughly a bit north-west of Coonawarra) - are quoted as being 'biodynamic' and supposedly, (I haven't tried any as yet), make pretty good, well-priced Shiraz and Cabernet. They also have plantings of marsanne, viognier and savignon blanc but I have no information on file on these.