Philly Mania

Have just spent a very hectic 10 days in Philadelphia and North Carolina with my importer Vine Street Imports. Two big wine shows and numerous visits to retailers and restaurants has given me a fantastic insight how my wine is being sold and portrayed in the US. I took along the latest 2006 vintage of Aux Trois Freres (not yet available in UK/US) and also the new 2006 Wilson Gunn Shiraz. Both received fantastic reviews from the consumers and trade a like and am very excited about building these brands in the US. Unfortunately I had to come back early as have to get out to Bdx to prepare for 'La Vendage'. Very excited about this year as have put a lot of work into the vineyard and can't wait to see the results. Will set up a blog as usual, so those who are interested can follow! Henry P.S. Steve Tanzer just gave the WG06 Shiraz 91/100 points!!

The shape of 2008

I have just got back from bordeaux, where I gave myself the unenviable task of green harvesting and leaf plucking all my premium vineyards in a week. I had to get back for a wedding this weekdend so had no other choice but to spend 6 hours a day in the vineyard, untangling, exposing and reducing crop yield so as to get optimum ripeness for this year. It has been a difficult season so far, with a lot of rain around flowering, meaning crop yield is down by quite a bit from last year. Although July and August so far have been good and hot, it will still be a late harvest, probably starting second week in October. I do love working in the vineyard, but doing so much in 30+ degree heat everyday can really take it out of you, and my parents poor holidaying friends who have been roped in! But it will all be worth it when we go back to pick the harvest and every bunch is in the best possible condition, fingers crossed!

Tastings, Tastings, Tastings!

Have had a very busy couple of months doing many a tasting around the country, both our own pre-release tastings and Laithwaites tastings. It really is the best way to meet new and existing customers and show them all the new vintages and exciting new wines that I have been busy producing. Last week I found myself next to a canon twice the size of me on the HMS Warrior in Portsmouth, presenting wines from all around the world. It was a fantastic event and although it might have been a logistical nightmare for the organisers, it was really worth it and have made some wonderful new customers who I very much welcome to the 1000 club. Unfortunately we also had to recently cancel the London pre-release tasting as many people couldn’t make the Friday evening due to other commitments. I promise I will re-organise for November and make sure we do it on a Wednesday or Thursday so as not to interrupt people’s weekends. H

Jaunt to Bordeaux!

I am just in the middle of a little jaunt over to Bordeaux to take a look at my 07 wines to see how they're coming along. I always get a bit of ‘shed envy’ when I go to Oz so need to get back to mine as soon as possible. I have tasted all 60 barrels of the Aux Trois Freres 07 so feeling a bit tired! But everything looks great, good colour, plenty of fruit and the extra months I have left them on yeast lees have really developed the mouth feel brilliantly, although I’ll have to get them all racked by the end of the month which might take a while. I’m also in the process of cold stabilising the Rose, which means we chill it down to around freezing for about two weeks so that any tartrate crystals come out of solution in the tank and not into your bottle. It’s a beautiful golden red colour and tastes so fresh, it’ll go down a treat this summer. Anyway all is looking good and the vineyards are starting to show some leaf so let's hope for a great growing season, none of this wrath of God weather we keep getting please!

Off to Oz

Just a quick note to say I'm once again off to McLaren Vale for another vintage. As always each year I come up with a new fancy way of showing what goes on behind the scenes at Redheads, this year I have decided to do a video blog!!!! So please if you get some spare time in the office or at home then click on vintages in the left hand column and go to Australia 2008. Fingers crossed it will work ok and you can see with the help of video technology, what goes on in the dark corners of the Redheads cellar! See you out there! Henry

Parker Points!!

Got an email last night from my US importer in Philadelphia saying the latest Parker scores are out.......... and look what I got!!

92/100 Points The impressive 2005 Shiraz is deep crimson-colored with an enticing bouquet of toast, wood smoke, pepper, spice box, game, and blueberry. Opulent, layered, and full-flavored, this spicy wine is well-balanced, structured, and long. Give it 5-7 years to evolve and drink it through 2025. Importer: Ronnie Sanders, Vine Street Importers, Philadelphia, PA; (215) 533-WINE

Welcome one and all to the new and improved website!!

Welcome one and all to the new and improved website!!

Hopefully you will find it easier on the eye and easier to browse through.

All members of the 1000 club will be sent their own personal membership number with login and password details. For those who haven’t joined up yet, don’t miss out on this opportunity and fill out the form and submit it. Doesn’t cost a thing to join, but what you do get is first refusal on every future wine that is released, even before it is in the country. You will also get access to up and coming vintage blogs and informative articles on everything to do with the wine world.

20.02.2007

Well it’s that time again, Vintage 2007 in McLaren Vale starts for me next week. I’m sure the years go quicker when you’re a winemaker!! Australia has had a very challenging year as far as growing grapes is concerned. Frost in the Barossa wiped out a lot of their crop, but fortunately it missed McLaren Vale. Although due to the drought and hardly any rain over the winter, the crop is down by a massive 50% from last year. Overall this is good, as the fruit will be concentrated and intense; although it does mean that it ripens a lot quicker and has already started at least three weeks early. As in Bordeaux last year I will be doing a vintage blog for those who are interested in how the vintage evolves, as we know every year is very different! Please feel free to comment on anything you see or hear.

21.01.2007

Because of increasing pressure for me to export to other countries, I am from now on going to do things slightly different. For every wine that is due to be released I will produce a reserve list of people who would like a case. I will then only import into the UK all the wine that is needed to satisfy the demand. I will contact all previous buyers of the wine and give them first refusal and then also post it on the website for new customers. This will start with the next release – the massive Wilson Gunn 2005 Reserve which will arrive in early summer 2007! A ‘super-blend’ of the best 3 barrels from 2005. Only 100 cases produced. If your name is not on the reserve list then you won’t get a case, simply email me or fill out the form on the website.

03.01.2007

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a lovely break and those that consumed some of my wines enjoyed them with their turkey or goose. For me it gave me some time to put together my plan for 2007. Along with a lot of new wines and varieties already produced and waiting to be bottled, I am also always looking for new projects to expand my winemaking knowledge and work with new people. I am hoping to do something in Spain this year whilst also doing a wine in the south of France. There is also the Australian vintage on the horizon and so far the reports are for a very early vintage with a 50% reduction in crop size! This means two things, very high quality fruit, but obviously less of it, good for you……………. more hard work for me to get hold of it!

07.09.2006

Got an email today from Redheads saying that my recently bottled 2005 Wilson Gunn Reserve Shiraz has been nominated for the George Mackey Memorial Trophy. This is quite an honour as only the top 1% of all wines exported from Australia get nominated. It is organised by the AWRI, the governing body that tastes all wines to be exported from Australia to make sure they are up to standard. This is very exciting news as this wine (100 cases only!) was specially blended from the best three barrels from 2005, exclusively for my mailing list! “Gunn Club” members will get first allocation but don’t worry………….. to join simply e-mail me your details and I’ll send a form in the post - is free to join and you get extra goodies!!

01.09.2006

Bordeaux Vintage 2006 – Starts soon…………. and this year I have started a blog! http://wineblog.hjhwines.com If you want to follow what goes on day by day, then please check it out when you get a chance. Will start 18th September. If you want to comment on what’s going on or ask any questions then you can quickly register and get in contact with us in the winery. Hope to speak to some of you soon!

01.07.2006

Just got back from a quick visit to Bordeaux in which I checked on the progress of the new shed for the 2006 vintage and also bottled the 2004 vintage Aux Trois Frères. I can report that both are looking good but need more time! I won’t be releasing the 2004 until Christmas, due to my new policy of letting wines open up after bottling, which can take at least 6 months.

26.06.2006

NEW ARRIVALS! The Wilson Gunn 2004 and the new Pink Bitz Rosé 2005 have arrived on these fine shores. Once they get past customs and up to my new warehouse then I can start sending it out. Please go to the new re-structured wine list and read the synopsis and vintage reports to get a better idea of what you are in for. I don’t have as many cases as I would like this time around so can’t be sure how long it is going to be around for.

08.06.2006

I'm overjoyed to say I have just moved into brand spanking new premises in Sheffield. I've been up here for a while now living and working in this great city. Massive regeneration is going on up here that is making Sheffield one of the new up and coming cities in the north. If you haven't been recently then I do recommend a visit, and you can find me just off Junction 31 of the M1 motorway near Rother Valley Country Park. My new address is: Unit 3, Vector 31 Network Centre, Waleswood Way, Wales Bar, Sheffield S26 5NU. Come by and have a taste. Will send out phone numbers once I have them!

01.06.2006

Just to let you know the latest vintage of Wilson Gunn (2004) has just picked up another silver at the biggest blind wine competition in the world, the International Wine Challenge in London. By all accounts medals were hard to come by this year as the judges have made it tougher, so was pleased to get one on the top awards. Along with getting 89 points in the latest edition of the US magazine Wine Spectator it means this wine is drinkable! Will be available first week in July so make sure you reserve a case as I don't have as many cases as I would like.

28.04.2006

Right…….I’m back! Another successful vintage completed, and have extended my range to incorporate a Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and another Rosé. Along with my straight and reserve shiraz I now have 5 labels coming out next year! If you want to know more about the vintage and look at some video footage than take a look at the vintages section – Australia 2006.

24.02.06

Right......I'm off to Australia! Another year, another vintage to get prepared for. This time I have got a few things up my sleeve I would like to try out. On top of the Wilson Gunn Shiraz and Pink Bitz Rosé, I am also looking to do a Grenache and maybe a bit of Mouvedre to use as a blending option. Plus any other varieties that take my fancy this year! I feel the need to extend my winemaking capabilties and offer you the consumer a greater range of wines. I don't want to make a lot, just enough to satisfy my (and hopefully your) wine curiosity! As usual I will be putting a vintage report on the website, hopefully as vintage progresses. So keep your eyes peeled!

20.02.06

The wheels are in motion for a new cellar to be built in Bordeaux. I have outgrown the little barn I have been using, and have gone about finding a piece of land to build on and increase production for this coming year (if completed on time!) The idea is not just to increase Aux Trois Freres, but to bring out new and exciting wines using different varieties from around the area, as well as bringing in fruit from different regions and even countries. Exciting times! Will update on progress.

06.02.06

Some sad news to report.......... the three brothers 2003 is sold out forever. But not to worry, I will be bottling the 2004 vintage after I get back from Australia in april and so you should able to buy it before the summer kicks off. From the Bordeaux 2004 vintage report you'll se it will be another great year, although not as hot as 2003, it is a very well balanced wine, rich and smooth that will offer the drinker a little bit more complexity than 2003!

08.12.05

Although a bit behind schedule, I have finally got the chance to put together a vintage report for the very impressive 2005 Bordeaux vintage. So if you've got some time to spare take a look and find out why it was so good!

15.09.05

NEW VINTAGE Wilson Gunn is coming. With new packaging and another exceptional vintage, we just keep tweaking this wine every year to give you even more value for your money. Sadly there is no-more to sell than last year (100 cases), mainly due to increased interest in other countries. But you can reserve your case now so you don't miss out when it arrives.

24.06.05

NEW OFFER!! If you introduce a friend (just an email address will do), when they next place an order, I will happily donate 6 bottles of the medal winning Wilson Gunn 2002 for you to enjoy (or share with your friend if your feeling generous!)

22.08.05

Just got back from a little trip out to Bordeaux to check to see how things are going for the new vintage. Fruit looks fantastic, clean with very small berries (due to the lack of rain and serious heat). This should lend itself to highly concentarted flavours and should ripen to perfection. Have taken a lot of the same vineyard as in 2004, but have added to the pot with a couple more gems that will inhance this wine further. Harvest should commence around the end of september. Taking the video camera out this year to give people a more in-depth look!

13.06.05

BUY ONLINE!!. Have now set up the website so that people can purchase cases on the internet. Payments are made with PayPal, one of the most secure payment methods on the web. Simply select the cases you would like and then go through the secure PayPal checkout , couldn't be easier! Does not matter if you don't have a PayPal account, you can pay without setting one up.

27.05.05

I am very happy to announce that during last weeks International Wine Trade fair in London, my Wilson Gunn 2003 Reserve was awarded a silver medal with the Wilson Gunn 2002 also getting a seal of approval. The International Wine Challenge is the biggest wine competition in the world, so to have been awarded medals for my first two wines really means something. It is nice to be recognised for the hard work that has been put in and makes it all worthwhile. Will be making an email announcement soon, which will also include information on my latest release!!!

04.05.05

The new name of the Bordeaux wine I made in 2003 is Aux Trois Freres, or Three Brothers. This wine will be bottled in the next two weeks and available as soon as it's done! Im really excited about getting this wine out as it's not your typical Bordeaux and is very much drinkable now! This is mainly due to the expectional vintage in 2003, which was at the end of the hottest summer in living memory! Only about 75 cases will be available of this one, so if you don't want to miss out let me know and ill make sure you don't. Haven't finalised the price yet but will be between £7 and £8 per bottle, an absolute bargain!