Inside

Winter 2018

– 2018 Vintage Report– Old Vine Vertical Tasting– Reserve Shiraz Masterclass– Corporate Offer– Festival of Ideas

Foxy News

Blackcurrant and bright red cherry fruit flavours lead into a creamy juicy mid palate of mulberry, cinnamon and milk chocolate. The soft ripe tannins enhance the wine’s richness and the overall balance, length and structured finish allow it to match fabulously with food. This wine was awarded Gold in Spain at the Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition this year.

2015 JSM Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet FrancNamed in honour of Captain James Stanley Malpas (JSM) who was a decorated (Military Cross for bravery) returned soldier (Gallipoli and the Somme). James and his family owned what is now the Fox Creek property and lived in the Cellar Door in the late 1800s. This wine is equally decorated having already won 5 international gold medals.

A classic Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is met by a small parcel of Cabernet Franc to add structure, fruit lift and smooth out the palate. Maturation in 1 to 4-year-old French and American barrels for 19 months prior to blending delivers rich toasty oak and chocolate that sings with the fruit flavours of blackberry, red cherry, plums and blackcurrant layered with hints of strawberry and vanilla cream. The luscious fruit is framed by long textural Cabernet tannins integrated with elegant oak tannins. A great wine of complexity and substance.

2016 Old Vine ShirazSourced from a single premium McLaren Vale vineyard planted in 1910, the gnarly old vines produce some amazing, concentrated flavours. Nurtured through fermentation with labour intensive hand plunging twice daily, the wine was then transferred to ‘3-year-seasoned’ new French oak barrels (from both Bordeaux and Burgundy) to complete fermentation and mature for 20 months.

The luscious palate is rich and full showing black cherries, ripe plums and figs, with soft liquorice and rum & raisin rounding out the mid palate. The wine finishes with great balance and focussed tannins, and is characterised by a voluptuous and intense palate only achievable with old vine fruit. The fine French oak and plush tannins will build and integrate further as the wine ages.

New Releases

2017 VerdelhoTraditionally grown in Portugal and now in small volumes throughout Australia, Fox Creek was an early adopter with our first vintage in 1996. The 2017 vintage delivers a full, luscious palate of rockmelon, golden peach, mandarin and nectarine finishing with hints of lime juice and grapefruit which add volume and focus to the wine. The creamy mid palate and seamless textural finish make it the perfect partner with food.

NV Arctic Fox Grand Cuvèe Arctic Fox is a crisp yet refreshing and flavoursome sparkling white wine, designed to suit our Australian outdoor summer lifestyle through the innovative blending of Vermentino, Verdelho and Sauvignon Blanc. The yeasty lees stirred characters bring savoury yet rich complexity and attributes to make this wine food friendly, particularly with seafood.

NV Vixen Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet FrancVixen is a huge crowd favourite and the perfect partner for a dinner party. The palate showcases red fruits of raspberry, red cherry, strawberries and cream and has great structure and length. Whether served as an aperitif, an accompaniment to a main course or with a cheese platter Vixen delivers!

2016 Family Cabernet SauvignonA blend of fruit from vineyards across McLaren Vale delivers a wine that is true to variety and showcases soft tannins which ensure approachability at a young age. The balanced and mild conditions of the 2016 vintage gave great flavour development and fruit purity. Open fermented for 7-8 days on skins with low intensity pump-overs, the wine then completed fermentation in tank, old French and a small amount of American oak.

James Carman

Prowein

For the seventh year running, Fox Creek wines attended what is the world’s largest annual wine trade fair, ‘Prowein’ in Dusseldorf Germany. Prowein attracts wineries from all over the world who are there to showcase their wines to the thousands of wine buyers (importers, distributors, retailers and restaurateurs) that also descend on Dusseldorf.

Prowein 2018 saw the Wine Australia stand reach record participation with more than 75 wineries and over 500 wines on tasting. You can only imagine the amount of wine on tasting, with over 6,870 exhibitors from 64 countries and the event covering an area of 71,000 m2. Organisers state that it could be bigger, but they cap participation to ensure the event does not put “too much strain on the infrastructure of the German city”.

Prowein is a great way for Fox Creek to catch up with existing partners from around the world and to create potential new business through distribution to new markets. It was wonderful to be able to show off our new Grenache following previous buyer interest in the Postmaster GSM.

McLaren Vale 2018 Vintage Conditions

Very good winter rains set up conditions for good initial canopy growth and the dry spring kept the vigour in check and early season disease at bay. McLaren Vale was hit by a hailstorm in late October but vineyard damage was limited across the region because the hail came before most of the flowering was too susceptible to damage.

Budburst occurred in early September, similar to 2013 and 2014, with the conditions and resulting wines resembling those from 2014.

It was mostly dry during December and early January with odd rain events triggering downy event conditions but the follow-up wind and dry conditions prevented them from becoming an issue.

Warm conditions in late January and early February sped up ripening. Moderate temperatures during mid-February then slowed ripening stalling fruit intake. A couple of warmer weather bursts in late February and early March finished the Shiraz off nicely and pushed the Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache along a bit before more mild weather allowed the completion of their flavour development. It also eased our harvest pressure towards the end of vintage, allowing us to pick when the flavour and tannins were just right.

We finished harvest slightly later than usual on March 28th with Grenache and Mourvedre, except for the small parcel of sticky Verdelho (for Late Harvest Verdelho) which eventually got to a whopping 24 Beaumé and was harvested on May 2nd.

Early indications suggest the wines are very good from this vintage across the board – the Shiraz looks very vibrant and stylish, the Grenache is aromatic and has lovely tannins and the whites look crisp and vivacious. But it is the Cabernets that really stand out with purity and power; we are really looking forward to blending in a year’s time!

Corporate Gifts for Your Business

Are you looking for gifts to give your clients/customers or needing to restock the board room wine fridge for staff drinks? We have some great gift packaging available and some great corporate prices on our wines too.

Please contact Kristin to find out more: (08) 8557 0000 or kristin@foxcreekwines.com

Scott Zrna

Chief Winemaker

Old Vine Shiraz Vertical TastingFox Creek Cellar Door

Saturday 16 June & Sunday 17 June

11am – 4pm

We invite you to taste the newly released 2016 Old Vine Shiraz alongside the highly rated 2015 and 2014 vintages. Places for this intimate and educational guided vertical tasting are limited and will take place over one weekend.

The premium Old Vine grapes are sourced from 108 year old vines from some of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in the McLaren Vale region.

Book now via www.foxcreekwines.com/old-vine-vertical-tasting/Circle members free and non-members $20.

Museum Reserve Shiraz MasterclassFox Creek Wines Helen Watts Learning Centre

140 Malpas Road, McLaren Vale

Saturday 25 August, 12 – 2pm

Since Fox Creek released its first Reserve Shiraz in 1995 the wine has received multiple glowing accolades from wine critics, wine show judges and the public all around the world.

This vertical masterclass offers you the opportunity to delve into the history of this outstanding wine whilst being skilfully guided through each museum sample by Scott Zrna our Chief Winemaker.

We would like to offer you this amazing opportunity to try 6 vintages of Museum Reserve Shiraz, the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Packages are available for pre-purchase, with packs to be picked up on the day of the masterclass.

1. Masterclass ticket & 6-vintage pack (2005 to 2010) Circle: $660 / Non-Circle: $800

2. Masterclass ticket & 3-vintage pack (2005 to 2007) Circle: $350 / Non-Circle: $400

3. Masterclass ticket & 3- vintage pack (2008 to 2010) Circle: $350 / Non-Circle: $400

4. Masterclass ticket & 1 bottle (vintage of your choice, excludes 2008)

Circle: $150 / Non-Circle: $2005. Bring a friend ticket

(limited to one friend and to be purchased with one of the above packages)

Cost: $100

After the masterclass you receive your pre-purchased pack plus you will also have the exclusive opportunity to purchase a limited number of the releases you have tasted.

Book now via www.foxcreekwines.com/museum-reserve-shiraz-masterclass-at-fox-creek-wines/

For those of you who live in other states we plan to film the masterclass and give you the opportunity to purchase a pack. Alternatively, you can use wines from your own cellar so you can have your own masterclass/dinner party with Scott as a virtual guest. Email kristin@foxcreekwines.com if you are interested in receiving this offer.

James Halliday’s Cellaring Selections Halliday Wine Companion Magazine June/July 18

2016 Fox Creek Limited Release McLaren Vale GrenacheRRP $38 / Cellar until 2026 / Score 95 Points

Light, bright purple-red and fresh looking. Fragrant and red-fruited with cranberry, cooked strawberry and redcurrants, some brown spice but clearly free from oak influence. Only 2-8yo puncheons have been used for maturation. More pleasing is the palate with its chalky, refreshing fruit tannins adding positive grip and refreshment to its medium-bodied, red-fruited nature. More of this please.

The Fox Creek Circle Mixed Dozens for Winter 2018 are listed here.

White Dozen

Red Dozen

2016 Red Baron Shiraz2015 Merlot2016 Cabernet Sauvignon2014 Shiraz2016 Postmaster Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre2014 Jim’s Script CS-M-CF-PV2015 JSM Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc 2016 Short Row Shiraz2016 Nero D’Avola 2016 Limited Release Grenache2016 Old Vine Shiraz

Mixed Dozen

Winter 2018 Mixed Dozens

If you require any changes to your mix or would like to add to your order please contact us by Monday 18th June as dispatch will start on Tuesday 19th June.

Those who have ordered single variety dozens for Winter will receive them at the same time. If your credit card has changed or expired please contact us so you don’t miss out.

2016 Chardonnay 2017 Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Vermentino 2017 VerdelhoArctic Fox Grand Cuvée NV2015 Late Harvest Verdelho 375ml

Mail Order $379.00Fox Creek Circle $320.00 (delivered)

Mail Order $294.00Fox Creek Circle $249.00 (delivered)

Mail Order $343.00Fox Creek Circle $290.00 (delivered)

2016 Chardonnay2017 Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Vermentino2017 Verdelho2016 Red Baron Shiraz2015 Merlot2016 Cabernet Sauvignon2016 Postmaster Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre 2015 JSM Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc2016 Limited Release Grenache2016 Old Vine Shiraz

Our Living World Pat Williams and Robyn Bromham

Fox Creek Cellar Door

Thursday 31 May – Wednesday 1 August

Meet the Artists: Sunday 10 June, 2 – 4pm

“When I look in to the eyes of an animal, I do not see an ani-mal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I see a soul.” — AD Williams

This is the philosophy Robyn and Pat follow when portraying animals through their artwork. Pat’s journey in art began in 2003 when she began learning ‘Folk Art’ with fellow artist Ro-byn Bromham. In the last two years Pat has branched out en-joying the challenge of portraiture and seascapes. As a wildlife and animal artist, Robyn tries to connect you personally with the animal through their eyes and expression. Robyn has been painting wildlife for about 7 years now.

Light As A Feather, SALA ExhibitionRebecca Prince

Fox Creek Cellar Door

Friday 3 August – Monday 1 October

Opening: Saturday 4 August, 5 – 7pm

Rebecca Prince is an artist based in the Adelaide Hills working predominantly with watercolours and drawing.

“I have always been fascinated with the way the painting process unfolds. I start with a splash of colour, various brush strokes and flowing lines, but not always with an exact picture of how the painting will look when it’s resolved. As the paint-ing progresses, I begin to recognise shapes; faces, bodies, animals, plants, wings and sometimes strange scenes begin to show through the layers. I pull them out of their colourful depths with my brush and the painting starts to mirror my own inner thoughts, desires, feelings and the ways in which I like to interpret my surroundings.”

This exhibition is dedicated to all the women in my life and even those I’ve never met who have had to endure great pain to get to a lighter place of freedom. Through my paintings I both salute and celebrate you.

Pat Williams

Refer a Friend

If you recommend our Circle club to a friend and they become a member, each of you will receive $50 off your next order of a dozen or more wines. There is no limit to this special reward, so feel free to join up as many friends as you like!

Watercolour Workshop with Rebecca PrinceSunday 23 September, 11am – 1pm

Cost: $70 per person (limit: 12 people)

After a welcome glass of Fox Creek ‘liquid courage’ explore the colourful world of watercolour washes and beautiful ef-fects as Rebecca guides you through a range of techniques to help add vibrancy, spontaneity and stunning textures to your paintings. Learn how to work intuitively with watercolours and loosen up your painting process.

Celebrate afterward with a wine tasting complemented by our delicious platters. The workshop is suitable for absolute beginners to intermediate level participants. Please email georgy@foxcreekwines.com with any enquiries or to book.

Robyn Bromham

Vegan cheese platters now available at Cellar Door

Cellar Door Is now selling vegan cheeses to go with our vegan wine. ‘Milkless Cheese’ offer an artisan crafted selection of dairy free, soy free, vegan friendly cheese alternatives. The range has been uniquely developed to complement an array of wines.

We have 4 varieties available:

– Lime and Black Pepper Coconut cream based with a crumbly texture. A zesty and salty flavoured cheese that literally melts in your mouth (nut free).

– Smokey Hickory Potato based with a cheddar like texture. A perfect smokey and sharp combination and an ideal dairy free alternative to smoked cheddar (nut free).

– Apricot and Almond Coconut cream based with a crumbly texture. This apricot and almond infusion dessert cheese is ideal for those sweet tooths.

– Salted Spinach and Artichoke Cashew based with a creamy texture. A marriage of salty,

sharp and tangy. This crowd pleaser is sure to satisfy those ‘cheesy mouth feels’.

Fox Creek Partners The Adelaide Festival of Ideas

Fox Creek has gleefully accepted an invitation to partner with The Adelaide Festival of Ideas. The Festival began in 1999 and forged the path for ideas festivals in Australia. Speakers and the public come together in a program of presentations, key-note lectures, conversations and panel discussions to address a rich combination of blue-sky thinking and the pressing is-sues of our times. Their purpose is to celebrate the life of the mind, particularly the public value of ideas, thought-leadership and innovation as foundations of civil society, an informed democracy and a robust economy.

They invite thought-provoking speakers from across disci-plines from around the world and mix them in exciting ways: scientists of all kinds, philosophers, social and environmental activists, journalists, former politicians, historians, architects, economists, educationalists, theologians and film makers.

In 2018, over three days and nights in mid-July (12-15), explore the ideas that are shaping our world and adventure into previously unknown territory including space, artificial intelligence, big data, our future cities and health. Based in Adelaide’s East End precinct and mostly free to attend we hope to enjoy a glass of Fox Creek with you at the Festival hub, the newly renovated West Oak Hotel on Hindley Street.

The full program will be released on 20 June. Find it on our website or in the July edition of Adelaide Review.

www.adelaidefestivalofideas.com.au

Fox Creek Wines Pty Ltd

ABN 63 070 468 423

PO Box 321 McLaren Vale

South Australia 5171

Telephone: (08) 8557 0000

Facsimile: (08) 8556 2104

sales@foxcreekwines.com

www. foxcreekwines.com

Foxy News

Winter 2018