Sons of Eden, wines of the month
Australian winemaker Corey Ryan is no stranger to New Zealand. He was at the helm of Villa Maria Estates (along with Kiwi Alistair Maling) for several years before heading back to his home in South Australia for family reasons - and for wine reasons.
The wine reasons were so that he could focus on the brand that he and his viticulturist friend, Simon Cowham, began, namely, Sons of Eden.
These two Barossa born wine pros learnt the tools of the wine trade in the Barossa and Eden Valleys, north of Adelaide in South Australia. This is where the brand name Sons of Eden came from.
Their first wines were made in 2000 from a miniscule 25 tonnes of grapes. This has now grown to over 10,000 cases of wine annual, which are made at their winery at Light Pass.
Corey visited New Zealand this month to launch the new Sons of Eden wines, including a medium bodied, fresh, young Riesling with great aging potential right through to big bold Aussie reds with body to burn.
We stock these wines at Regional.
Click the wines to buy them - or come into the store.
Here are my top three.
2018 Sons of Eden Cirrus Riesling $56.99
Altitude Riesling made with grapes grown at 520 metres altitude in the crisp cool air of the Eden Valley. This is the third vintage of this wine, which is bone dry and made using wild yeasts, without solids, to create a pure expression of Riesling.
2017 Sons of Eden Marschall Shiraz $31.99
Very good step up Shiraz made with 100% Barossa Valley grapes; deep colour, rich fruit forward flavours with great balancing acidity, moderate smooth tannins and a long finish. Tasty.
2017 Sons of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz $47.99
A blend of grapes grown in both the Barossa Valley and the Eden Valley; this is serious stuff from its deep purple colour to its refreshing high acidity which balances the bold fruit, spice and savoury notes in the wine.
Drinks beautifully now - and definitely has aging potential for the long term; 10 years plus.
We also tasted the new Sons of Eden Romulus and Remus Shiraz; each one made, respectively, from grapes grown 100% in the Barossa and Eden Valleys.
Watch this space for their arrival in months to come.