![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thegrufiles.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/HHW-logo_Plus-ADHills_300dpi-300x159.jpg\" "\\"HHW"){kind=logo}
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This is such an exciting time of the year! All the white grapes \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including the Gruner Veltliner \u00e2\u20ac\u201c have been harvested, and are quietly fermenting away. Even at this early stage, each new wine is slowly starting to reveal its beautiful secrets and complexities and one can only marvel at the magical transformation that is taking place under the bubbling activity of the fermenting yeasts.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcGRU\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Gruner Veltliner 2012 is already looking amazing with each of the various fermentations showing different qualities that will add excitement and complexity to the final blend. I just wish I could leap ahead in time and catch a glimpse of what the final GRU \u00e2\u20ac\u212212 will be like – but patience is the keyword right now and so, for this blog entry, I will divert my attention to that other great Austrian grape variety, Blaufrankisch.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thegrufiles.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Optimized-The-cellar-door-at-Hahndorf-Hill-peeping-through-the-trees-in-early-summer-1.jpg\" "\\"Optimized-The")
<\/a>Blaufrankisch vineyard at Hahndorf Hill<\/p><\/div>\n
The Blaufrankisch vines at Hahndorf Hill were planted 20 years ago and are now producing extremely rewarding wines that compare very favourably to their parent Blaufrankisch vines that are rooted in their native Austria. Hahndorf Hill is the first and currently the only producer of this variety in Australia, although this is due to change in the next few years with significant interest being focussed on this variety in cool-climate wine regions across Australia.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Hahndorf Hill 'Blueblood' Blaufrankisch 2010<\/p><\/div>\n
It was extremely gratifying to note that James Halliday selected Blaufrankisch as his favourite new variety in his March 7th<\/sup>\u00c2\u00a0 2012, Wine Companion newsletter. He awarded a stunning 95 points<\/strong> to the Hahndorf Hill \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcBlueblood\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Blaufrankisch 2010 together with the following comment:<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The clear colour and highly fragrant bouquet of this highly regarded and widely planted Austrian grape introduces a totally delicious, supple, medium-bodied palate with a Joseph’s coat array of flavours ranging from cedar and tobacco through to a silky red cherry finish.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n Accolades for previous vintages of HHW \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcBlueblood\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Blaufrankisch include:<\/p>\n Trophy \/ Top of Class \/ Gold Medal \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Australian Boutique Wine Awards 2011<\/p>\n Gold Medal – AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge, Austria 2011<\/p>\n Top 100 Wines, The Advertiser, 2011<\/p>\n Hot 100 Wines, The Adelaide Review, 2011<\/p>\n Trophy \/ Top of Class \/ Gold Medal \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Australian Boutique Wine Awards 2010<\/p>\n Gold Medal \u00e2\u20ac\u201c International Cool Climate Wine Show 2010<\/p>\n The HHW \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcBlueblood\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Blaufrankisch 2010 is due to be released in early April and allocations will be available from the cellar door on a first come, first served basis. For more information about our vibrant wines, please go to http:\/\/bit.ly\/n9iPAL<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is such an exciting time of the year! All the white grapes \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including the Gruner Veltliner \u00e2\u20ac\u201c have been harvested, and are quietly fermenting away. Even at this early stage, each new wine is slowly starting to reveal … Continue reading