Summerfield Wines
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Location: Pyrenees
James Halliday Rating: 5stars
Summerfield is a story in the making, with a history built on local character and a dose of hardship. Summerfield is in the midst of a transformation that has been evolving in the Pyrenees Valley over the past 100 years.
With farming on a continuous downturn during the late 1960's and the planting of vineyards by Taltarni, on land formerly owned by Summerfield, a decision was made by Ian Summerfield to diversify from a traditional farming background into viticulture.
The need to go beyond just grape growing became evident a number of years later and was fulfilled with the '79 vintage conceived in the winery built by Ian and family along with local builders.
Knowledge of winemaking at Summerfield was initially limited. With help from local winemakers including Seppelts 50 year veteran, Leo Hurley; a degree in Oenology by son Craig Summerfield at Roseworthy and the fortuitous meeting by Drew Noon and Ian during the late 80's, the style and substance of Summerfield's wine was changed forever.
Ian is now in the process of handing over winemaking duties to Mark Summerfield whose skills in the winery, and on occasion, in the bush kitchen, are becoming legendary. Ian's passion and talent is for the vine and he manages one of the biggest, and best kept, gardens in the valley.
Mark is fully focused on consistently developing high quality reds of medium to full body (sometimes with reduced volume) whilst continuing to attempt new styles with a portion of each vintage.
Craig Summerfield's extensive sales and marketing experience in addition to a number of years winemaking, supports business growth in both financial and marketing terms from Asia.
These elements combined create a solid family business content on building a history and tradition of its own. Summerfield prides itself on being a family operation with both local and international elements and a concern to service a limited number of customers with consistently outstanding products.
In response to a growing interest in Summerfield Shiraz and Summerfield Cabernet Sauvignon, the family is focused on the production of Red Table Wines that represent the full potential of the Pyrenees.
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2001 Summerfield Shiraz
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| Another vintage, another delight. Deep purple in colour the nose is full of spicy, dark plum characters supported by American oak. Hand picked and open vat fermented the palate opens up with ripe fruit and integrated with good length. Enjoy now through to 2010.
"Full red-purple; the bouquet is rich and dense, but not jammy, with a mix of blackberry, plum and vanilla oak; there is commensurately abundant ripe fruit on the palate, but equally well controlled extract; good balance and length at an appealing price.”
91pts - James Halliday Wine Companion 2004 ed.
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2001 Summerfield Merlot
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| Merlot - a new adventure. This the first full varietal release is rich with sweet plums, molasses and an array of herb supported by vanillin oak aromas. The enticing welcome opens up on the palate where ripe fruit and spice dominate and finish in a well rounded mouth feel that lingers to the end. Here's to a new beginning. Best drinking: 2003-2012
"Full red-purple; the solid bouquet exudes rich, ripe dark fruits, the palate following closely with incredibly rich, ripe, mouth-filing chocolaty fruit; only Australia could produce a wine such as this from merlot.”
James Halliday Wine Companion 2004 ed.
“…Their (Summerfield) Reserve Shiraz is highly regarded, but it's their 2001 Merlot we taste in Masterclass today. An absolute cracker of a wine... Summerfield is very excited about the 2001 - it's all Merlot, adding that “it has extraordinary fruit, and that's one of the most important things in winemaking.” Too true; start with the fantastic fruit and the wine's going to look pretty darn good... This is a full-bodied wine and anyone who is critical of Merlot should grab a bottle, open it, and everything they ever though about Australian Merlot will change with this wine.”
“Wine Masterclass” - Jane Faulkner, The Age Newspaper
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2001 Summerfield Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
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| Some wines are just made for your enjoyment and this is one of them. Beautiful depth of colour verging on black, lifts with rich sweet fruit and oak to fill the nose. The palate is rich with ripe fruit, black currant and spice flavours supported by delicate use of American oak. Beautifully clean the palate is crowned by the length and freshness of the finish. Best drinking: 2003-2012
“Medium to full red-purple; deep blackcurrant/berry fruit on the bouquet, slightly less opulent but more focused than the varietal version; powerful, mouth-coating fruit on the palate, which has exemplary length; the overall extract and tannin management are outstanding.”
94pts James Halliday Wine Companion 2004 ed.
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2002 Summerfield Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
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| From low yielding old vines of original plantings Summerfield's Reserve Cabernet is a luscious example of a great Pyrenees red. Complex fruit characters supported by cinnamon spice, lift the nose. A balanced and well structured palate lingers to the end with a finish to remember. Best drinking: 2004-2016
“Concentrated blackberry/cassis and a touch of chocolate; savoury tannins balance the sweet fruit.”
93pts - James Halliday Wine Companion 2005 ed.
“Intense depth of colour! Lusciously rich cassis, mulberry and wood notes on the nose. A huge wine on the palate with lashings of sweet ripe fruit flavours.“Great potential,” remarked one judge.”
5 STARS – Winestate Magazine: September/October 2004
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2001 Summerfield Reserve Shiraz
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A rich example of a fine wine. Australian fruit, Australian made and distinctly Summerfield in style. Deep purple in colour with rich plum, spice and violets making an expansive welcome. The palate is rich with sweet fruit, soft middle and long powerful finish. A rich example of the style from one of Australia's classic Shiraz growing regions - the Pyrenees of Central Victoria. Best drinking: 2003 –2015
“Inky purple-red; dense, dark, blackberry/black cherry fruit, almost into cassis on the bouquet, then mouthfilling, ripe and luscious fruit, with hints of prune. The alcohol is evident without burning.”
94pts James Halliday Wine Companion 2004 ed.
“Summerfield 2001 Reserve Shiraz was the tasters choice for Shiraz tasted from the main wine growing regions of Australia. The wine was described by various tasters as follows:
“This is an opulent, highly concentrated wine that is more reminiscent of warm-area South Australia in style. Dense blackberry, roasted meat; youthful, deep and fresh,” Otton said. “Very intense blackberry fruit with attractive herbal overtones,” Bulleid said.
I (Huon Hooke) thought it had a touch of regional peppermint, and well-balanced oak, the powerful plum and blackberry fruit standing out. It has marvelous intensity, but avoids heaviness. No doubt it will age beautifully for many years.”
"Australia's Emerging Shiraz Superstars "
Australian Gourmet Traveller – Wine: August/September 2003
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(+ 61 3) 8415 1375 | 
(+ 61 3) 8415 0591
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