NEWS: Industry legend Max Lake dies

Gary W · Post by **Gary W** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:57 pm

http://www.winefront.com.au/news-indust ... lake-dies/

David · Post by **David** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:37 pm

A great man. He changed it all.

Mahmoud Ali · Post by **Mahmoud Ali** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:18 pm

I recall, many years ago, not sure where, hearing about a Dr Max Lake planting a Cabernet vineyard in the Hunter Valley, a place not renowned for its Cabernet. Then, not long after, I think I saw the wines in a specialty wine shop here in Edmonton, Canada. Because it was a specialty wine store it was quite expensive, about C$25-27 at a time when the Grange was $60 so I didn't buy it.

I haven't thought about that bottle I saw so many years ago but hearing about the passing away of Max Lake has revived the memory. Out of curiosity, can anyone confirm for me that the early vintages of Lake's Folly was a hand-written style label, black script on a white background.

On my part I can think of no greater testament to Max lake than to refer to a wine guide called Wine Report 2007 edited by Tom Stevenson in which Serena Sutcliff MW (and head of Sotheby's International Wine Department) lists among her top ten "Most Exciting or Unusual Auction Finds" the 1985 Lake's Folly Cabernet. She writes: "Dredged from our cellar--fascinatingly it had no deposit. Iron-like, mint-leaf nose, with an inimitable strong iron tonic and cocoa taste. Amazingly youthful, with a finish of dark chocolate. And all this on 12.2 degrees of alcohol."

It seems that the spirit of Max Lake will live on in his wines. Salut.

Mahmoud.

KMP · Post by **KMP** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:38 am

This is very sad especially when you consider that his death was accidental.

I never meet the man and only tasted a few of his wines before I came to the US where Lakes Folly is rarely seen. Wine Searcher lists two places. One in Colorado is selling the 1993 Chardonnay for $29USD and a place in Washington. DC is selling the 2004 Chardonnay for $74USD. When you go to the actual wine shop sites neither has any Lakes Folly. Folly indeed!

Jancis Robinson has a nice note on her site about Max Lake and a link to his web site where you can download his autobiography. At 300+ pages its not short and he does tend to ramble a bit but hey, if I can even remember what my life was about at 80+ IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be more than happy.

Mike

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:55 pm

I've never tasted any Lakes Folly wines but Dr Max is surely up there in the pantheon of Aussie wine legends. I've tried other HV wines, generally avoid the region's offerings.

Grey Ghost · Post by **Grey Ghost** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:41 am

Only Len Evans had a greater influence on Australian wines - but Dr Lake ran him lap for lap. He had that huge intellectual capacity ... I would term him a "Renaissance Man" ... an inquiring interest in almost everything.

It is to him I owe my study of Pinot noir - for at a time that it was considered a non-event (this was more than 30 years ago), he challenged my curiosity, dragged me around Hunter vineyards (mostly Tyrrell's) to show me vines, even claiming some were direct descendants of Busby's imports - always asking challenging questions and rarely dictating answers. Very frustrating to a neophyte! I am eternally grateful for his time and his many kindnesses in stimulating a challenge - also that growing grapes could be an intellectual exercise not just a peasant endeavour.

Ave et fale, Max.

GG

WARREN · Post by **WARREN** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:05 am

i only spoke briefly on the phone recently to max but in a few minutes he put me at ease and made me feel that i had known him for years. i was enquiring about some of his books and he was still working on two of what could have been GREAT and now, even though we have many these two last ones will never be a feast for our brains . heres a glass of chardonnay for you max. First and then a galss of cab sav. A toast to what you gave and the drive you with which you gave it. SALUTE!!!!!!

Luke W · Post by **Luke W** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:39 pm

Drank a 1999 White Label cabernets in memory of the great man last night and had the occasional toast. A wine that's still evolving, beautifully elegant with layers of great red berry fruit with a little anis and chocolate. Probably a couple of points higher than the 92 I gave it last time - it also lingered longer.

I like the way that this winery is honest about it's wines and drinking windows. They have always said that many of their reds are all over the place between 3 and 10 years and then seem to get it together. The 1999 has got there.

By the way Daz you'll miss some great wines if you discount the Hunter (think of the old Lindemans private bins, the maurice O'sheas, the Brokenwoods etc)

Cheers

Luke

Luke W · Post by **Luke W** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:39 pm

Drank a 1999 White Label cabernets in memory of the great man last night and had the occasional toast. A wine that's still evolving, beautifully elegant with layers of great red berry fruit with a little anis and chocolate. Probably a couple of points higher than the 92 I gave it last time - it also lingered longer.

I like the way that this winery is honest about it's wines and drinking windows. They have always said that many of their reds are all over the place between 3 and 10 years and then seem to get it together. The 1999 has got there.

By the way Daz you'll miss some great wines if you discount the Hunter (think of the old Lindemans private bins, the maurice O'sheas, the Brokenwoods etc)

Cheers

Luke