The Auswine Forum

Hey folks,

Did anybody notice? The NOON winery is not listed in Halliday's 2008 Companion.

It's not in 2009 either. If the winery doesn't send samples they drop off the list.

Sorry, I meant 2009. But there are other wineries that did not send samples but are listed based on previous years' tastings. I would imagine Halliday must have tasted some NOONs.

ufo wrote:Sorry, I meant 2009. But there are other wineries that did not send samples but are listed based on previous years' tastings. I would imagine Halliday must have tasted some NOONs.

They aren't in 2008 either, so no prior year samples. Last entry was in 2007 and no samples, so NR rating, also no samples/NR in 2006, 2005 and 2004, so I guess they finally dropped off.

You can understand Drew not sending out samples, especially of the current vintage, there is very little to sell let alone give away.

I can understand all that. But how good or wise is it to leave an iconic winery like Noon out. He could at least right some general comments about it and the wines.

ufo wrote:I can understand all that. But how good or wise is it to leave an iconic winery like Noon out. He could at least right some general comments about it and the wines.

He did for at least 4 years. The book size is at the maximum, there are too many newcomers to fit in. He's probably not on the mailing list either.

There isn't any compelling reason to list a small producer that doesn't send out samples and where you have to wait for someone to die before you can get on the waiting list for the mailing list.

The only Noon entries on Oliver are for the 2000 vintage.

Appropriately I think, the most reviews/information are on Wine Front and TORBwine.

Those who are interested in those sort of wines will know about them, find the website etc.

Greenock Creek doesn't appear either or on the web site.

Noon does appear on the Wine Companion site, with the most recent vintage reviewed being 99. With most scores for wines reviewed being in the mid 80's, it's clear the style doesn't suit JH.

This TN for the 98 Cabernet:
"Dense, deep purple; the bouquet is very ripe, with a hint of aldehydes and earthy overtones. A huge wine on the palate, dauntingly extractive. A good drink for a sumo wrestler.
Rating 82 Drink 2013 Date Tasted Nov 99"

Eight of us tried a bottle of this last Saturday with Italian-style food and we thought it was a brilliant wine, the tannins are still quite firm (but fine), and the fruit is good enough to cope and the 15.5% a/v not standing out at all. It will happily cellar another 10 years if you like a more mature wine.

Each to his own I guess, but I can't see why a distinctive niche winery would continue to send samples to someone who just doesn't like their wines.

Red Bigot wrote:Greenock Creek doesn't appear either or on the web site.

Noon does appear on the Wine Companion site, with the most recent vintage reviewed being 99. With most scores for wines reviewed being in the mid 80's, it's clear the style doesn't suit JH.

This TN for the 98 Cabernet:
"Dense, deep purple; the bouquet is very ripe, with a hint of aldehydes and earthy overtones. A huge wine on the palate, dauntingly extractive. A good drink for a sumo wrestler.
Rating 82 Drink 2013 Date Tasted Nov 99"

Eight of us tried a bottle of this last Saturday with Italian-style food and we thought it was a brilliant wine, the tannins are still quite firm (but fine), and the fruit is good enough to cope and the 15.5% a/v not standing out at all. It will happily cellar another 10 years if you like a more mature wine.

Each to his own I guess, but I can't see why a distinctive niche winery would continue to send samples to someone who just doesn't like their wines.

Thanks I didn't know any of that.

Don't know if I've made it to their normal mailing list, but recently got a newsletter offering me some wine!
A personal approach with no demands or expectations does sometimes work! Of their wines I have tried, have found the older ones (10+ years) suit my palate much more - I reckon they demand substantial cellaring.

Just out of interest, do Wendouree still appear? I'm pretty sure they haven't sent samples to Halliday for a long time either.

Nayan wrote:Just out of interest, do Wendouree still appear? I'm pretty sure they haven't sent samples to Halliday for a long time either.

Yes, the 2005 Shiraz, Shiraz-Mataro and Cabernet Malbec appear in the 2009 Companion.

This appeared in the weekly e-mail letter for Wine Business Magazine (August 2008 ) (Thanks Grant)

Letter to the Editor

Reading TWTW last week I was surprised to see us mentioned for not being listed in the 2009 Wine Companion. You also wrote that it’s “unforgivable” that some winemakers choose not to send Halliday samples. We don’t think it’s so unforgivable because we simply don’t think he likes our style of wine. To continue to send someone something you think they do not particularly appreciate, is just silly. I don’t know whether other winemakers feel the same way, but maybe that’s why some have chosen not to submit samples. We respect Halliday’s experience, however, and enjoy his books immensely. We did not request not to be listed in the Companion; they must have just decided to leave us out this time. Each year for many years we have completed Halliday’s response form for the Companion, including a newsletter for price list information as requested and up until the edition before last, we were listed but not rated. Our new status of non-existence from the listing or on the map must be due to space constraints as the popularity of the Companion grows.
Not sending samples was our choice, reinforced in recent years because Halliday has said that, generally, he does not like wines over 15% in alcohol and we regularly produce wines over 15%. It sounded to us like he has drawn a line in the sand—balanced or not, 15% was the limit. We don’t set out to make wines over 15% for the sake of it. Our terroir determines our style, often over 15% in alcohol, just like in Priorat or Chateauneuf. We respect Halliday’s preference for lighter-medium bodied wines (in general) but as a small winery we must consider what is best for our brand. Indeed, we often enjoy nothing more than a Tasmanian Pinot or elegant Burgundy, but why would one want to send someone a wine that you really don’t think they will enjoy? It’s like inviting someone to dinner and cooking Indian when you know they don’t like chilli. And then they tell everybody that it was a well-constructed meal, quite authentic but not really to their taste and score it 85 points. Continuing down that path is either silly or just plain sadistic. Even though we chose not to send samples we will continue to complete the Companion response form in the future (should we receive it) and let Mr Halliday know that he would be made welcome to visit us when next in McLaren Vale. Thanks for an entertaining read. —Raegan and Drew Noon, Noon Winery.

James has made it clear for several years now that if you do not submit samples you may be dropped.

Giaconda was not in the 2008 Wine Companion (unless I have forgotten how to spell) after being included in the 2006 (with five stars) and 2007 (with no rating) without any reviews. It was included in the 2009 book with a review of the Shiraz and was given 5 stars (the good ones in red!). Therefore doesn't seem like it is a decision based on his opinion of the winery.

He also included Mike Press Wines in the 2009 Wine Companion without including any reviews. I may be giving him to much credit but I figured he may have thought somebody like Mike Press Wines benefits more from being seen in his book than wineries with cult status like Noon Winery (who already benefits from having wines rated 99 by Robert Parker) and Giaconda.

Domaine Epis is another example - removed in 2008 - the 2009 book includes it as one of the ten dark horses in 2009, giving it 5 stars and noting that they hadn't provided samples for two editions.

My 2 cents worth - I for one want to read about Noon, Wendouree and Giaconda etc. As such when i buy the book I expect (as the pre emminent wine scribe in Aus) him to critique them. I don't care that he doesn't have a prefference for them or that they choose not to voluntarily send them in for tasting. IMO he should go out of his way to buy them. After all these wineries get alot more exposure in the Aus wine world than alot of the lesser ones no one has heard of in this book.

On a positive note I have been reading his 1985 edition of the wine compendium and it is a very enjoyable/informative read.