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The Songlines Estate Dinner

As one of the Spectator Magazine’s six wine partners, Private Cellar was very pleased to team up with our Australian suppliers Songlines Estates, The Spectator and the Bleeding Heart on 17th June 2009 to host a winemaker dinner for Spectator readers in the lovely surroundings of the Crypt of St Ethelreda’s in London’s Ely Place...

It was a great honour to have the stellar team from the Songlines Estate on hand at the dinner, to talk about their wines with Director, Martin Krajewski, setting the scene for the evening introducing the philosophy behind and the dreams for the estate before winemakers David Fatches and John Duval spoke brilliantly about the wines, really showing their enthusiasm in their pursuit of excellence.

 

The true stars of the show, however – apologies to Martin, David and John! – were the wines. The 100 or so guests sipped a glass of Château de Sours Sparkling Rosé (Martin’s Bordeaux property) on arrival and were then treated to the two whites from the estate: Bylines Semillon and Bylines Chardonnay both of which were delicious. David told us how he expects the Sémillon to evolve over the next five years or so but we like it now for its youthful, unadulterated freshness and wonder if we’ll have any left in five years! The Chardonnay was rich, full and New World in style but surprisingly bright and fresh too, thanks to the three methods of vinification which David employs. Delicious.

 

With slow-roasted fillet of beef, we then tasted two reds from the estate: Leylines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007 and Bylines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005, the dark cherry characteristics really complementing the beef and with both wines showing a marked difference in style, despite being from the same grape variety; the former being more open and approachable with the Bylines tighter yet richer and deeper than its younger brother.

 

And finally, the jewel in the crown: three vintages of the Estate’s top wine Songlines 2006, 2005 and 2004, which created a real buzz of conversation around the room. The wines showed brilliantly and really show what this superb estate is capable of. No wonder top wine critic Steven Spurrier once dubbed it “The Latour of McLaren Vale”.

 

Please click here for more information and to order the Leylines and Bylines wines. For the coveted Songlines, please see our Fine Wine List.