New Wave Australian Winemaking From Some Young Punks
Something exciting is happening Down Under. Australia’s new wave of artisan winemakers is sweeping aside the old guard and changing how we think about Australian wine.
And right at the heart of the movement is Some Young Punks. University friends Col McBryde, Jen Gardner and Nic Bourke got together with one aim: to make exceptional wine with small estate charm and a tongue in cheek attitude. They started out in 2005 with miniscule production, but since then have expanded their portfolio and grown a large and devoted cult following, while never straying from their garagiste routes. These guys are definitely ones to watch and we’re really excited to be introducing them to the UK.
With names like Naked on Roller Skates, Passion Has Red Lips and Quickie, the wines’ boisterous labels have been inspired by Nic Bourke’s collection of mid-20th century pulp fiction. And they demand attention!
But despite the healthy dose of irreverence these labels might suggest, Some Young Punks are serious about wine. With two PhDs between them and a single-minded philosophy, the trio know what they’re doing. They only use hand-picked fruit from a small group of carefully-selected growers in the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. Production is small-scale using wild ferments, whole bunch pressing and gentle extraction to retain the wines’ signature vibrancy.
Naked On Roller Skates 2015
90% Shiraz, 10% Mataro
A delicious wine packed full of plush yet elegant fruit, lots of lively spice and hints of cocoa. It demands to be drunk!
Passion Has Red Lips 2014
70% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet
The varietal pairing that made Australia zing is back with a vengeance. Sourced from eight vineyards in McLaren Vale, aged between 9 and 27 years, the wine shows its coastal proximity in the glass. Bold red fruits and subtle spice are complemented by well-balanced acidity. Moreish and long, it will delight red wine drinkers.
VineMind
Some Young Punks’ more experimental cousin VineMind is Colin and Jen’s latest production, made with 100% Clare Valley fruit. The 2015 VineMind Riesling is inspired by the wines of Rheinhessen. The wine rests in concrete after production, to encourage a calcite and textured back palate, which is finished with a lick of lemon zest. A 2014 Shiraz Malbec offers fresh sinewy fruit, and a cool menthol palate.