ABC Radio Central West visited FREEMAN Vineyards recently and reporter Tim Fookes talked to winemaker Brian Freeman about the NSW Hilltops potential for Italian red grape varieties like Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. The flagship FREEMAN Secco is made from Australia’s only plantings of corvina and rondinella grapes. They also discussed how to best viticulturally manage a definitive drought year.
Listen in…
More bling…
The NSW Wine Awards 2018 have announced the Top 50 Wines in advance of the annual event celebrating the very best wines from the state.
And in the GOLD MEDAL winner roll-call is FREEMAN Secco Rondinella Corvina 2014. This is the third time the FREEMAN Secco has performed admirably in the NSW Awards’ Mature Dry Red Class, so it’s fingers crossed for a trifecta trophy…
Freeman Secco 2014
Better than Saturday night at the movies…
The recently announced HILLTOPS WINE SHOW 2018 Awards made for a big night out for FREEMAN Vineyards.
FREEMAN received three Trophies
What’s more the 2018 HILLTOPS WINE OF THE YEAR was awarded to the Calabria Cool Climate Shiraz 2016 the grapes for which came from the FREEMAN estate.
Hilltops Inc President Peter Creyke congratulates Brian Freeman.
Exciting start to 2018. Robert Parker Wine Advocate has just published review of #FREEMAN visit by Joe Czerwinski.
And we thank him for making the #NSWHilltops detour….
‘In short, these are some of the most compelling Italianate wines I’ve ever tasted from the New World.’
‘One of the most interesting places I’ve visited in some time.’
#FREEMANRobusta2012 : 94 POINTS
#FREEMANSecco2013 : 93 POINTS
‘Finishes long and velvety, with the concentration to support aging through at least 2025.’
#FREEMANSangiovese2016 : 91 POINTS
‘Simply one of the most convincing New World Sangioveses I’ve tried...’
#FREEMANCoronaRed2016 : 91 POINTS
#FREEMANDolcino2013 : 91 POINTS
#FREEMANFortunaPinotGrisPlus2013 : 90 POINTS
#FREEMANRondoRosé2016 : 90 POINTS
#FREEMANCoronaWhite2017: 88 POINTS
‘Charming and easy to drink, then finishes with a bright burst of lime-like acidity.’
Good start to the New Year for the NSW Hilltops region featuring in the current issue of the HALLIDAY Magazine.
Fergal Gleeson has explored the region and highlighted his ‘Top Pick’ wines to try.
They include FREEMAN Robusta ‘an epic wine’, FREEMAN Secco Rondinella Corvina, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and the FREEMAN Rondo Rosé 2017.
Read all about it here – Hilltops .
Then head to the NSW Hilltops but please be sure to call ahead and make an appointment: 0429 310 309
‘Pound for pound right up there with best value/best rosé from Australia (or anywhere ?!)’
MIKE BENNIE, WINEFRONT 94 POINTS
Good start to the New Year for FREEMAN Rondo Rosé 2017 !
Bennie adds:
‘Lovely, pretty perfume with just a hint of candied sweetness amongst watermelon, red cherry, savoury spice. Delicious flavours, straight up, a melange of cherry, cranberry, sweet and sourness in perfect measure, a lick of spice and tangy freshness to close. Loads of character and freshness. This is great. ‘
And the plaudits continue…
Herald Sun wine writer Tony Love had this to say about trophy-winning FREEMAN Sangiovese 2016.
‘This drop strikes an impressive earthy savouriness meshed with classic dark cherry and dried herbs, the profile building while balancing well as you sip and sip and sip — yep it’s that kind of more-ish gastronomic style that gained it the trophy for best Italian varietal at the 2017 Hilltops Show.’
FREEMAN Sangiovese 2016 keeps turning heads – and palates. The Italian Varietal Trophy Winner at the Hilltops Wine Show 2017 has worked its charms on Winefront’s Campbell Mattinson who scored it 93 POINTS and wrote:
‘It’s distinctive. The cherried flavours have an overt sweetness…we have spice, licorice, molasses and coffee ground notes…There’s tannin, refreshing acidity and a long drawn out aspect to the finish; it spreads and runs at the business end of the wine, always a good sign, and it does it here in dry style. It’s very good. It’s easy to see what had the show judges excited.’
‘The best yet’ says Peter Bourne in GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE. ‘Dense in colour and flavour with perfumes of dried sour cherries and ripe damson plums lifted by dried herbs…Has the depth and length to reward a decade in the cellar.’
So if you haven’t poured all yours yet – lay it down!
The NSW Hilltops reputation as Australia’s ‘Little Italy’ took another step forward at the 2017 Hilltops Wine Show, with the announcement that the relative newcomer FREEMAN Sangiovese 2016 won the Best Italian Varietals Trophy, and a Gold Medal.
FREEMAN Sangiovese had what might best be described as an accidental start. One clone planted in the estate Altura Vineyard never matched the surrounding Nebbiolo vines, a viticultural anomaly that was ultimately determined by DNA testing. The rogue vines were in fact Sangiovese. Since then more Sangiovese has been propagated, significantly adding another Italian origin varietal wine to the FREEMAN range.
‘There is no doubt the Hilltops terroir is ideally suited to Italian origin grape varieties. With every vintage we are seeing even greater quality as the vines mature, which gives me terrific confidence for the future,’ commented winemaker Brian Freeman.
‘This award highlights my optimism and belief that the NSW Hilltops will one day produce red wines that rival the Italian wines of Tuscany and Valpolicella.’
FREEMAN Dolcino 2013 won the Trophy for Best White Wine at the same show.
