Matthew Jukes – launch of 100 Best Australian Wines 2016/17

 Matthew Jukes

Tuesday afternoon (3rd May 2016) saw the press launch of Matthew Jukes' the thirteenth edition of Matthew's 100 Best Australian Wines – 2016/2017 – at Australia House. 

My favourite label: Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch 

– Shiraz, Victoria, Fowles Wines  

The top ten wineries in numbers of wines featured over the last 13 years:  

1.  Yalumba
2.  Penfolds
3.  McWilliams/Mount Pleasant
4.  De Bortoli 
5.  Jim Barry
6.  Peter Lehmann
7.  The Lane Vineyard 
8.  Wirra Wirra
9.  St Hallet
10: Cullen  

The U.K.'s Top Wine Influencers as measured by @WineOwners: in @Number 2!!?

The Top 10 UK Wine Influencers

Scores of the Top 14 influencers  

Over the weekend Nick Martin did tell me that I had done very well in their new UK influence measure but I was astonished but, of course, pleased to see that I was second in their list. No surprise that Team Jancis takes top spot but I would have thought that people, for instance, like Jamie Goode, Fiona Beckett, Tim Atkin, Victoria Moore, Matthew Jukes and William Lyons would be measured as having more influence than myself and my blogs – Jim's Loire and investdrinks.

    

Teen Rescue Foundation: please show your support and join

News of an excellent new initiative in Australia involving wine writer Tyson Stelzer:

'Every week in Australia, one teenager between the ages of 14 and 17 dies as a result of alcohol abuse. Rates of drinking at harmful levels among 12-17 year olds have doubled in the past two decades. One in twenty 12-15 year olds engages in regular binge drinking, one in four 16-17 year olds and almost one in two 18-19 year olds. One in two Australian teenagers who get drunk do something they regret. The alcohol problem costs our country $7 billion a year.

The statistics are alarming. But they are turning around. The latest research reveals a remarkable trend: for the first time in decades, rates of underage alcohol abuse are on the decline. Years of work are paying off. The initiatives are working.

Every year across Australia, teams of thousands of organised volunteers are active day and night in schoolies weeks, university o-week parties, camps, music festivals and sporting events, actively looking out for young people, encouraging them to be responsible and picking up the pieces when they’re not. Habits are changing. Young lives are being saved.

In hundreds of schools across Australia every year, experts are presenting the truth about the dangers of underage alcohol abuse to thousands of teenagers and their parents.

The urgency of this vital work is rising, and more and more volunteers are stepping forward to the front line. Organisations like Red Frogs and Scripture Union are expanding their programs.

More resources are needed to train and resource these and other such important operations.

In May 2011, wine writer Tyson Stelzer approached Red Frogs CEO Andy Gourley and Scripture Union CEO Peter James with an ambitious proposal to raise significant funds to resource this crucial work across Australia. Three-and-a-half years of complex legal and financial work later, Teen Rescue Foundation Limited is officially ready to resource the work of combating teen alcohol abuse in Australia.'

Read more here.

Matthew Jukes: Tweet' Whatever you do today make sure you look at @TysonStelzer new initiative on teen alcohol abuse - incredible work. http://teenrescuefoundation.org.au'

Do please do take a look and show your support by joining – it's free. Then spread the word.

http://teenrescuefoundation.org.au/

Matthew Jukes curator of 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates

Matthew Jukes: Quintesstially's 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates

Matthew's Quintesstially's 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates was published by Quintesstentially Publishing at the end of 2012 priced at £30. 

Naturally Matthew's selection spans the entire wine world: from California to Australia and New Zealand by way of Europe and South Africa.

Matthew Jukes tasting

From the introduction:

'The wine world is ever changing, but these estates can be relied upon to make stellar wines year in, year out – they are the shimmering bedrock of the wine world. Showcasing an incredible array of grape varieties, regions and countries, with hypnotic aromas and devastating flavours there are sublime creations on every page. All are unique, celebrating their exact position on our planet and fashioning delicious wines which entrance our senses. A fair few of the pioneers mentioned within these covers have changed the paradigm of winemaking in their sphere. There are wines here that don't cost the earth and that bring great joy; nestling comfortably next to those whose rarity and cost are truly breath-taking. These are also all wines that I would love to have in my own collection; forming the most complete and balanced cellar that I can design.'  

     Bernard and Matthieu Baudry, Domaine Bernard Baudry

There are five Loire estates selected: Bernard Baudry, Filliatreau, Huet, Jacky and Jean-Philippe Blot, and François Cotat. 

 Frédéric Filliatreau testing Cabernet Franc during 2011 vintage@Brézé

 Noël Pinguet, Domaine Huet during the 2010 vendange   

Jacky Blot in Bourgueil@La Butte

Domaine François Cotat – 'closed'  

On Huet, Matthew comments: 'Until recently the estate was run by Gaston's son-in-law Noël Pinguet and with the security of substantial investment it looks set to cruise into the next generation, with winemaking controlled by local lad Benjamin Joliveau and long time cellar-master Jean-Bernard Berthomé.'

I trust that Matthew's optimism is well placed here but given the nature of Noël's departure in February 2012 questions for the moment hang in the air.   

  

Matthew Jukes: Wine Rules, Melbourne 21st November

 

Homeless in London@outside a tube station 

If you happen to be in Melbourne (Australia) this Sunday, go along to Wine Rules held in Albert Park and help to raise money for the homeless

The excellent initiative is the brain child of wine writer Matthew Jukes, who started a similar initiative in Adelaide in 2005. It's an opportunity to taste the local wine, while watching teams from the wineries playing touch rugby.   

From Wine Rules site:

'Matthew Jukes - brings Wine Rules to Victoria

My passion for Aussie wine is unquantifiable – Australia is quite simply the most exciting winemaking country in the world and I believe that the wines are the finest value on the planet.

I often feel that I owe Australia a great debt of gratitude for welcoming me into its great winey heart so enthusiastically. And one morning in Adelaide I figured out exactly what I could do to make a difference. I found by walking around the city, that there was a disproportionately large number of homeless people sleeping rough. This, I discovered, was true of other Aussie cities. I have always felt that homelessness is one of society's biggest single issues and in Australia, with its beautiful people and seemingly wonderful healthy lifestyle, homelessness seemed to me even more unforgivable.

I came up with the idea of a wine-tasting event, with winery sponsored footy teams going head-to-head. That was in 2005 and Touch Wine in Adelaide has raised significant funds for Hutt Street and the wine trade has taken this initiative to heart. Now we are bringing this to Melbourne.'

For more information see www.winerules.com.au.

List of wineries pouring wines on 21st.