Pygmy Hill Estate (Vignerons Licence No. 24011788) - A vineyard with soul. Named in memory of our son and brother, Andrew "Pygmy" Brazenor. All our wines are made from hand picked grapes, rich with distinct fruit driven flavours, created by the Southern Highlands' cool climate and the unique rainshadow area of Canyonleigh. The Estate was first planted with Chardonnay vines in 1996, and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1997. The first vintage in 1999 produced 540 bottles of Chardonnay and 400 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon; both wines showed intense fruit flavour. The vines have since matured and continue to produce high quality cool climate wines under the Pygmy Hill label. The Canyonleigh vineyard has no problem ripening fruit. The flinty soil and extremely low rain fall produce consistently full flavoured fruit with very little disease. Slashing between rows is only needed twice a year, mid season and the day before harvest. Each year fruit is hand picked by friends and neighbours, followed by a large celebration with food, wine and cleansing ales. The grapes are transported to Mundrakoona Estate' where winemaker Anton Balog turns them into fabulous Pygmy Hill wines. This year on the 20th March 05, with 51 adult pickers and 25 children - ten of them direct line grandchildren, there was a real cause for celebration. On a clear sunny day in the low 20's we picked 6.7 tonne of Chardonnay.
TASTING NOTES: PYGMY HILL CHARDONNAY 2001 12.8% alcohol T/A:6.6g pH 3.55 RS 2.5g/l Oak maturation; 3 months in 100% New French Oak-Bossuet, Sirouge, and Seguin Moreau barriques with lees stirring. Made in a complex Burgundian Style. A deep golden wine with an intense green hue. The wine has excellent acidity and length. The nose is very comples, having both fruit derived citrus, lime and almond aroma, which combine with buttery, toasty winemaking characters. This wine will benefit greatly from careful, extended cellaring. Cellaring Potential: 2008. $22/bottle PYGMY HILL CHARDONNAY 2002 12.8% alcohol T/A 7.0g pH3.50 RS 4.5g/l Oak maturation; 6 weeks Barrel fermentation 100% New French Oak- Sirouge. A deep golden wine with an intense green hue. The wine has excellent acidity and length. The nose is very complex, having fruit derived citrus, lime and nectarine aroma, which combine with buttery toasty winemaking characters. This wine will benefit greatly from careful, extended cellaring. Cellaring Potential: 2006. $20/bottle PYGMY HILL CHARDONNAY 2003 12.8% alcohol T/A 5.0g pH 3.55 RS 8.5g/l Unwooded. A light straw/golden coloured wine. The wine has excellent acidity and length. The complex wine exhibits apple, lime, butterscotch and almond aromas. This wine is drinking well now and will benefit with a couple of years of bottle maturation. Cellaring potential: 2006. $19/bottle PYGMY HILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 13.5% T/A 6.8g pH 3.55 RS 1.5g/l Oak maturation: 12 months in 70% New, 30% 2nd year French Oak - Bossuet and Sirouge; made in a complex Bordeaux Style A deep rich red wine. The wine has excellent acidity and length. The tannins are finely balanced, having graiiny and fine mouth feel. The nose is lifted with intense blackberry and cherry characters combined with earthy, green, leathery complexity. A wine which will benefit greatly from extended cellaring. Cellaring potential: 2010. $25/bottle PYGMY HILL ESTATE WINES CAN BE ORDERED DIRECT FROM THE VINEYARD - CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION