Winemaker Notes
The wines of Starvedog Lane are about style an evolutionary new style. Hip and Funky. Slippery. Sensuous. Powerful but fine. One of a kind. This philosophy was conceived in France and created in the Adelaide Hills; yet the wines are neither European nor Australian in style, rather the best of both worlds. The wines have the structure and finesse of Europe's best, complemented by what Australia does best intense fruit flavors and spice.
Starvedog Lane wines are produced from fruit sourced in the Adelaide Hills, which stretches from Clarendon to McLaren Vale and up to Eden Valley. Adelaide Hills is rightfully regarded as one of Australia's premier cool climate grape growing regions.
"Very pale, bright green. Intensely aromatic, penetrating aromas of passionfruit, gooseberry and cassis, complicated by a hint of sweatiness and zesty undertones of minerals and citrus. Vibrant and refreshing, bursting the entire length of its racy palate with pristine, pure varietal fruit tightly wrapped by crystalline acids and lingering mineral flavors. Uncommonly good for Australian sauvignon blanc..."
-International Wine Cellar
Professional Ratings
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
A large, climatically diverse country with incredibly diverse terrain, producing just about every wine style imaginable, Australia has a grand winemaking history and some of the oldest vines on the planet. Both red wine and white wine from Australian are wildly popular and beloved. Most of Australia's wine regions are concentrated in the south of the country with those inland experiencing warm, dry conditions and those in coastal areas receiving tropical, maritime or Mediterranean weather patterns. Australia has for several decades been at the forefront of winemaking technology and has widely adopted the use of screwcaps, even for some premium and ultra-premium bottles. Thanks to the country’s relatively agreeable climate throughout and the openness of its people, experimentation is common and ongoing.
Shiraz is indeed Australia’s most celebrated and widely planted variety; Barossa Valley leads the way, producing exceptionally bold and supple versions. Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia's second most planted variety, can be blended with Shiraz but also shines on its own particularly in Coonawarra and Margaret River. Grenache and Mourvèdre are also popular, both on their own and alongside Shiraz in Rhône Blends. Chardonnay is common throughout the country and made in a wide range of styles. Sauvignon Blanc has recently surged in popularity to compete with New Zealand’s distinctive version and Semillon is often blended in Margaret River or shines on its own in the Hunter Valley. Riesling thrives in the cool-climate Clare and Eden Valleys. Sticky-sweet fortified wine Rutherglen is a beloved regional specialty of Victoria.