The 2009 running of the V-Know Young Guns of wine award saw the strongest field yet and some very exciting wines. The two winners announced on Sunday night were Colin McBryde from Adelina & Some Young Punks and the people’s choice award winner was for the second year in a row Adam Foster from Syrahmi. All finalist however, were worthy entrants and we felt as a group- they represent an exciting future for Australian wine.

This mixed dozen takes one wine made from each of the finalists.

Seppelt, Great Western - Emma Wood
Sometimes it’s easy to start from scratch when making waves as a young winemaker. Emma Wood has certainly had her work cut out for her, following in the hallowed gum boot clad steps of some of Australia’s most famous winemakers at Seppelt in Great Western. She’s come up trumps and, you might argue (we often do!), that she’s making the best wine ever to emerge from the historic site. Vibrant Emma Wood is doing a great job with Seppelt – one of Australia’s most historic wineries.
Seppelt Drumberg Riesling 2008 SHELF PRICE $38

Josef Chromy, Tasmania - Jeremy Dineen
Having seen the grapes from just about every vineyard in Tasmania whilst assisting the legendary contract winemaker Andrew Hood, Dineen has a keener sense of the heart and soul of Tassie wine than most. Pioneering vigneron, Jo Chromy, snapped him up to look after the significant investment he has made at Relbia and Dineen has grabbed El Toro by the proverbial horns. Great sparkling, riesling, sweet riesling, pinot and more.
Josef Chromy Pepik Pinot Noir 2008* SHELF PRICE $20

Delamere, Tasmania - Shayne Holloway
There’s a storm of talent brewing down on the Apple Isle and Shane Holloway has grabbed a valuable advantage, breaking away from the peloton in convincing style. He snapped up the wellestablished Delamere Vineyard and has turned his attention to building on the history he now has in his hands. The quality of the chardonnay and pinot noir he thrust before the judges was show stopping – this man has a vision, with the talent and vineyard to back it up.
Delamere Chardonnay 2008 SHELF PRICE $25

Syrahmi, Heathcote - Adam Foster - 2009 people's choice winner Is there nothing Adam Foster cannot do? Nicknamed L’Imposter by the French, he’s been learning the tricks of syrah in situ and applying all the know-how to his Australian winemaking projects, Syrahmi and Foster e Rocco (in association with Melbourne sommelier, Lincoln Riley). Adam Foster is the reigning 2008 YGOWA People’s Choice champion and when not making wine, he’s looking after all things food and beverage at Daylesford’s Lakehouse.
Foster e Roco Sangiovese 2008 SHELF PRICE $35

Hoddles Creek, Yarra Valley - Franco D'anna
Knee deep in the wine trade since 1963, the D’Anna family (of Boccaccio Cellars fame) started Hoddles Creek Estate in 1997 and then one day they thought… Wait, this sounds like a back label… one day they gave winemaker Franco D’Anna a mandate to make the best quality, best value booze he could and he hasn’t looked back, even adding some innovative, mind-bendingly good stuff like their pinot blanc into the mix. Franco’s got the talent and the family knows what works at the retail coal face. If only there were more like these guys!
Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir 2008 SHELF PRICE $19

Jamsheed, Yarra Valley - Gary Mills
Gary Mills has a decent sized shed up in the Yarra Valley that a few other young guns are making their wine in – it helps pay his bills and thank god he’s got the cash to buy this stunning Great Western shiraz. The fact that he’s chosen shiraz as his hat stand shows determination and commitment to the greater landscape of Australian wine. His Jamsheed label taps into a few Victorian regions and the newie, La Syrah, is a punter’s dream come true.
La Syrah 2008 SHELF PRICE $20

Adelina & Some Young Punks - Colin McBryde - 2009 Young Gun Colin McBryde ain’t your conventional image of a man with PhD. His shaved head and full sleeve tatts are a long way from side parts and lab coats. But when you realise that one of his labels, Some Young Punks, is all about a punk attitude to winemaking you’ll start to piece it all together. Along with partner Jennie Gardiner and her family, he’s deep into old vine Clare Valley with the Adelina project and add Nick Bourke to the mix, along with ephemeral pop art, and you have Some Young Punks. Seriously good booze with seriously good attitude!
Monsters Attack Riesling 2009 SHELF PRICE $23

Ocean Eight, Mornington - Michael Alyward
Mike Aylward is a finalist in the Young Gun of Wine Award and if there was a gong for nicest young chap in Australia, we’d be nominating him for that one too. Aylward’s serious commitment to making great chardonnay and pinot noir is already delivering stunning results from their discreet gravity fed winery with no intention of hosting a cellar door – soooo Burgundian! We hate to use the “C” word (in public) but Mike’s Verve chardonnay is very Chablis-like.
Ocean Eight Verve Chardonnay 2008 SHELF PRICE $35

Mac Forbes, Yarra Valley - Mac Forbes
Mac Forbes first donned the overalls in France at 19 years of age where he worked vintage, then he did the Roseworthy winemaking thing, spent some time at iconic Yarra Valley winery Mount Mary and now he’s making booze up in the Yarra with convincing retro-modern attitude. He’s bringing on his old world experience and making some wine in Austria, where he built a following as a savvy young consultant. Mac’s wines are edgy and demanding and they are wines to really respect – he cuts no corners and takes no prisoners!
Mac Forbes Woori Yallock Chardonnay 2008 SHELF PRICE $40

Crittenden Estate, Mornington - Rollo Crittenden
Being a second-generation Aussie winemaker ain’t always the easiest of challenges, especially when your old man is Garry Crittenden, one of the pioneers of the Mornington Peninsula and Italian varietals from further afield. Well, we dip the felt Fedora to you Rollo, you’ve delivered some very exciting booze in the last couple of years, especially the Los Hermanos duo of tempranillo and albariño-that’s-not-reallyalbariño. (We’ll let you explain that one mate!).
Los Hermanos Tempranillo 2008 SHELF PRICE $30

All Saints, Rutherglen - Dan Crane
Dan Crane is an Englishman who cut his wine industry teeth at the Oddbins chain in the UK. So what the hell is he doing in Rutherglen? Chasing the cold weather? Well, following a bit of study at Roseworthy, he’s decided to get knee-deep in old school Australia and be among the chosen few who steer fortifieds back to respectability and get some seriously good table wine happening too. The latest Brown dynasty, Eliza, Angela and Nick Brown, complete the nu skool picture.
All Saints Sangiovese Cabernet 2006* SHELF PRICE $20

Heemskerk, Tasmania - Anna Pooley
Anna Pooley is one small cog in the very very big wheel of Fosters and she’s managed to make more interesting wine than most of the rest of her comrades put together (with the exception of Emma Wood!). It might be because she’s hiding out down in Tassie and quietly working away on cool, exotic riesling, steely, powerful chardonnay and seriously impressivev pinot noir. There’s no doubt that Tasmania’s terroir and some young talent makes a potent combination.
Heemskerk Pinot Noir 2007* SHELF PRICE $55