THE AUSTRALIAN ARK – Federation to the Modern Era | 1900–1982
but sales were slim pickings, and the family survived primarily on its butchery business. Those 1912 shiraz plantings later became known as the Old Block Vineyard. When the 1980 St Hallett Old Block Shiraz was first released, made by Robert O’Callaghan, it spearheaded the Barossa’s old-vine narrative and offered consumers a new perspective on Australian fine wine.
1944 MOUNT PLEASANT MOUNT HENRY LIGHT DRY RED Hunter Valley, New South Wales
This is a remarkable wine displaying beautiful lanolin, earthy volcanic, chocolaty aromas and flavours, slinky textures, underlying roasted chestnut, walnut notes and beautiful mineral length. A standout Australian wine that really has stood the test of time. It was tasted at Yalumba’s Caley release in 2017. Nick Ryan, wine writer for The Australian , wrote, ‘The wine in question is the 1944 Mount Pleasant Mount Henry Light Dry Red and it was the wine of the night, for many reasons, in a field featuring a brace of Burgs, 82 Trotanoy, and 85 Latour, a couple of early 1960s Mildara Cabernet Shiraz blends from James Halliday’s cellar, and a very good bottle of the 1967 Penfolds Bin 7.’
. . . In the Yarra Valley, the 523-acre St Huberts Homestead and farm, previously planted with vineyards, was purchased by the Church of England’s Boys Society. Although all of the vines had been pulled up many years before, many of the original winery buildings remained intact. An article titled ‘Historic Lilydale Vineyards’ in The Age , 8th of December 1945, reported: ‘These buildings have long been a distinctive feature of the Lilydale district and are a reminder of the prosperous pioneer vineyard industry, which in the middle of the last century was one of our most valuable enterprises’. The foundation of a new Farm School for boys in the Yarra Valley followed a similar project established in 1933 by the Roman Catholic Franciscan brothers in the Mornington Peninsula, the Morning Star Training Farm. Exports to Britain improved for a short while, but soon after abandoning the export bounty, Australia became uncompetitive. The market was still dominated by fortified wines, especially sherry and port styles. The 1945 vintage – the ‘Year of Victory’ – produced many great examples, including by Hardy’s and Stonyfell.
224
Powered by FlippingBook