CHAPTER 23 | 1980–1982 – Out of the Cold
1982 DE BORTOLI NOBLE ONE Riverina, New South Wales
Originally released as a Semillon Sauternes in 1982, De Bortoli Noble One Semillon was one of the first Australian celebrity wines of the 1980s. The success of this wine is even more extraordinary when you consider its relatively humble regional provenance and the sentiment at the time. At first, it was thought to be a freak wine. Château d’Yquem bought 10 cases of the first vintage to see what the fuss was all about. At Roseworthy Agricultural College, a bottle of 1975 Château Coutet was brought to a wine tasting by Jim Whittle, and it inspired fellow student Darren De Bortoli to learn more about botrytis-style wines. De Bortoli was in the right place. The oenology department at Roseworthy Agricultural College was at the forefront of sweet botrytis white winemaking research in Australia. De Bortoli Noble One is considered the finest of all Australian dessert wine styles, with an envious show track record and an excellent cellaring history.
Bill Thomson of Best’s Great Western winery and vineyards, Great Western and Lake Boga, Victoria. [Best’s Collection]
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