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Chris Shanahan, writing in the Canberra Times Food and Wine
section
told the history of the
Lake George vineyard. He felt Alex McKay's involvement could
well be its rebirth and a home for his own Collector label.
For Alex, the place has strong associations. He worked in
the vineyard with (the now 87 year old) Reik while studying art history at Uni, and the
decision to turn to winemaking came from those working summers. Alex
has brought along a friend and ex-Kamberra workmate Nick O'Leary
who will also make his own vintages, and will work with Alex, with Reik and the
now owners Theo and Sam Karelas to
bring the vineyard back to peak productivity. (The Karelas'
bought the Madew winery giving them a modern cellar door and
restaurant.)
Alex's first two Collector wines, were released in September
'07
as Marked Tree 2005 shiraz and the simply named Reserve 2006
shiraz. Marked Tree Road, snakes along the granite
ridge behind the winery, and it is there that Andrew McEwin's
vineyard has been producing superior shiraz fruit, McKay used that fruit and some
from Murrumbateman to make the batches of shiraz he's
arranged to sell under his own Collector label.
The wines have already had some
good reviews and in October'07 the Marked Tree Shiraz won
NSW Wine of the year. Keep up with the Collector wine news via
Alex's website. FH
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