Thistle Hill Vineyard Newsletters - Winter 1998

Greetings from Lesley and David Robertson

It is hard to concentrate on writing this newsletter, due to the deafening sound of rain on our tin roof. This is the first good Winter rain since 1993, and our optimism has returned. How positive we are!

The 1998 Vintage Again, for the fourth year in a row, we experienced low yields from our water stressed vines. It was impossible to purchase any premium red grapes in the area, however we did secure some white grapes: Semillon grapes from Seldom Seen; Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Abercorn; and Chardonnay and Riesling grapes from Miramar. It is interesting to note that all vineyards in the area experienced lower than normal yields in 1998.

New Developments at Thistle Hill

Dry Winters in 1994, 1995 and 1996, finally convinced us that we needed to put drip irrigation onto our vines. A plan to extend one of our existing dams, designed for us by Water Resources in 1978, was implemented in 1996. After completion, it was estimated that the new dam would take two years of average rainfall to fill. With virtually no rain in 1997, and excellent rain in 1998, I guess this is two year?s average rainfall, and our dam is now full. The irrigation works will commence soon and our insurance policy against another dry season can start to take effect.

The good Autumn rains also meant that we could return to our previous practise of sowing a mid-row Winter cover crop. Plots of Rye corn and Coolabah oats were planted in May and already stand one metre tall. This will provide valuable organic matter for our soils, particularly as an under vine mulch for our depleted vines.

Coming Events The Mudgee Wine Show Public Tasting  is on Saturday the 22nd of August at the Mudgee racecourse where for $10.00 you can taste all the wines entered in the Mudgee Wine Show. The Mudgee Wine Festival is  on the first 4 weekends of September. We will have an exhibition of Camden Valley artists works and at 11 am each Saturday and Sunday offer for tasting some of our previous vintages. A Thistle Hill Dinner at Gotham Brasserie, Balmain   on Thursday September 12 Gotham are matching their superb food with our current wine releases. The cost is $69.00 per person, food and drink included and bookings should be directed to Graham at Gotham on 02 9555 8008. There may be another dinner at a later date if numbers are sufficient.

Thistle Hill Cottage

Our Bed and Breakfast cottage is still a popular place to stay with our customers. It is a fully self contained, three bedroom cottage on our vineyard, where you can enjoy absolute peace and quiet, native birds in the morning and millions of stars at night.

In the cottage, there are two double beds, a double bunk, kitchen, dining and lounge, so six people can sleep quite comfortably. Accommodation includes all linen and a continental breakfast. Our rate is $60.00 for the cottage and $20.00 per person per night. Children under two are free. Bookings for the cottage can be made by contacting Thistle Hill on (02) 6373 3546.

Tasting Notes For Our Current Wines

1996 Riesling (New Release)

The 1996 Riesling is a light straw colour with a hint of green. It exhibits sweet tropical fruit flavours with a butterscotch after taste and a fresh acid finish. Drink 1998 - 2002

1997 Semillon (New Release)

The 1997 Semillon is a mid straw colour tinged with green. It has sweet fruit flavours balanced by crisp clean acid. Drink 1998 - 2002

1996 Chardonnay (New Release)

The 1996 Chardonnay is a light yellow colour. It is a strongly flavoured wine with integrated oak character. Lychee and peach flavours are balanced by a clean acid finish. Drink 1998 - 2003

1996 Pinot Noir (New Release)

The 1996 Pinot Noir is a mid red colour. The palate is dominated by rich, ripe, cherry flavours which are complimented by strong tannins. Drink 1999 - 2004

1996 Merlot (New Release)

The 1996 Merlot is a rich, red colour. The bouquet is dominated by smoky oak and clean fresh fruit. The palate is exceptionally smooth with excellent balance. Drink 1998 - 2002

1993 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bright, warm sunny wine. The bouquet is a classic ?cigar box? with oak also apparent on the palate. This is an old fashioned style of red with plenty of character and structure. Drink 1998 - 2003

"The Play"

You are born.

Oblivious of your mother?s pain and your existence. Oblivious of the long, hard years ahead. You grow. Little by little. These early years may be your best. You are happy, young and innocent. But these precious years don?t last.

You can learn how to battle a drought, survive a flood or fight a bushfire, but no one can teach you how to live. This is up to you. Completely. People you respect can teach you what is right and wrong, but it is up to you to listen, to learn from your mistakes, to motivate yourself and make the most of what you are given.

You live.

You learn to cover up what you are feeling and how to judge people. You wish that your friends could be more genuine and that your parents could understand you - an Australian country girl with a growing love for the city.

You experiment with drugs, try to be too cool and grow up too quickly. You learn that there are things in life that you can only experience once, and when they?re gone, you can never get them back. Innocence is one, love is another and childhood is the third.

You learn about death and hunt for the meaning of life. Some people find it in religion, some in success, while others search for years and may never find the answers to their unanswerable questions.

You realise that life is what you make of it and that it is not a dress rehearsal. You live your life to the fullest and while there are times when you think you are alone or depressed, remember that sadness is a season and it will pass.

Perhaps your destiny is planned, or perhaps you decide your own fate. We live with the fact that everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect. Thank God. Life is like a stream, it starts off small and slow and builds into a raging torrent, ongoing and constant, moving through an ever changing panorama.

You die.

As suddenly as it started, it ends, and you are just as oblivious of the fact as when you are born.

The curtain falls. The audience applauds and departs in praise at the success of a life but also carries an unquenchable thirst ?to forget?. The world continues its global spin through time. One person, trapped in a day, a month, a year.

And somewhere else, far away, the play begins all over again...

This story was written by Sally Robertson, aged 15 and it won the 1998 2CR / Banjo Paterson Children's Writing Award.