Snippets
December 2001

I am Erl Happ.  My newsletter is located at http://www.happs.com.au/pages/3hills.html

The newsletter sits slap bang in the middle of our website and you will therefore have access to lots of information.

This issue focuses on the release of the new reds, held at a major function in October at the Perth Mint.  I am more than pleased with the wines which have been exciting tasters at cellar door for some weeks now.  We are reliably informed that every one of the fifteen participants in a master class, held as part of the recent wine festival, preferred the Three Hills Shiraz.  That is quite extraordinary and extremely encouraging.  I love the idea of consumer evaluations, and of course, they must be blind. There are a lot of label drinkers amongst the professionals and, to give them their due, they can frequently recognise the wine when it is presented blind.  There is the rub.

How many of you, dear readers, would like to participate in a consumer judged wine show?  One of my ambitions is to set this up and run it scientifically. My impression is that the governance of the wine world in Australia today, should be compared to the situation that provoked the Eureka rebellion in the 1850s.

Apart from the Shiraz there is the Nebbiolo, an adventure in new taste sensations and a first from Western Australia, as well as a very interesting Cabernet Franc.

The Three Hills label is reserved for the best wines that are produced each year from our Karridale vineyard of that name.  The quantities are small, each bottle is numbered and we like to know who buys them so we keep a register of owners.  If they look after the wine, we will look after them. Thankfully, almost to a man, they have email addresses.

Our order form can be accessed here

Our next newsletter will probably give notice to the release of the Anne Coralie. For all those who have been waiting so patiently, the wine should be on sale in two weeks at our cellar.  Anne-Coralie herself should arrive from France in February to be with us for the coming vintage.  If she can be persuaded, we will arrange a bottle signing ceremony.

All the best for December and Christmas.

This newsletter is prepared by Erl Happ and Suzette Wovodich whose task it is to keep you well informed.  A portrait will follow in due course. She is much better looking than me.

Erl Happ