Usher Tinkler Wines
— Portfolio —
DEATH BY SEMILLON PF 2023
Preservative free
Bottle shot
Skin contact Semillon made without SO2, this has been meticulously handled by Usher and it’s simply delicious, a unique expression of a grape synonymous with the Hunter Valley.
Hand- picked from Usher’s estate 40 year old Semillon vineyard. Destemmed. Wild fermented on skins in tank, approx. 10 days. No sulphur added at any point. Press off to barrel, all old oak, goes through malolactic then left for 3 months in barrel. Rack to tank. Then off to bottling. As Usher reminds me the tannin and natural CO2 from ferment protect the wine. Add a touch of Co2 via dry ice as each wine is bottled.
Green chilli aromatics alongside white peach, Kaffir Lime leaf & Lemongrass.
“No additives – Preservative Free – No fining – No filtration – Vegan. This is a preservative free, natural wine. Fermented with skins and aged for 3 months in French Oak. A different style then our other wines, it is intriguing to try, and represents a whole new dynamic for the Semillon Grape”- Usher Tinkler
REBIRTH SHIRAZ PF 2023
Preservative free
Bottle shot
Preservative Free Shiraz from Usher Tinkler’s Shady Pines vineyard established in 1965. Usher bought this site from Lindemans 3 years ago. There is no question Usher has really hit the mark with the 2022 bottling with the wine being open and aromatically expressive straight away.
“Preservative free – No fining – No filtration – Vegan – Sustainably farmed – Organic practise. The third instalment to our natural wine portfolio; an organic, basket pressed Shiraz. It is produced off our organic old vine Shiraz, planted in 1965. Hand-picked and destemmed, basket pressed and aged in old French oak barrels for 3 months. Intense mulberry flavours with ripe, rich tannins. Decant this wine to open up the bouquet and enjoy it’s blackberry aromatics”- Usher Tinkler
LA VOLPE PROSECCO 2023
Bottle shot
A medium spritz, dry style sparkling wine, fruity enough to feel a touch sweet. It exhibits clean, mineral notes with overtones of nashi pear, green apple and citrus blossom.
“Produced from the Usher Tinkler Wines Prosecco Vineyard in Pokolbin; the first Hunter Valley grown and made Prosecco. The Prosecco grapes were grafted onto 30 year old Semillon vines”- Usher Tinkler
PAPERWASP CHARDONNAY 2023
Bottle shot
The Paperwasp Chardonnay from Usher Tinkler came about over a shared bottle of wine, as so often great ideas do with the desire to offer a barrel fermented Hunter Chardonnay immediately accessible both in style and price point. Usher Tinker own over 60 hectares of established vineyard in Pokolbin including some superb older Chardonnay vines. This wine comes from a 1.6 hectare vineyard planted in 1985, vines now over 35 years old, sandy loam composition.
Handpicked, 100% barrel fermented in a mix of 1 to 3 year old French oak with a small portion going through malolactic fermentation. 10% new oak aged for 8 months on fine lees with battonage during the elevage.
This wine takes it’s name from the vineyard “Paperwasp Vineyard” due to the high number of Paperwasp’s that nest in the vines around harvest time.
RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2022
Bottle shot
Planted in 1981 this vineyard is now 40 years old. Hand-picked, Whole bunch pressed to tank. Then all lees straight to barrel (Usher mentions there are not alot of solids due to the gentle whole-bunch) Wild ferment in French oak from J M Mugnier of which 25% new. Low to Medium toast. Not alot of battonage, as fruit from the vineyard has a-lot of weight and flavour already. 5 to 6 months elevage. Bottled just before Christmas.
“The Usher Tinkler Reserve Wines were created to showcase single vineyard, quality, varietals of provenance with some edge. A 100% Hunter Valley, single vineyard wine from our 40-year-old Chardonnay vines. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and stored in French oak for 6 months after wild fermentation was complete”- Usher Tinkler
RESERVE SHIRAZ 2021
Bottle shot
One of the key aspect of this wine was the wonderful old vines Usher is able to pick from his own estate, from 50 to 80 years old. He also uses 500ltr barrels for the aging from Mercurey, 20% new.
“Sourced from our oldest Shiraz vines, ranging from 50 to 80 years old. This 100% Hunter Valley Shiraz is basket pressed by hand for a soft and sweet tannin extraction. Chosen from individual puncheons, it’s a combination of our best vineyards. It has elegant oak characters with lifted aromas of white pepper spice and black mulberries”- Usher Tinkler
USHER TINKLER ROSE 2022
Bottle shot
Shiraz and Merlot picked and fermented separately.
Picked just after the grapes have changed colour to red.
The fruit is crushed, quickly pressed, then straight to tank.
Tank fermented, no oak.
USHER TINKER RED 2022
Bottle shot
Shiraz/Pinot Noir Blend. Gentle winemaking techniques to minimise extraction and enhance fruit flavours. shiraz and pinot made separately and blended to taste each vintage.
Whole berry fermentation, no stalks.
3 months in old French oak.
Bottled early at 6 months of age