Another unique Bricolage blend from Topper’s has been released!

Know your grapes and win a Bricolage 6pack!

To celebrate this special moment, we prepared a very limited offer of thirty only vintage 6packs containing two bottles of Bricolage Rouge 2011, 2012 and 2014. This is your unique chance to compare different vintages of one of the most exciting Australian red blends.

Topper’s Mountain Bricolage Rouge 2014 is here and as usual, the blend is as crazy and as delicious as its forebears. The 2014 vintage is a blend of Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Tannat and Shiraz Viognier. Aromas of raspberries, forest strawberries, cherries, liquorice, hint of mint and pine tree. Savoury, balanced and elegant on the palate with flavours of forest strawberries, cassis, ripe raspberries, touch of toast and chocolate. Long and focused peppery finish.

Is it the best one so far? Quite possibly so – you be the judge!

Go for your Bricolage Rouge limited vintage 6pack – free shipment* for first 10 orders**!

*Mark off a PICK UP instead of SHIPPING when proceeding order. **TOP 100 WINE CLUB members have unlimited free shipment for Bricolage Rouge vintage pack orders.

…Or just WIN one! Be the first who correctly identifies the varieties of the grape bunches pictured here and get your Bricolage vintage 6pack for free. Hint: all the grapes are Bricolage 2014 constituents. Send your suggestions to JAN@TOPPERS.COM.AU and follow us on facebook where the winner will be announced.

 

Bricolage Rouge – the story of crazy blenders

…some things you can do only at Topper’s Mountain vineyard…

To have fourteen varieties in one small vineyard can be quite tricky. It can cause headaches especially during harvest when all these varieties ripen at different times and we have to stay alert with pair of secateurs in one hand and a bin with the other (or with a harvester ready to go) for four months. How much easier it would if we had only Pinot Noir or Shiraz or Chardonnay like most of the rest of the Australia wine industry!

But there are also some good things from Topper’s Mountain’s suite of grape varieties. Firstly, even in a bad vintage there will be always some varieties that dodge the bad weather to be picked in great condition and secondly – we can play!

When I first met Mark, I asked him why the hell he blended Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Tannat, Shiraz and God knows what else together and he replayed (with the surprised look of a boy who just smashed a window), “Why not?” This is what I call the Topper’s spirit – after all, what can you expect from a man who planted his vineyard with twenty two different varieties!

“Once, our winemaker Mike Hayes and I, had a beer (probably more – author’s note) and we came up with the idea to blend the best red and white wines from each vintage” says Mark. “This philosophy started with our first red blend called Red Earth Child in 2009 and its white sister called Bricolage Blanc followed in 2013. Meanwhile, unfortunately, we had to change the name of Red Earth Child to Bricolage Rouge due to trademark issues.”

We don’t make Bricolages every vintage and the blend changes each time one is made reflecting the nuances of the vintage. So far we’ve made Bricolage Rouge in 2009, 2011, 2012 and the new release 2014 and Bricolage Blancs in 2013, 2014 & 2015.     

Bricolage Rouge 2011: My favourite blend based on Nebbiolo with some Tempranillo, Shiraz and Tannat. Savoury on the nose with dried sour cherries, black cherries and raspberries accompanied with root vegetable-like earthiness and a touch of smoke. Overall savoury flavour profilewhich – together with firm tannins, high acidity and long finish – provides a very unique drinking experience.
This wine is balanced and elegant yet fresh and firm, prepared to cut through any chunky peace of roasted or barbecued beef from T-bone steak to beef cheeks.

Bricolage Rouge 2012: Wine writer Nick Ryan said: Mark Kirkby does things a little differently. Running with the quixotic idea of producing fine wine at altitude in New England, he has created one of Australia’s most intriguing wine properties. The wines produced at Toppers Mountain are as unconventional in composition as they are in origin, and this brilliant, and unique, blend of Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Tannat is a beguiling swirl of dark berries, warm spices and firm tannic grip.
I can only agree. Enjoy this wine with pork skewers, BBQ lamb chops with a classic spice like rosemary, pepper or thyme.

Bricolage Rouge 2014: OUR NEW RELEASE! An exciting blend of Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Tannat and Shiraz Viognier. Aromas of raspberries, forest strawberries, cherries, liquorice, hint of mint and pine tree. Savoury, balanced and elegant on the palate with flavours of forest strawberries, cassis, ripe raspberries & a touch of toast and chocolate. Long and focused peppery finish. Is it the best one so far?
I wouldn’t mind this one slightly chilled (approx. 15?C) with prosciutto and other cured meat or some great homemade BBQ sausages.