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Helm Wines experiences a record vintage. March 26 2008
Ken Helm completed yesterday his 32nd vintage with Riesling and 30th with Cabernet, just hours before 20 + mm of rain started falling and the outset of cool autumn temperatures.
Ken can’t believe his luck. Dry warm conditions from early February to his last day of harvest, then 20+ mm of rain.
The 2008 vintage is a record crush for Helm Wines (over 60 tonnes) which includes 2000 cases of Riesling - the largest producer of Riesling in the Canberra District. Ken believes the 08 Rieslings will be as good as the outstanding 2005 vintage. Canberra District record yields are up 15% to 20% more than usual, but still retaining excellent acid, high sugar levels and ripe fruit flavours. Cabernet sauvignon was also harvested at perfect sugar, acid and flavour balance. A great vintage for both varieties.
Ken reports the excellent vintage was caused by good late spring summer rains, and a green Christmas – an unusual event for normally dry brown Canberra. Temperatures remained warm to hot, with a mid February hot spell, which ripened the fruit very quickly. Vintage started 2 weeks earlier than normal on March 1 with Riesling sugar levels at 10.5 Be and rising to 12 Be on March 23. Cabernet sauvignon was harvested March 20 – 25 with 13.5 to 14.5 Be and wonderful ripe flavours being noted in both varieties.
In the vineyard
Autumn has come to the winery and the vineyard looks wonderful in striking orange and red hues. The chaos of vintage/harvest has ended for another year, but things are still busy in the winery where grape juice is being turned into wine. The record harvest has filled the tanks and casks to the brim, so much so that we were starting to worry where we would put it all! Tastings of the new vintage have been very exciting as the wines are already exceeding our expectations and they have delighted the visitors who have been lucky enough to have a taste.
Helm Wines is looking forward to a new style of wine this year, a Sauvignon Blanc which is coming along nicely. It along with the Half-dry Riesling will provide a range of wines for the consumer looking for something with a hint of sweetness, in contrast to the dry style of our Premium and Classic-Dry Riesling. In particular, those who are just venturing into the world of wine may find these styles to their liking, as the youngest Helm daughter, Stephanie has discovered when attempting to convert her friends to wine.
Helm Wines has also been busy planting native trees to encourage native wildlife on the property. To see some of our "critters in the vineyard" click here.
2008 Awards, Reviews & Media Releases
Two Trophies and Two Golds to Helm Rieslings
September 10 2008
Helm Wines has had success again on the show circuit, winning trophies for the Best Riesling and Best White Wine of Show at the Canberra Regional Wine Show. They were the only trophies awarded to a Canberra District winery.
In addition to the gold and two trophies awarded to the Classic Dry Riesling 2008, the Helm Premium Riesling 2008 also won gold.
Brian Croser, Chairman of Judges, said the Rieslings were in a "wonderful class (of wines) demonstrating why Canberra is one of Australia's great Riesling terroirs".
The Canberra Regional Wine Show is open to wines from the Southern Zone of NSW as defined by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. It includes Canberra, Gundagai, Shoalhaven Coast, Tumbarumba, Southern Highlands, and Hilltops wine Districts. This year 255 entries were received in dry white, dry red, sparkling and sweet white wine categories.
Ken Helm is thrilled that the wines have gained recognition for their outstanding quality. 2008 was a wonderful vintage and the awards reflect both the quality of the vintage and the hard work put in to their production in the vineyard and winery.
Helm Wines has been producing Riesling since 1977, and has gained world recognition for its wines. Since 2001, the Helm Rieslings have been awarded eight Trophies, 9 gold, 16 Silver and 32 bronze awards at National, International and Regional wine shows.
Helm Wines reviewed by...
James Halliday in his Australian Wine Companion 2009
Helm Wines received 4 ½ stars. A winery that receives this
rating is an “ Excellent winery able to produce wines of high to very high quality, knocking on the door of a five-star rating. Will have one wine rated at 94 points or above and two (or more) at 90 or above; others at 87 to 89.29.5%.
Premium Canberra District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
“Potent and intense with strong cedar, earth and spice notes to the blackcurrant fruit; the best Helm red wine for years; great
aftertaste. Rating : 94."
Classic Dry Canberra District Riesling 2007
“Citrus, herb and spice aromas; tightly focused, but has lovely lime juice flavours with perfectly balanced acidity; very good length. Rating 92. "
Ken Helm invited to judge at the Best of Riesling in Germany June 1 2008
Ken Helm has been invited by the Rhineland Pfalz Minister for Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulturre Hendrik Hering, to be panel chair at the Best of Riesling in Germany in July.
The Best of Riesling is the biggest bi-annual Riesling world event with nearly 2000 wines being entered. 30 judges from 12 countries judge the wines.
Ken is extremely honoured by the invitation. He will be representing Australia, Canberra and the Riesling makers of Australia.
Helm Cabernet wins in London World Wine Awards. May 21 2008
At the London International Wine Fair today, the Decanter World Wine Awards announced that the Helm Wines Premium Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 was awarded a SILVER medal. A very prestigious win for the small Canberra winery, who till now were best known for their quality Rieslings.
The Decanter World Wine Awards claim to identify the world's greatest wines, judged by the most respected wine experts in the industry.
The Chairman of The Decanter Awards Steven Spurier says"
Of course I am biased; it seems to me that on the international scene, a Silver medal at Decanter is worth a Gold at other wine competitions"
The Decanter Awards attract over 4000 entries which are judged by over 100 judges from around the world.
Drew Lambert, 7/5/08
resident winewriter on 'Talking Back the Night' - Macquarie Regional Radio Network's show
...For me, the Murrumbateman sub region within the Canberra district sports some of the best wines. Clonakilla and Helm are standout wineries and proudly sit alongside Australia's best. The region excels in Riesling, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz and to a lesser extent Merlot and Chardonnay.
Helm 2007 Riesling
This wine is considered one of Australia’s top Rieslings, and I cannot argue this fact. It boasts a scrumptious juicy lemony lime palate and an acid structure that dances on the tongue. Even though 2007 was extremely bad due to frosts and harvest was only 20% of what it should have been, this is still a marvellous wine.
Quality 4.5 stars
Value 4 stars
Helm Premium 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Canberra’s leading Riesling maker finally has an equal to Clonakilla’s flagship Shiraz Viognier. And the best part, it is not a direct competitor as it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon. This is one of the best standout Cabernets I’ve tasted this year in Australia and marks the first time the company has released a premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Not only is it supremely structured, it shows world class elegance and balance as well as fine grained tannins. The blackberry/cassis flavours are rich and opulent while the oak flavours are reminiscent of cigar box.
Quality 4.75 stars
Value 4.5 stars
To see the full review on the Canberra District click here.
Rick Allen, The Manly Daily' 2/5/08.
'3 Top Drops'
Helm Premium Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
What a lovely, big rich wine this Canberra cabemet is! The flavours
are deep and generous, with black fruits, dark chocolate and pepper all beautifully tied together. lf you can't afford it on a day-to-day level, it's perfect for the big occasion.
Winsor Dobbin, Out There
- Inflight magazine of Rex Regional Express, Issue 44 2008.
Ken Helm, a regional pioneer, is regarded as one of the best riesling makers in the country and is a regular trophy winner ( he makes three different styles of riesling each year). The Helm range is available for tasting at his rustic cellar door, which is a former school hall once used for Temperance Union meetings....
Helm
2007 Classic Dry Riesling
Ken Helm has been making outstanding rieslings for over 30 years, reguarly beating wines from more renowned regions on the show circuit. Frost and drought reduced his 2007 crop by 50 per cent but there is no doubt about the quality. This is a stunning dry riesling with tons of zesty citrus fruit flavours, plenty of persistence and a crisp acid finish. Try it with Thai-style chicken dishes.
Gourmet Traveller Wine Dec / Jan 2008
90 **** 2007 Helm Classic Dry Riesling Canberra District, A$28
Young and undeveloped as yet, this classic, refined, tautly structured Riesling is undeniably cool in its origins. Green tinged, it has bread - dough aroma and is pungent and powerful, while the palate is delicate, soft and yet tight, with a gingery nuance.
Cellar 1 -7 +
The 5 Minute Wine Rush© www.paulippolito.com.au
Take a look at what Australian wine writer, Paul Ippolito has been tasting lately.
Helm Classic Dry Riesling 2007
Made by respected winemaker Ken Helm from free run juice of Canberra district Riesling vines. Brilliant greeny straw in colour. Limes, lemons, more lemons and lime cordial abounds. Juicy and fresh fruit - aromatic, vibrant and impressive in stature and composition. Delicious pure polished fruit oozes down the throat effortlessly. Smooth and a tad creamy on the finish with lively balanced acidity. Seamless drinking indeed. Try this with bbq octupus.
Want to know what happened last year at the winery?
2007 Awards, Reviews & Media Releases
September 30th 2007
The Helm 2007 Riesling Classic Dry has been released this weekend after winning the trophy and gold medal for Best Riesling at the Cool Climate Wine Show at Murrumbateman on Friday the 28th September. The 2007 vintage was severely hampered by the drought and yet has produced this great wine.
John Fordham reviewed the wine in the Sunday Telegraph September 30th 2007:
" Without question, [Ken's] 2007 Classic Dry Riesling measures up with the finest rieslings I have tasted . Its lively and crisp lemon-lime flavours trigger an incredible palate explosion. John Vickery and Jeffery Grosset, Australia's foremost riesling specialists, would be among the first to salute Helm's efforts."
The Riesling plus other Helm wines will also be presented on October 12 at a prestige wine dinner at The Crown Casino in Macau (China) by winemaker Ken Helm.
August 10 2007
Top Gold in Royal Melbourne to Helm Riesling.
Helm Wines of Murrumbateman in the Canberra District have taken the top gold medal in the 2007 Riesling class at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
Results of the massive 3846 entries were announced last night for the 2007 event. Helm Classic Dry Riesling 2007 won the top gold and only gold medal for 2007 Australian Rieslings. The wine has already won Silver and Bronze at recent shows.
One of the most prestigious wins for Canberra wines in the last 30 years, since the Helm Riesling 2007 won against 45 of the best Rieslings in Australia.
It has been a winning week for Helm Wines, with the Trophy for Best Riesling from the Winewise Small Vignerons Awards, last Friday for the 2005 Premium Riesling, and now the top 2007 Gold in Melbourne. Helm Rieslings have now won 6 trophies and 8 gold medals in the last 3 years.
Ken Helm said "These wins against the best wines and wineries in Australia firmly establishes Helm Wines among the top Riesling producers in Australia."
Click here to see the full 2007 results (Class 11).
***For awards and reviews on specific wines and older vintages click here.
Please click here for Media Release 13 October 2006 'Canberra wine guru Ken Helm wins prestigious Wolf Blass Award' (Word Doc 28k)Please click here for information on Helm Wines carton of 10 - Decimal Dozen Designed for Female Touch
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