Greenock Creek
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The Future…
Now, under new ownership, Greenock Creek is putting the wheels in motion to expand their global reach, which and to be fair to the previous owners, Michael and Annabelle, has lost much ground over the past decade. We have been provided with the freedom to represent these incredible wines throughout the UK, Europe and the USA which we will do with much vigour and with huge smiles on our faces, as these wines are simply fantastic.
The Past…
Michael Waugh was a bricklayer, a trade which brought him to Barossa in the 1970s. With his wife Annabelle, they purchased a 20-acre property near Seppeltsfield in the mid-1970s . The property was a neglected house along with an almond & apricot orchard and roughly 2 acres of old Shiraz vines. It is understood that Michael planted an acre of Chardonnay and produced several vintages from these vines. Of course, an ill-conceived idea as the Barossa climate and Chardonnay are a bad combination. Originally, Michael sold the grapes to Seppelt’s until the late 1980s when, and with the support of Chris Ringland, he began to produce his own wine from old Shiraz vines.
In mid-1990, the celebrated Roennfeldt Road property which consisted of 6 acres of Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines along with 8 acres of apricot orchards, which naturally enjoyed basking in the Barossa sun was purchased. ’95 saw the first vintage of the Roennfeldt Road Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from this entirely dry-farmed vineyard. The apricot orchard was pulled out and replanted with 8 acres of Shiraz, and aptly named the Apricot Block. Alice’s Vineyard was planted on a 20-acre property adjoining the original homestead on Radford Road and produced its first vintage in 2008.
The world market became obsessed with this small, boutique winery, when and at his most prominent, Robert Parker awarded 100 points for the ’95 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. Parker awarded a further 100 points for the ’96 & ’98 vintage. Their ’98 Roennfeldt Cabernet Sauvignon also received 100 points. Skip a few vintages until the ’01 & ’03 Creek Block Shiraz scooped 100 points and both the ’02 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz & Cabernet received the same accolade. Five wines have been awarded 99 points and nine, 98 points… To date, Greenock Creek is the most ‘Parker’ celebrated Australian winery(Penfolds Grange & Torbreck The Laird have each received three 100-point scores, two for Torbreck Run Rig & Astralis and Hill of Grace has never been awarded 100 points).