By Deborah Jackson, Editor National Liquor News
Cockfighter’s Ghost will launch the new ‘Single Vineyard’ range of wines as a part of the label’s evolution to showcase the McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills wine regions.
The Single Vineyard range of wines is centred on the Agnew Family’s 20Ha Blewitt Springs vineyard in McLaren Vale, named The Chairman’s Vineyard in memory of Agnew Wines’ Founder, Brian Agnew.
The July 2017 release of the Cockfighter’s Ghost Single Vineyard range will consist of a series of red wines from The Chairman’s Vineyard and will include a Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and ‘The Legend’ blend.
The reds will be accompanied by Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Single Vineyards in Adelaide Hills.
This also represents the first Sangiovese made by the winery, with limited releases of a Nebbiolo, Barbera and Sangiovese Rose to follow.
Cockfighter’s Ghost has also announced the promotion of Xanthe Hatcher to Winemaker for the label.
Hatcher has been working directly under Agnew Wines’ Chief Winemaker, Jeff Byrne, and has had a particular focus on showcasing single vineyards from McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills. She has even made a few of the new Single Vineyard range.
“The wines bear classic regional and varietal hallmarks of the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale, but the ‘Single Vineyard’ range allows me to explore and highlight the unique characteristics of specific sites in those regions– particularly The Chairman's Vineyard in Blewitt Springs,” said Hatcher.
“It’s a really special spot with huge potential – especially for more elegant styles of red.”
Speaking on Hatcher’s appointment as Winemaker, Chief Winemaker Byrne said: "Xanthe has been an integral part of the winemaking team for some time now. We are very lucky to have a winemaker of her calibre already on board and I couldn’t be more excited to see her step up and excel in her new role. She has a great and distinctive palate – I can’t wait to see where she takes the style of the label.”
General Manager James Agnew said: “Xanthe has proven herself a hugely talented winemaker and leader. It was a natural and obvious decision to give her direction over the style of Cockfighter’s Ghost and it aligns perfectly with the evolution of the label and the introduction of our new Single Vineyard range.”