A NEW wine release has been named after one of the South West’s best-known families.
Two wines have been named after John Garrett Bussell and Grace Bussell and carry a Bussell of Margaret River label.
“The concept was based on the great stories surrounding many different Bussells within Margaret River,” Vignerons of the World marketing manager Natalie Schaefer, who spent a couple of years in Margaret River in 2005-2006, said.
“We don’t have family members involved with the concept, but rather have looked at famous landmarks, characters and families within the region.
“The Bussell name is famously entrenched in Margaret River history, and is recognised by the township of Busselton, one of Western Australia’s premier seaside towns. It is fitting that two premium wines should be named after members of this famous pioneering family,” she added.
The wine named after Grace Bussell is a 2012 Bussell of Margaret River ‘Grace’ sauvignon blanc semillon, while the other is called ‘JG’, after John Garrett Bussell and is a 2011 Margaret River cabernet merlot.
“The heroic Grace Bussell was involved in the rescue of people on board the sinking SS Georgette. This classic Margaret River blend comes from the locally-renowned Wilyabrup region.
“It is an excellent example of the style to launch our new label,” Natalie said.
Winemaker Matthew Pellew has described the wine “as a classic example of why Margaret River has made this blend their own and why these wines have skyrocketed in popularity in recent times”.
“Picking occurred in the cool of the night to preserve the delicate characters of both grape varieties,” he said.
“A portion of the semillon was fermented in French oak with additional components of the blend fermented at cool temperatures and left on lees in the tank to increase texture and length.
“John Garrett (JG) Bussell explored the South West of Western Australia and became one of the most successful and prosperous farmers of the region. Like its sister wine, the cabernet merlot was sourced from the highly-prized Wilyabrup subregion of Margaret River,” he said.
“Margaret River reds are all about texture. The combination of the region’s silky smooth tannins and rich flavours is quite unique and our blend of 70 per cent cabernet and 30 per cent merlot, with 14 months in French oak, mirrors this statement.
“It is a privilege to be launching two classic Margaret River blends from the renowned subregion of Wilyabrup and honouring Grace and JG, such icons of the area,” Matthew said.
The SSB’s RRP is $21.95 and the red is $26.95.
However, both are available at $19.99 a bottle or $36 for two at Busselton’s liquorbarons.
