GALAFREY WINES

"It's anything but trendy. It criticised for producing dull, lifeless wines. Yet here I am, after more than 30 years of scribbling about wine, writing my first column on Muller-Thurgau- a variety as fashionable as a fondue party.

Those of you with long memories are starting to glaze over and the rest are probably glancing longingly across at Broadfield's latest greasy spoon critique.

I've probably been guilty of displaying a certain indifference to Muller-thurgau as well. This was dispite the considerable urgings of the late Ian Tyrer, who planted the variety when he established Galafrey in Mount Barker in 1977, and remained a committed disciple until he die in 2003.

But a chance tasting of Galafrey's latest Muller-Thurgau recently made me realise it was a bloody fine wine-far more appealing than trendy new things such as pinot gris and the like.

" Galafrey Wines is a family owned boutique winery creating great wines from their dry grown vineyard. Established in 1977 by one of the pioneers of the wine industry, the late Ian Tyrer,is still in good hands with wife Linda and daughter Kim keeping up the tradition"

Dry Land Reserve Rielsing 2010

'These dry grown Rieslings from Galafrey can be really tight and steely when young, though this tends to conceal the intensity of fruit within. This one has a wonderful purity of expression with spotlessly clean lines and a fine precise acid. Really promising wine for some cellaring. 91/100 cellar 8 years.

Dry Grown Merlot 2008

'No shortage of rich dark fruits in this powerful Merlot. It shows that this variety in the right places can be a good straight varietal wine. Love the seamless, smooth textured palate and the deeply concentrated flavours. They are beautifully held with ripe fine tannins and excellent oak integration. 90/100 cellar 7 yrs. 

The 2010 WA Wine Guide from Ray Jordan is now available and has ranted Galafrey 2009 in the Top 5 Rielsings in WA.

2009 Dry Land Riesling

' Another cracking Riesling from the dry grown riesling vineyard. Opens with intense spicey pear and lime character on the nose. The mouth-puckering dry palate has a piercing acidity supporting intense and lively fruit. A very fine riesling style that has great aging potential.' 93 points Ray Jordan

2009 Sauvignon Blanc

" This is made as a quite restrained style yet within its tight structure there is plenty of intense and lively tropical fruit flavours. Has a dusty herbaceousness, but mostly that tropical character that prevades. Acid is fine and delicate and rally sustains the finish. Very nice wine ' 87/100 Ray Jordan

Family keep alive memory of the Jovial winemaker.

Ray Jordan- The West Australian

Not Long before Ian Tyrer lost his short battle with cancer in 2003, he told wife Linda and daughter Kim that they should sell Galafrey, the small Mt Barker winery he had set up in 1992.

“Everything is stuffed. Just sell it,” he said.

But Linda and Kim decided that they weren’t about to let go of all Tyrer had fought so hard to establish. In fact, I think they felt they owed it to the memory of this ebullient character to keep the place going.

“ We hung in there and it’s given me purpose,” Linda said.