Cloudburst Wine - Will Berliner

Organic cultivation on the perfect terroir

Will Berliner laid the foundations for the great success of his wines when selecting suitable land. He opted for a site that had never been cultivated before and had therefore never been contaminated with artificial fertilisers, herbicides or insecticides. Vines were planted that had not been grafted onto other people's rootstocks, but were pure varieties throughout. The vines were planted in close rows, allowing the individual plants to grow only to a limited extent, which means that the yield of each vine is correspondingly low, but each grape develops a high concentration of ingredients and natural, varietal flavours. The vines have deep roots and are able to secure their own water supply. Artificial irrigation can therefore be completely dispensed with. During the growth phase, the soil is enriched with biodynamic composts and natural minerals. There is a high level of biodiversity in the vineyard due to the vegetation around the edges, which provides a protected habitat for numerous small animals. Trellising, pruning and harvesting are carried out exclusively by hand in order to avoid any harmful compaction of the soil. Transport to the winery takes place in small quantities to ensure the freshness and integrity of the grapes.

The wines of Cloudburst

In the comparatively short period of just one decade, Berliner has managed to establish his wines among the absolute world leaders. The wines have a firm place on numerous wine lists of highly decorated restaurants in Australia and the USA and are also represented in leading specialist shops. Cloudburst wines are not cheap and are among the most expensive wines in the region, with bottle prices ranging from 200 to 400 Australian dollars (approx. 125 to 250 euros), depending on the vintage. In addition to the outstanding quality, the high price is also due to the very limited supply. Berliner only cultivates an area of just over one hectare and only produces a few thousand bottles per year. The winery has focussed on three varieties. Only Chardonney (attention: correct Chardonnay!), Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are cultivated. All the wines are unusually dense and complex. Characteristics that never cease to amaze experts, as they come from vines that are only just over five years old.

A great white wine

Berliners Chardonney (attention: correct Chardonnay!) is an unusually full-bodied white wine that initially makes a closed impression, even in older vintages. It is advisable to decant it some time before serving. It should also not be enjoyed too cold. Depending on the vintage, the nose reveals a highly diverse interplay of aromas, varying between light citrus tones, deep fruit notes, hints of honey and very fine wood flavours. On the palate, one senses a complex density with a restrained, creamy texture that is complemented by a gentle minerality. These are white wines with a structure reminiscent of great Burgundies, but with their own unique profile, they open up completely new flavour experiences.

The classic red: Cabernet Sauvignon

Even though the various vintages differ in many nuances, they do share a common characteristic. They surprise on the nose with subtle floral accents that quickly deepen into deep fruity notes. In between, there are often hints of exotic spices, as well as laurel and aniseed. On the palate, a harmonious interplay of elegant tannins, red fruits such as mulberries or blackcurrants and a slight hint of cocoa and tobacco develops. A Cabernet Sauvignon from Berliner is an unusually complex red wine whose density reflects the characteristics of the Margaret River wine-growing region and has great individuality.

Unusual and inspiring: Malbec

Producing this wine from a single grape variety is a very individual and courageous decision by Berliner, a committed winemaker. The grape is rather atypical for the south-west of Australia and great Malbec wines tend to come from South America or south-west France. But here, too, Berliner has created a wine that is as outstanding as it is independent and fully lives up to the winery's high standards. The individual vintages have nuanced individual characteristics, but a common basis can nevertheless be recognised. These are unusually deep wines with an incredibly intense finish. One encounters clear aromas of stewed apples, fully ripe blackberries and plums. The complex bouquet is captured by a strong framework of hickory and mocha notes. This wine delivers a multi-faceted combination of different impressions and is worth discovering at your leisure.

Here are some tasting notes on the wines from Will Berliner:

Cloudburst is not a winery - it is a manifestation. Berliner's wines are wild, untamed terroir messages that challenge everything you thought you knew about winemaking.