By John Fordham
Source: The Sunday Telegraph November 1, 2009 p138
We are all delighted at Top Wines to see John Fordham picking up some of our most popular wines!
NOT owning a winery or a vineyard hasn't stopped Western Australia's Feet First brand from making a flying impact with a smart line-up of wines.
Ross Lawrence and his wife, Ronnie, launched the label four years ago with a group of people associated with their Fine Wine Wholesalers group, Perth's leading premium wine distribution company.
Before then, the Lawrences founded the big-selling Leaping Lizard brand, which they later offloaded to the Frankland River winery Ferngrove.
Their Feet First venture involvesbuying grapes from a number of WA's prime regional sites and contracting specialist winemakers with strong local knowledge to make the wines. Feet First's main viticultural attentionfocuses on Margaret River, Pemberton, Geographe, Frankland River and the Swan Valley.
The 2008 Feet First Semillon Sauvignon Blanc ($19) ($18 at Topwines.com.au), a Frankland River-Pemberton blend, captures the inviting fruit flavours of the west's biggest-selling wine.
The skills of Stephen Craig, better-known as Alkoomi's winemaker, are very evident in this magical drop.
The 2008 Feet First Cabernet Merlot ($19) ($18 at Topwines.com.au), featuring selected parcels from Margaret River and Pemberton, reveals the hand of Bruce Dukes, formerly five-star Margaret River winery Pierro's chief winemaker.
Softened by the 30 per cent merlot influence, this is a fine, medium-bodied red offering gentle, lingering flavours.
One of Feet First's most impressive triumphs to date was the gold medal its 2008 Shiraz ($30) won at this year's Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia judging at Mount Barker. Made from Frankland River fruit by John Griffiths in the Swan Valley, its powerful rich and spicy flavours leave no doubt as to the region's growing reputation with shiraz.
Finally, a treat from France's Alsace region: 2007 Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc Reserve ($32), an amazing amalgam of tropical fruit flavours with a dry, fresh finish. Ross Lawrence discovered it at Vin Expo in Bordeaux and made the call to import it. His foresight is being amply rewarded.
