Thorn Clarke - Milton Park
South Eastern Australia

The Estate
The Thorn-Clarke families have been growing grapes in the Barossa and Eden Valley regions of South Australia for many years. They bought the property in 1990 (at that time it was run as a dairy). When looking for a source of grapes that would allow for high quality, affordable wines to be produced for the Milton Park range, South Eastern Australia's irrigated river regions was the answer. The Thorn-Clarke philosophy of supplying outstanding wines at each price level carries through to the Milton Park range, every measure has been taken to ensure this objective has been met. The resulting wines show character, consistency and true varietal attributes - a range of excellent wines at very reasonable prices.

The Thorn-Clarke family
Ron Thorn, Cheryl Clarke (born Thorn), Sam Clarke, Brian Clarke and David Clarke.

Milton Park Vineyard

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UPC code: 8 53065 00067 2
2006 Thorn-Clarke, Milton Park, Chardonnay 12/750ml
The grapes were crushed, destemmed and then pressed using a membrane press. Additional pressings were not used. Fermented using French Yeast at 12-15 degrees Celsius. The fermentation was kept slow and cool to retain all the natural flavors of the grape. A portion of the wine was left on lees in oak and stirred once a week to increase complexity and mouthfeel. The wine was then racked, filtered and bottled. It has been aged in 20% French oak for 6 months.
The color is light to mid straw. The lifted nose has a wonderful blossom scent and white peach. This white peach follows through onto the palate along with apricot nectar. These peach and apricot characters combine with the sweet spice French oak to give a juicy and flavorsome mouthfeel. There is good lingering tropical fruit and nutty oak length.

"Delicate citrus and apple aromas lilt across a lightly creamy bouquet, and a soft palate entry opens up into a full and round wine with surprising weight, but it stays nicely balanced throughout: creaminess is evident on the palate as well, slowly fading to reveal tart citrus flavors and a crisp smack of lemon/lime acidity." - Beverage Dynamics (July/Aug 2007),
88 pts

"The 2006 Chardonnay has a touch of French oak aging and lees stirring to increase complexity. Light straw-colored; it has a spicy, green apple and pear-scented bouquet, crisp acidity, and ripe fruit flavors. Drink this excellent value over the next 12-18 months. The Milton Park label is produced by Thorn-Clarke. The wines have been Best Buys year after year and the current releases continue the pattern."
- Wine Advocate (issue 173, Oct. 2007), 86 pts

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UPC code: 8 53065 00067 2
2005 Thorn-Clarke, Milton Park, Chardonnay 12/750ml
"The 2005 Chardonnay Milton Park, which sees about 30% French oak, but no malolactic, is a Maconnais-styled white offering hints of lemon blossom, apples, and honey. This crisp, elegant, medium-bodied Chardonnay is filled with fruit as well as a natural lightness and vibrancy. Drink it over the next year."
- Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 87 pts

National Retail Price: $12.99 / bottle

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UPC code: 8 53065 00073 3
2006 Thorn-Clarke, Milton Park, Riesling, Eden Valley 12/750ml
2006 Vintage had a mild and long ripening season. These conditions favored the accumulation of fruit driven and vibrant wines.
The grapes were crushed and de-stemmed then gently pressed to minimize tannin extraction. The juice was settled for 3 days then racked and yeast added. Cool fermentation with temperatures maintained between 12°C-14°C, to ensure maximum fruit expression. The wine was then filtered and bottled to retain all the freshness and vitality.
The wine is a very pale straw with a green tinge. The nose has lifted lemon sherbert and a lime fragrance. The palate is medium bodied with subtle and elegant sweet lemon fruit. Combined with the clean racy acid the flavour builds in the mouth and results in a long finish of intense fruit with lime and lemon rind.

"The light straw-colored 2006 Riesling has attractive floral, mineral, and lemon-lime aromatics. Crisp and dry in the mouth, it would make a fine pairing with Asian cuisine. It is an excellent value. The Milton Park label is produced by Thorn-Clarke. The wines have been Best Buys year after year and the current releases continue the pattern."
- Wine Advocate (issue 173, Oct. 2007), 87 pts

"Light straw. Minty citrus and green apple on the nose, with a bracing quinine accent. A fleshy midweight with a chewy texture and lively lime and orchard fruit flavors carrying through a moderately long, spicy finish. This would work nicely as an aperitif."
- International Wine Cellar (July/Aug 2007), 87 pts

National Retail Price: $12.99 / bottle

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UPC code: 8 53065 00068 9
2006 Thorn-Clarke, Milton Park, Shiraz 12/750ml
The grapes are crushed and destemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter and the ferments are pumped over twice daily to maximize color, tannin and flavor extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferments remain in the 22-25 degrees Celcius range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately seven days after crushing and the wine is then put into predominantly American oak to mature.
2006 Vintage had a mild and long ripening season. These conditions favored the accumulation of intense color and flavors in the Shiraz grapes.

The color is a deep inky purple. The nose is a complex mixture of ripe blackberry and plum fruit with a dash of creamy vanillin oak. The palate is medium to full bodied which starts with some sweet plummy fruit, the flavor then builds in the palate to provide an explosion of raspberry flavors. There is some lovely mouth coating tannins which combine with dark chocolate oak and fruit to provide a great depth and length of flavor.

"The 2006 Shiraz contains 6% Nebbiolo. Crimson-colored, it has an attractive nose of spice box, blueberry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied, it has more than ample ripe fruit, good depth, and solid length. It is a Best Buy in savory Shiraz. The Milton Park label is produced by Thorn-Clarke. The wines have been Best Buys year after year and the current releases continue the pattern." - Wine Advocate 9#173, Oct. 2007), 89 pts

"Ruby-red. Jammy blackberry and mulberry on the nose; reminds me of a zinfandel. Fresh, juicy dark berry flavors display a nice combination of poise and sweetness, with mocha and candied licorice notes adding complexity. Soft, silky and sweet on the concentrated, persistent finish. There are no apparent tannins to get in the way of the vibrant fruit. This is one serious bargain."
- International Wine Cellar (July/Aug 2007), 88 pts

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UPC code: 8 53065 00068 9
2005 Thorn-Clarke, Milton Park, Shiraz 12/750ml
"A superb value, the 2005 Shiraz Milton Park is unbelievable for this price point. It reveals copious amounts of blackberries, black cherries, tar, licorice, and a hint of oak. Beautifully textured, rich, full-bodied, and lush, it should be consumed over the next 3-4 years." 
- Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 90 pts

"Almost unbelievable for the price, this rich, extracted wine offers boatloads of ripe black cherry and currant fruit, with hints of vanilla and black pepper sailing through to the finish. Could easily pass for $20 wine."
- Washington Post (Nov. 15, 2006),
"Thanksgiving Wine Recommendation"

National Retail Price: $12.99 / bottle

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UPC code: 8 53065 00074 0
2006 Thorn-Clarke, Milton Park, Merlot 12/750ml
The grapes are crushed and destemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter, the must is then pumped over twice daily to maximize color, tannin and flavor extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferments remain in the 22-25 degrees Celsuis range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately seven days after crushing and the wine is then put into a mix of French and American oak to mature for 12 months.
Pretty crimson red in color. The nose is a lifted bouquet of berry and liquorice fruit, with the added complexity of custard powder oak. The palate is mid weight but full flavored with sweet blueberry fruit and cinnamon spice. The tannins are typical of Merlot, being velvety and well integrated. There is an amazing length of berry fruit and vanilla oak on the finish.

National Retail Price: $12.99 / bottle