The wine industry has seen its fair share of tragedies, but few have left a lasting impact on the family of wine maker Peter Drayton like the loss of his late brother, Trevor James Drayton, who was killed in a winery explosion in January 2008. In a bold move, Peter has decided to launch a new range of wines in honour of his brother, with the first three wines being limited production, single vineyard wines that showcase the best of the Hunter Valley.
The TJD The Individualist Range
The TJD The Individualist range is a collection of three single vineyard wines – a semillon, chardonnay, and shiraz – that are limited to 2000 individually numbered bottles of each. These wines are the flagship of Peter’s wine portfolio and are named in honour of his late brother, Trevor.
- Each wine is made from a single vineyard, with the semillon and chardonnay coming from a 3-acre block of vines that were planted by Trevor James Drayton himself.
- The shiraz is also from a single vineyard, but the fruit is from a different block.
- The TJD The Individualist range is a reflection of Peter’s desire to create wines that are unique and special, and that showcase the best of the Hunter Valley.
Cellaring Potential
All three wines have cellaring potential, with the chardonnay being described as “lean” and “modern style” with understated French oak. The semillon is “typical Hunter” and will “live forever”, while the shiraz is “medium-bodied” with “bright fruit” and a long life ahead of it.
| Wine | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| TJD The Individualist Chardonnay | $70 | Lean, modern style with understated French oak. |
| TJD The Individualist Semillon | $70 | Typical Hunter, will live forever. |
| TJD The Individualist Shiraz | $80 | Medium-bodied, bright fruit, long life ahead. |
A Tribute to Trevor James Drayton
The TJD The Individualist range is a tribute to Peter Drayton’s late brother, Trevor James Drayton, who was killed in a winery explosion in January 2008. Peter has said that his brother was a massive influence on his life and career, and that he would be “pretty happy” with the wines.
“I think he’d be pretty happy with them,” Peter said. “We had a close bond. Trevor encouraged me to get into the wine game in the first place – I used to have a construction company – and then when I bought here on Hermitage Road he helped select a lot of the varieties we planted, and he was also my first winemaker. “He was a massive influence for sure.”
The Hunter Valley Wine Scene
The Hunter Valley is known for its rich wine scene, with over 160 cellar doors offering a wide range of wines. Peter Drayton’s wine portfolio is eclectic and features a strong influence of Mediterranean varietals.
- Peter has a thriving Ironbark Hill beer range and a still that is used for gin production.
- He is also planning major works to upgrade the cellar door, starting any day.
- The Hunter Valley is a thriving region with a strong wine industry, and Peter Drayton is well-positioned to take advantage of this.
Conclusion
The TJD The Individualist range is a bold move by Peter Drayton, and one that is sure to resonate with wine lovers. With its focus on single vineyard wines and its tribute to Peter’s late brother, Trevor, this range is sure to be a standout in the Hunter Valley wine scene. As Peter said, “I’ve probably got too many of the Mediterranean varieties, so I’ll trim that back a bit.” But for now, the TJD The Individualist range is a testament to Peter’s passion and dedication to the wine industry.
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