 2022 Collection "Presenting another degree of bloody good." Kym Teusner “Well, coming out of a vintage like 2021, everyone was asking – how does it get better than this….. A very pertinent question. But we are a super lucky bunch in the Barossa. We almost never miss out. The location is to die for. The landscape and geology is ideal for doing what we do. And the topography sets a perfect canvas for mother nature to be very kind to our vines – in most years. Seriously – it’s a damned sight easier to count the rubbish vintages than the great ones. In my 20+ years in the game we’ve only had 2 challenging years (in my opinion anyway). The rest have just been varying degrees of bloody good. So here we are – presenting another degree of bloody good with the 2022 offerings.  A beautifully cold and wet winter following the 21 vintage recharged some VERY dry landscapes and gave the roots of our vines a welcome soaking. Late winds and rain through November challenged the fruitset, however, and left us with modest crop levels. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as the summer was long, warm and dry so the vines were able to cope well with not having large crops. Temperatures throughout the growing season were moderate – perfectly warm without being crazy hot so the fruit ripened slowly and evenly, resulting in beautiful balance of nicely ripened tannins, good fresh flavour, bright acidity and typical alcohols. Balance is the key and seasons like 22 deliver exactly that. The location of the Utopos vineyard served it very well in 22. We missed the frosts that hounded some of our neighbours due to our elevation. The Hailstorms just seemed to part and go around us whilst decimating some less fortunate. Localised downpours always miss this part of the Barossa due to the landscape. A very good spot to grow some grapes. Yep. "Overall, a vintage of elegance but with depth and complexity. My 8th year on this vineyard. I think I’m starting to understand it. I love the wines from 22. Hallmark acid tannin balance. Bright fruit. Savoury balance. Umami texture with a deep complexity. Very satisfying drinking." 2022 Pricing & Availability… Green Wax Collection: The rest of the world has seen their price increase by 20% however, and to quote Kym, “your price remains this year however, we will have to address this at some stage. I know…. It’s out of control. Out of my control as well.” The domestic price being $80.00 (£42.00) per bottle. Our pre-arrival offer continues to provide unrivalled value. The 2018 Sparkling Shiraz: Fundamentally, our price has risen by 22% with available volumes close to zilch. We are allocated ten cases of six and that’s all we have… The domestic price being $95.00 (£50.00) per bottle, versus our pre-arrival offer at circa £31.00 per bottle. Blue Wax (Cabernet / Shiraz): This one sits close to our hearts as we asked Kym to craft a single barrel (600 bottles) for Vinorium customers only, which he kindly obliged and delivered the superb 2019. Originally, Kym was anticipating marketing this wine as an icon offering from his vineyard with higher pricing. I was less enthusiastic, and responded with, “I hadn’t considered a price increase as I want to ensure we build a strong brand in Europe. That said, and with a wee-change in the packaging (perhaps a different coloured wax seal and corresponding label colour) it may work however, and knowing our customers as I do, they may simply opt for single bottles of Cab and Shiraz.” Times-up McCloskey as Kym would like to discuss the positioning of the Cab / Shiraz with you… “We have repositioned this wine everywhere else in the world to sit just below the Block 1 Eutopos ($250)." The price increase being 100%! The domestic price for the ’21 is $165 (£87). "I understand that your market won’t tolerate this sort of jump in one hit, but I do want to formulate a plan with you to get it there over a period of time. I actually believe that the wine is equal in pedigree to the Eutopos and the rarity speaks for itself with only around 100 doz produced of the 2022. I’d be keen to hear your thoughts on how we work towards positioning this wine in its rightful price point in your market.” I wanted to share the intricacies of Utopos with you. Why? It’s been a love affair for many of us – many of you feel strongly connected along with having a vested interest in the collection. When we launched the 2017 / 2018 collection, sales were extraordinary. Kym had never seen such a global success for any of his wines. Of course, and this is the crux, Utopos was a new wine brand that required sales. To ensure success, price versus quality was wholly disproportionate. Today, we are releasing the 2022 vintage – four vintages have passed quickly (there was no 2020 due to smoke taint - a direct result of the awful bushfires which engulfed large parts of Australia). Kym has moved forward, as too has the Utopos brand. I firmly believe Utopos is going from strength-to-strength with the ’22 demonstrating the best set of releases to date. Utopos will always be a beacon of quality with the collection knocking the socks off many wines which are marketed at a much higher price. It is worth remembering the heritage of the vineyard and the sheer quality of the fruit that lies within it. The previous owner sold the fruit to Penfolds which formed part of Bin 707, arguably one of Australia’s greatest Cabernet Sauvignons and certainly one of the most expensive. We have also shared the story with Kym’s Block 1 Shiraz sourced from a tiny one-acre block planted on a red clay and ironstone section of the vineyard in 1974 to the famous Kalimna 3C clone of Shiraz. Block 3C, Kalimna Vineyard is a very special site indeed. To many, perhaps the most hallowed, identifiable single block in Australia. The 3C component normally contributes to Penfolds Grange however, and when the block produces perfect fruit, Penfolds release Bin 170 which is an extremely rare wine. Released only for the second time in history, both the experimental Bin 170 made in 1973 and the second release in 2010 were sourced from Block 3C in the Kalimna Vineyard and released at $1,800 per bottle. To my own palate, I prefer the 2022s over all previous releases (as I did with the ’22 Standish collection). More intriguing and simply, more enjoyable to taste (particularly the Cabernet Sauvignon which is an absolute winner). Equally, the MSG is by far one of the best assemblages I have sampled in years. Shiraz, is always epic, and will make your toes tingle with joy… Utopos wines deserve the very best attention and representation and reason why this is a critical release for The Vinorium. You see, the job of the winemaking / sales team is to find countries / importers who can sell their wines at current prices, which we are miles off. 2022 is a year whereby we must demonstrate our ability to sell sufficient stock to justify the enormous discounts compared to every market on this planet. Additionally, and if we maintain the agency into next year, you will see noticeable price increases for the ’23 collection. Our Pre-Arrival prices continue to provide unwavering value along with flexibility on availability. Each wine is available in cases of 6x75cl (under bond and also duty paid with free home delivery) along with a three-pack of each varietal. 3-packs are only available duty paid. Will we be physically stocking the 2022s? Perhaps a maximum of 36-48 bottles of each wine, which and given our previous orders (ordinarily, we would commit to 400-600 bottles of each wine) is tiny however, our rationale being – if we cannot sell such magnificent wines at these prices, (we have reverted to 2019 pricing) then we have no chance of selling at the higher price when they physically arrive… Free home delivery on all pre-arrival orders Under-bond transfer charges will apply Shipping / Delivery dates: We plan to ship June / July with an ETA into the UK of September / October 2024. As ever, we will provide firmer dates closer to the time… This special pre-arrival offer ends  2018 Utopos Kym Teusner "A very special wine indeed. A celebration of shiraz in its finest form. The Utopos Sparkling Shiraz starts its life as does our still shiraz. After 18 months in older oak it finds its way into bottle where a secondary fermentation is initiated and the gas is produced and trapped in the wine. We then age the wine on the secondary fermentation yeast lees for around 3 years to maximise texture and complexity before disgorging and sealing under crown seal for absolute certainty that the wine will present exactly as we anticipated – with a perfectly balanced palate of rich fruit and a persistent bead of fine bubbles. An amazing addition to any celebration." £140.00 per case (6x75cl) in bond £187.25 per case (6x75cl) delivered to your home Only TEN cases available  "Texture is important to me, and this delivers a gossamer-like-feel... Honestly, there’s not a hair out of place. Harmony personified."  2022 Utopos Cabernet Sauvignon Stuart McCloskey "The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is an entirely different proposition from previous releases - Barossa meets the Margaret River along with a few toes in Bordeaux. After an hour in the decanter, the bouquet opens to an evocative medley of blackberry, raspberry, juniper, violet, a smidge of fresh cedar, sea salt along with a whiff of blood orange. In many ways, the bouquet reminds me of the 2019 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River) which received almost a perfect note from Aussie critic, The Wine Pilot. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins feel graceful and crisp. Like the ’22 Standish releases – ripeness is evident but toned down compared to previous releases, which I prefer. This certainly comes across unforced, super-natural, precise and focussed. Texture is important to me, and this delivers a gossamer-like-feel. Sumptuous being a good description. There’s a feast of fruits to enjoy – blackcurrant, blackberry, redcurrant, briary, a touch of rosemary along with underlying salinity. The sorbet-like finish provides such wonderful freshness without detracting from the ripeness. Honestly, there’s not a hair out of place. Harmony personified. Undoubtedly, this is a glorious Cabernet Sauvignon which I would happily serve today (1-2 hours in a decanter) through to 2040. Of course, 4-5 years would be a great time to re-examine progress. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware." Kym Teusner "Dense blood red colour. The aromatic is sooooooo deep and pleasurable. Almost embarrassingly so…. Dusty tobacco leaf and ripe red pepper highlighted with wafts of herbaceousness. All of this is underpinned with violets, black currants and intense raspberry. Lifted spicy French oak and vanilla bean play their part. The palate is super rich, round and full but kept in check with the freshness of the acidity so as to not be at all overbearing. Dark red fruits and crunchy redcurrant lead the way into dark chocolate with flashes of peppermint, rosehip and elderberry. Lovely savoury balance. The palate is long with great structure and acidity to balance the richness." £146.50 per case (6x75cl) in bond £195.00 per case (6x75cl) delivered to your home "Insanely deep, Standish darkness... It’s a Shiraz I will buy, and here’s a huge confession, I don’t purchase many. This is truly excellent."  2022 Utopos Shiraz Stuart McCloskey "Again, and without repeating myself, the hallmark freshness belies what is fast becoming my preferred vintage. Insanely deep, Standish darkness, wholesome, brooding, ironstone, blueberry, damson, blood, uncooked beef, nori, sea salt, leather, woodsmoke, green peppercorns, layers of graphite, spiced oak, black olive, liquorice and fennel seed. Oddly, oceanic which is an odd descriptor for a wine produced in the Barossa. It must be the sea salt seasoning and freshness. The palate is graphite-lead – the black and blue fruits infused with earth’s wonders. This provides a direct link to the bedrock. Incredibly mineralité. I sense this is the most sophisticated release to date - It’s certainly my preferred. The fruit washes across my palate in waves of freshness. There’s depth, density, but nothing runs away – wonderful control. A fruit bomb this is not. Instead, this is a direct link to ‘true’ terroir and a very fine example of the vintage that nature delivered. It’s a Shiraz I will buy, and here’s a huge confession, I don’t purchase many. This is truly excellent. Decanted for 3-hours (needs longer) and served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Drinking now? Yes, and to quell ones curiosity. I imagine it will be hitting its straps in 8-10 years. Check-in after five…" Kym Teusner "The colour here is extraordinarily dense with a bright purple/deep red hue. Nosing the wine brings dark, savoury ripe fruit to mind.Very ferrous with wafts of straw, fresh leather and liquorice. Amazingly dense and complex. Every now and then I catch some cumquat. Mostly though the wine is underpinned with dark peppery spice, crushed diamond plums and beef stock gravy. The palate totally belies the aromatic that makes you think the wine is going to be enormously heavy and thick. Rather, it is thankfully nimble and bright yet with a fullness that leaves you satisfied. This is the beauty of this vineyard, I think. Through all of the wines, but especially this one. The wine is flinty and graphite driven with a slight of char and tapenade through its backbone. Hints of freshly dried apricots, sweet spicy plums and dark forest berries. Tannins will serve this wine well over time in the cellar." £146.50 per case (6x75cl) in bond £195.00 per case (6x75cl) delivered to your home "Sensational and one of the most captivating bouquets of the year…Incredibly moreish. Really scrummy, says the winetaster reaching for his third top-up."  2022 Utopos Mataro 55% Mataro / 25% Shiraz / 20% Grenache Stuart McCloskey "What a bouquet. So distinctive – such individuality. Fresh pine needles, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, lavender, rosemary, clove, savoury spice, bell pepper, fennel seed, and Habanero pepper – smoky and lifted fruit. Sensational and one of the most captivating bouquets of the year… The palate carries the ’22 hallmark – Lavish, curvaceous whilst being supported with perfect freshness, which provides lift and balance. This wine has lots of soul along with skilful winemaking. All three varietals work in harmony. No sign of dominance – simply, a perfect marriage with each varietal gifting their own personality. The palate entry is sweet, lavish (albeit controlled). I feel like I have been dropped into a pine forest mountain – the valley floor covered with an abundance of wild blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, elderberry along with rose hip. Wonderfully floral – super long too. The tannins are fine and fan out across the palate. Incredibly moreish. Really scrummy, says the winetaster reaching for his third top-up. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Decanted for 2-hours. Drink now (give it a little longer in the decanter) and enjoy over the next 15-years. Exceptional release…" Kym Teusner "I have a hard time deciding if this is my favourite wine from the vineyard or the Cab Shiraz…. 22 isn’t the year that gives me a clear cut winner. Colour is medium density with dark blood red hue. The aromatic opens all dark fruited and brooding. This is what I love about Mataro. The dirty complex opening of truffle and dark fruit like blood plum that gives way to the prettiest perfumes of Asian spice and florals. The special thing in this wine that 22 offers is the wafts of blue fruit and fennel that complicate the aromatic along with hints of dried citrus peel and dill reminiscent of garrigue. The palate is dense and lively, driven with a rhubarb like acidity and dark plummy fruits. The truffle and mocha notes add to the mouthcoating texture of the wine. The spice is initially very understated but evolves with time in the glass and will continue to do so as the wine ages in bottle. The tannins are fine but supportive. So damned satisfying and moreish." £146.50 per case (6x75cl) in bond £195.00 per case (6x75cl) delivered to your home "Kym has pitched this perfectly as he blends power with finesse with consummate ease. Super-long, super-juicy and wonderfully appealing."  2022 Utopos Cabernet Shiraz 70% Cabernet Sauvignon / 30% Shiraz Stuart McCloskey "The bouquet is very ‘Utopos’ and back to an intense Smörgåsbord of ripe, black fruits – blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, violet, Indian ink, anise, sweet, gingery spice, fruitcake, mint, rosemary and warmed earth. The palate is immensely pure and drives with silky ribbons of ripe, dark fruits. This provides immediate ‘drinkable allure’ however, the ripeness is counterbalanced by the same sorbet-like feel and freshness found in the Cabernet, which ticks every box for me. That said, this is muscular and punches with impact. The core of fruit is ripe, dense and stays around forever on your palate. I will say, Kym has pitched this perfectly as he blends power with finesse with consummate ease. Super-long, super-juicy and wonderfully appealing. This can be enjoyed upon release (decant for 4-6 hours) and will only get better over the next 10-15-years. 5-minutes later – the flavours and sensation remain with me. Very impressive, indeed. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware." Kym Teusner "A barrel selection of the very best Cab and the very best shiraz blended together. The synergy of these varietals is undeniable somehow connected by the ferrous savoury elements of both individual wines.. Only 100 cases produced. Densely packed blood red colour. The most beautiful concoction of the best parts of the cab sauv and shiraz with a sprinkle of seasoning sprinkled over the top from the time in tight grained French. Lifted, bright and so seductively pretty. Extraordinarily floral aromatics of violets, hibiscus, tangerine and vanilla bean with a complex combination of sweet spices and undertones of citrus, sour cherry and ferrous bloody notes. Ripe red pepper linger around in the background. Again, the palate weight belies the density of the aromatic. Satisfyingly rich and sweet but balanced by the fresh acidity and oak spice. Loads of mocha, spice and coffee bean. There is a seamless flow of tannin here that supports the length of dense fruit whilst remaining somewhat light on its feet." £146.50 per case (6x75cl) in bond £195.00 per case (6x75cl) delivered to your home Only 30 cases available |
