  The historic Stonegarden Vineyard... Located in the Eden Valley’s southeastern corner, Stonegarden Vineyard is a historic gem, first planted from 1858. The site is somewhat of a living museum and contains clones and examples of varieties that may be found nowhere else on earth. Through DNA testing examples of varieties such as Canacazo and Trincadiera do not appear to have been grown anywhere else in this region or throughout Australia. There’s still further secrets to unravel about this hallowed site. The mapping has been limited to only a small ‘mixed muscat’ block in 2021. Each block contains examples of rogue varieties, either planted unknowingly or in some cases possibly deliberately. The history of Stonegarden is multi-layered. It’s a vineyard that has negotiated various phases over its long history. Originally, the fruit was predominantly utilized for crafting dry table wines. Circa 1870s, the fruit was sold to Seppeltsfield probably for making their legendary fortifieds. 1878, Benno Seppelt decided to lay down a puncheon of his finest port to be untouched for 100 years. The tradition of laying down a barrel of the finest wine from each vintage was continued every year following and continues to do so today. The Centennial Cellar now comprises an unbroken lineage of every vintage from the current year back to 1878. Grape varieties include Shiraz, Grenache (full varietal composition unknown). Today, the 1924 Para Tawny Vintage can be purchased direct from Seppeltsfield for $1,750 (100ml bottle). Stonegarden’s ancestor vines (as per the Barossa Old Vine Charter, 2009) contain genetic material that has helped populate the region with irreplaceable old stocks that underpin viticultural tradition. They are mainly dry-grown, low-yielding vines that produce grapes of great flavour and intensity. They are believed to be among the oldest-producing vines in the world. The wines produced from this special piece of history are something to behold. Shiraz, Grenache and Riesling, whilst singing their respective varietal characters, have a common vineyard thread, of beautiful aromatics and supple minerality. One-hundred-and-sixty-year-old Grenache vines are the big attraction for most of the winemakers (John Duval, Rockford, Massena, Eperosa, Kellermeister being just a few) taking a share of the rare fruit, but there is much more on offer. A mixed muscat block contains at least 20 varieties. Dan Standish is smitten with the ancient Shiraz vines which saw their way into the iconic ’22 Lamella… Of course, and not forgetting Stonegarden Wines themselves which we sampled a few years back care of current custodians Ben Radford, and until a few days back, his partner and owner of Stonegarden, Glen Monaghan who has decided to hang up his snips and tractor boots, and pass on the custodianship of Stonegarden. Glen has sold the historic vineyard and winery to Rockford (Ben has worked with Rockford for 18 years - from Cellar Hand, Senior Winemaker, Managing Director and most recently as mentor to the winemaking and viticulture teams). Glen Monaghan describes what he loves most about this special custodianship. “No one in their right mind would plant a vineyard at Stonegarden today. Relatively isolated from the rest of Barossa, soil lacking in nutrients and depth, poor rainfall and incessant threats of weather. Each year however, around the time of picking, we get to taste this amazing fruit with all the nuance of aroma, palate, colour and skin tannin. We get to see the delicious berries transform into complex, unctuous wines and at that point we are grateful someone took the time to plant some sticks in our paddocks 166 years ago.”  Hallowed vines and two, great winemakers… “Massena is one of my favourite Barossa producers, hands down.” Mike Bennie, WineFront.com. August 2019 “Very pure. The Australian Chave?” James Suckling What began as a bit of fun between two winemaking friends, looking to experiment with alternative varieties and style interpretations has grown into one of the Barossa’s most renowned small winemakers. When Massena was created, founders Jaysen Collins and Dan Standish had no idea that it would grow into what it is today but given their winemaking credentials it shouldn’t have been a surprise! In its early years, it was more like a project of personal interest and learning, with an informal and relaxed outlook on producing and creating. This relaxed, creative environment is what we can owe the incredibly authentic and innovative aura of Massena to. Massena is all about making wine from great vineyards and the way we go about it reflects this simplicity, with minimal intervention in the winery. Hand harvesting allows some whole bunch inclusion and the vineyard’s indigenous yeast is used in all ferments. White wines are whole bunch pressed and fermentation is carried out in either temperature controlled stainless steel tanks or seasoned French barriques. Long ferments on lees give extra complexity, mouthfeel and texture. The red wines are made quite traditionally, with open top fermentation, gentle extraction and basket pressing followed by ageing on lees in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Extended time on skins post ferment is used to build tannin structure and a savoury profile. 2019 represents the final vintage for Dan Standish who wished to focus, without any distraction, on his own wines, The Standish Wine Co which firmly sits at the top of the tree. Fundamentally, The 2017, 2018 and 2019 Massena wines express the true essence of their place, two gifted winemakers and for those wines which bear the ‘Stonegarden’ label, an additional sprinkling of magic…  "An afternoon of uncomplicated deliciousness. Undoubtedly, this is a super-premium Grenache which is handled sensitively... Fans of mature Barolo will like this a lot."  2018 Massena Stonegarden Grenache Was £32.50 Also available in bond Stuart McCloskey - Tasted 6 September 2024. "Hand harvested in two separate picks. The earlier pick was destemmed, fermented and aged on skins in a ceramic egg. The second parcel seeing some whole cluster inclusion. 2018 was a very good year for Barossa Grenache, which translates beautifully. The bouquet is wonderfully aromatic and decadent – rosehip, a touch of wood smoke, raspberry liquor, leather, smoked meat, juniper, rosemary, thyme, earth, truffle, black tea, along with sweet spices… The palate feel is akin to cashmere – long and shapely. The tannins are so fine – weblike and provides the softest embrace. The fruit feels autumnal, almost brooding. This isn’t in a rush – it’s one of those bottles that you open a book to. Sip, turn a page, pour a little more, and by the end of chapter three – it’s disappeared in an afternoon of uncomplicated deliciousness. Undoubtedly, this is a super-premium Grenache which is handled sensitively. The balance is incredible, as is the succulence and length. I do love the blood orange finish… Italianate feel. Fans of mature Barolo will like this a lot. Served using Zalto Bordeaux stemware. Decanted for an hour. Drink now to 2030…" 2017 Massena Stonegarden Grenache Was £36.95 SOLD OUT
97 Points - James Halliday "Hand-picked in two parcels from the original ancient vine plantings (1857), fermented and aged on skins in a ceramic egg until Oct '17. The second parcel was 100% whole-bunch fermented and matured in used puncheons. You might guess a $100+ price. This is a really attractive varietally pure wine, with very good colour and structure." 2019 Massena Stonegarden Grenache Was £33.95 SOLD OUT
97 Points - Erin Larkin, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate “This is so good. It shows all of the mineralogy and graphite tannins that are so commonly found in the Eden Valley—part of what makes it such a special place. This wine has such endurance of flavor in the mouth that I can still taste it after having written the note. Hungarian salami, pink peppercorns, pencil shavings, raspberry pip, salted licorice, black cherries, cocoa powder... you want more? Also fennel seeds, pepper and blackberries. The tannins shape all aspects of this wine and carry it over the long (and fresh) finish.” "Sublime and hedonistic (in the purest sense). The palate provides extraordinary levels of concentration... In many ways this reminds me of Standish Schubert Theorem."  2018 Massena Stonegarden Shiraz Was £32.95 Also available in bond We have 30 bottles at our HQ and 10 six-packs at our bonded warehouse. We will transfer stocks on Saturday morning if HQ stocks are running low. Sit tight and check back on Saturday morning… Stuart McCloskey - Tasted 6 September 2024. "Bouquet: The standout character being the sense of purity as the sheer ripeness factor would go awry in the wrong hands. Dark berries, plums, violet, game and redcurrant meld with cooling steel, iodine, sea kelp, graphite, dark chocolate and leather. Sublime and hedonistic (in the purest sense). The palate provides extraordinary levels of concentration, but the sense of levity is breathtaking. In many ways this reminds me of Standish Schubert Theorem (with a touch less luxuriousness and depth, but there are canny similarities). The palate feel is so creamy – lavish, it feels expensive and exotic. This commands your attention. Flavours come by way of autumn and would partner roasted wild duck or venison perfectly. Earth meets wild hedgerow if you get my drift. The length of flavour and sheer presence marks this out as a special wine. Wonderful in a word. Served using Zalto Bordeaux stemware. Decanted for an hour and drinks like a dream today. Expect more gamey notes in the next 5-8 years."  2017 Massena Stonegarden Grenache Mataro Shiraz Was £36.95 Last 18 bottles Stuart McCloskey “Single vineyard wine from the distinguished Stonegarden vineyard in the Eden Valley, with old vine heritage and limited production. The nose is dark, brooding and intense – warm earth, dried rose petal and dried cake spice mix lift with aeration. Dry, mountainous herbs unfurl with old sage bush, rosemary and dried thyme. A little old wood fire smoke adds to the intrigue. The palate surprises with a graceful wash of sweet black and red fruits tinged with mineral, smoke and earth. The tannins are silky and the acidity is bright and alive. Rhône-esque without emulating. Vivid and highly inviting. Such a lovely wine. Drink now to 2030. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware”  Showcasing the amazing diversity of microclimates that the Barossa Valley has to offer, these wines are the creative expression of the winemaker, with a focus on restraint… crafted to enjoy with food and friends.  2018 The Eleventh Hour Shiraz £24.95 per bottle Was £24.95 SOLD OUT
Last 9 bottles From vineyards located in the Greenock, Stonewell and Tanunda sub regions of the Barossa. An ideal environment for growing Shiraz, the region yields juicy, spicy and concentrated fruit. Complexity derives from the hard red-brown soils of Stonewell, while the open soils of Vine Vale offer an aromatic intensity. Shiraz for the Eleventh Hour is aged in seasoned oak and bottled without fining or filtration. The Barossa Valley endured a reasonably hot growing season in 2018 and once the temperatures eased off and the grapes fully ripened, both Shiraz and Grenache showed great potential. James Halliday "A paucity of information accompanying the Massena wines but here fruit sourced from vineyards in Greenock, Stone Well and Vine Vale, some whole bunches, some extended skin contact and basket-pressed to used French barriques and puncheons for 18 months. Unfined and unfiltered. It's come together brilliantly. It has richness and a depth of flavour matched to a brightness and vivacity across its fuller-bodied palate. Supple, savoury tannins and just lovely fruit shining through."  2019 Massena The Moonlight Run GSM £18.95 per bottle Also available in bond As the name suggests, the Moonlight Run was the long midnight drive back to the Barossa after working a vintage in the Clare Valley in 1999. The founders-to-be of Massena would be dreaming of a soft, easy wine to unwind from a hard night’s work with. The craving was soon realised and the Southern Rhône inspired Midnight Run was born. Sam Kim – Wine Orbit “It's wonderfully ripe and perfumed on the nose showing blackberry, spiced cherry, clove, cedar and dark cocoa notes, leading to a flavoursome palate delivering excellent weight and richly textured mouthfeel, finishing superbly long and satisfying”  2022 Massena The Surly Muse Viognier Was £19.95 Also available in bond Jaysen Collins, Winemaker: "Made from 100% Viognier in 2022. Each year we take a parcel of Viognier from a South facing vineyard in the Gomersal sub-region. The red iron ridge soils are harsh and the area is dry so we pick it early to preserve the natural acidity. Cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks and ageing ‘surlie’ (on lees) in French oak barriques, we then bottle the wine unfiltered and release almost immediately. Whole bunch pressed, no cultured yeast added, aged in a mix of stainless steel and seasoned French Oak hogsheads for 7 months before bottling in October 2022.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil Frankland River, Western Australia  Available outside of their cellar door in Frankland River for the very first time. We began offering olive oil for sale back in 2014. Over 500 bottles of Fontodi and Capezzana would sell throughout the year. Most would sell within a few weeks of arriving. Our ’14 price for the Capezzana was £25.95 – now it’s almost forty-quid for a 750ml bottle. Prices increase however, allocations have decreased year-on-year. Last year we only received 60-bottles which sold within 48-hours. Accordingly, and very much inline with our wine offerings, why not offer an Aussie EVOO, which and by popular demand, is exactly what we present to you today… As with all our Aussie offerings’, we sampled a bottle and happily slurped upon spoon after spoonful. In hindsight, I should have compiled a tasting note for you. After all, artisan extra virgin olive oil can be as special as a bottle of wine. Needless to say, it was deliciously fruity, deeply intense, juxtaposed by refreshing bitterness (moderately so) with a super-long peppery finish. A note for future bottlings, Stu as this note is poor by Vinorium standards. But, it does come with our unwavering seal of approval… The oil in question started as a small side project back in 1996. We understand 3,285 olive trees were planted with many trial varieties to determine what would grow best in the cool Frankland River climate. Today Alkoomi have retained just 400 Correggiola and 600 Manzanillo trees that are lovingly nurtured and transformed into their extra virgin olive oil. This glorious oil comfortably sits on the premium / artisan shelf – quantities are tiny and everything is completed by hand (including hand labelling each bottle). A little ‘cold pressed’ EVOO fact for you… By legal definition in the EU, extra virgin olive oil is extracted without any heat or chemicals and only comes from the first pressing of the olives. So, and very much like the wording on our Alkoomi bottles, ‘cold pressed’ is more of a marketing term in the EU. Perhaps Aussie legalities differ? We shall find out… Pricing for artisan EVOO varies enormously. I am gobsmacked by the cost of all, decent cooking and dressing oils. I take a cynical view of annual falls in production from our Italian supplier. Oddly, there hasn’t been a decent harvest in the past decade! Of course, and the one thing that they can guarantee is the increase in their staffing and production costs, which neatly translates into a further price hike. Accepting the pattern is not what The Vinorium is renowned for. Instead, why not go to the source and provide a product that tastes amazing, but is acceptable to our purses. Most artisan oils are priced anywhere from £15.00 to £60.00 per 500ml bottle. Today, we are delighted to launch our very own (imported) EVOO on a special pre-arrival offer. If all goes to plan, I can see an olive oil division developing as it’s absolutely fascinating. We believe our ‘pre-arrival’ pricing of £11.00 per 500ml bottle provides truly exceptional value. Be assured, the quality belies our introductory offer. Delivery: They will be sailing on APL New York which departs Wednesday 9 September and arrives in the UK on or around 24 October. Available for delivery End October 2024 "This 2021 Coleraine is undeniably THE GOAT of New Zealand wine."  Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2021 100 Points - Sam Kim “The 2021 Coleraine exhibits a commanding presence and majestic poise. The bouquet reveals classic aromas of cassis, dark plum and violet with whispering nuances of cedar and cigar. There are hints of warm spices, compounding the pleasure upon inhalation. The palate is bold and graceful at once, enhanced by plush texture and multi-layered mouthfeel, beautifully framed by refreshing acidity and fine chalky tannins. Robust and substantial with a great line and length, which seem to go on to infinity. This youthful wine is already impossible to resist, but time will reward those who can wait. In sports, they often talk about ‘The Greatest of All Time’, or 'The GOAT'. This 2021 Coleraine is undeniably THE GOAT of New Zealand wine” £80.00 per bottle Only 17 bottles available "Tremendous persistence and wonderful structure. A great wine." Te Mata Estate Coleraine 2022 99-points Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deep, brooding purple-red colour with a concentrated berry fruit bouquet laced with cedar, violets and dried herbs, gorgeous fruit and classy oak embellishment. The wine is full bodied and powerful, with a generous serving of fine grained tannins that add length, authority and a drying but supple finish. Tremendous persistence and wonderful structure. A great wine, that will richly reward long-term cellaring." £78.50 per bottle Only 5 bottles available "Offering harmony and structure within an opulent frame... This is a gratifying red offering awesome value."  Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets / Merlot 2021 97 Points - Sam Kim “Offering harmony and structure within an opulent frame of rich fruit and silky tannins, this is a gratifying red offering awesome value. The enticing bouquet shows blackcurrant, mulberry, tobacco and cedary oak characters with a delicate floral overtone. The palate displays amazing depth and persistency, wonderfully complemented by delectable fruit flavours with spicy nuances. Tannins are fine, mouth-coating and just right, making it structured and seamless at the same time.” £26.25 per bottle Only 24 bottles available |
