Fantastic Aussie wines, exclusive to The Vinorium

Purple Hands Wines is the solo venture of Grant Burge Chief Winemaker Craig Stansborough. Craig’s partner in crime is his “good mate” and fellow wine lover Mark Slade. Craig and Mark made their first vintage in 2006 from just over a tonne of hand-picked Shiraz from Craig’s own vineyard that they crushed and fermented in his shed. From there, they have gone on to produce a range of incredible wines that include their standout, single vineyard trio the After Five Wine Co range. Thes... read moree wines are sourced from three individual sites across the Barossa Valley, one of which is Craig’s own Stansborough vineyard. This particular vineyard is planted with 8 hectares of Shiraz and 1 hectare each of Italian varieties Aglianico and Montepulciano, as well as a third generation, family owned Grenache vineyard. Through their single vineyard range, Craig and Mark’s aim is to produce fruit driven wines with elegance and texture that reflect the vineyards from which they are sourced. Their After Five Wine Co Shiraz is sourced from Craig’s own Stansborough vineyard. The Old Vine Grenache is produced from vines sourced from the Zerk Grenache Vineyard, a family owned and run single site, planted by the Zerk family in 1961. The third vineyard that Purple Hands source fruit from is the Woodlands Vineyard, which Craig and Mark uncovered in 2012, discovering 468 exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon vines hidden at the back of an old vineyard across the road from the Zerk Family Vineyard. After some investigation by a historian, they discovered that the vineyard was planted some time during the mid-1800s with the Cabernet Sauvignon estimated to have been planted sometime between 1880 and 1890 and are thought to be some of the oldest Cabernet vines in Australia. It is these ancient vines that make up their Planta Circa Ancestor Vine Cabernet Sauvignon. They produced the first vintage of this in 2013 and it received 97 points from James Halliday, with the following vintage receiving an incredible 98 points. Due to the vine’s age of around 125 years, the yields are small, with usually only 2–3 barrels produced, which equates to only 100 dozen.

Ryan Gibbs, the owner/operator of Aylesbury Estate, has a rich family history in the Ferguson Valley. Pioneers of the area, the Gibbs family migrated to Western Australia from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in 1844. The Gibbs family arrived in the Ferguson Valley in 1883, and since that day, the family has lived and worked on the same piece of land, passed down an unbroken chain of succession through five generations. Historically, they have produced citrus, stone-fruit, potatoes and dairy. Ryan now focuses on beef production and of course, high qu... read moreality wine-grapes. Located in the Ferguson Valley within the Geographe wine region, the Aylesbury Estate property is home to a 200 strong Angus beef breeding herd, complimented with vineyard plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and most recently, Vermentino. This fruit is used in the Pater Series, QO5 and Waterfall Gully ranges. Since 2018, they expanded their property to include the highly awarded 52 Stones Vineyard, where they grow Chardonnay, Arneis and Gamay.
 
The Ferguson Valley climate is similar to Western Europe – with the Douro Valley of Portugal being the most alike. Cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers provide the perfect conditions for grape-growing. The native Australian forests surrounding the property provide pure, clean water for the vines throughout summer. This pristine environment is incredibly well suited to the production of high-quality grapes, which in turn helps Aylesbury Estate to create beautifully complex and balanced wines. Put simply, these wines are wonderful. Their Gamay is, by far, the best Aussie example we have ever sampled and more akin to Pinot Noir than Gamay. That said, Gamay it is and recognisably so, but with more deliciousness thrown in… Aylesbury Estate, in my humble opinion, produce wines which deliver absolute satisfaction. I have sampled, re-sampled and taken every bottle home with me (several times, if truth be known). Each time, and each bottle, I am left with a euphoric grin.
Hail fabulously made wines, full of personality, packed with flavour and superbly priced. I hope my tasting notes provide the key to unlock their competitively priced brilliance.

Barr-Eden Estate is a unique property consisting of 130 acres of natural splendour. Nestled on Mengler Hill, the property originally settled in 1858. It rises in elevation from 1525 to 1788 feet (465m to 545m) above sea level. It sits amongst some of the highest vineyards in altitude in Australia and it is situated across two world acclaimed wine regions; Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. In March 2014 Joel Mattschoss, a renowned Barossa grape grower was fortunate enough to source a few tonnes of premium fruit from a long established Eden Valley... read more property. The original 4,000 acre property was settled by the Polhner family in the foothills of the Barossa during the early settlement of South Australia in 1858. After nearly 150 years under the original Polhner family ownership, the property was sold to larger than life, Australian wine industry icon, Bob McLean in 1997. Bob and Joel had a very close relationship and Joel was able to acquire this premium fruit. Through a common passion of great terroirs and premium wines, Joel showed the grapes to Pierre-Henri Morel, a Frenchman new to South Australia from the Northern Rhône region. Pierre-Henri spent over a decade working for Michel Chapoutier in Ermitage before he joined Two Hands Wines in early 2014. Pierre thought the fruit profile was reminiscent of the most uplifted and complex fruit within his home region.  Together, they agreed to crush and to ferment the 2014 fruit separately, after a meticulous hand picking and hand destemming process. In 2016, Love Over Gold extended their footprint on the property and created Avenue to Gold, from a younger block of vines on the same property. Sadly, only a few months later, Bob McLean passed away. Through their close friendship, an agreement was formed that Joel and Pierre, as well as Michael Twelftree and Tim Hower (proprietors of Two Hands Wines) would all become custodians of this unique property. From here, the Love Over Gold Estate was born. The name Love Over Gold comes from this spectacular property as the vineyards have been lovingly planted over historic goldfields in Eden Valley. In October 2018, 1,700 days after the first berries were picked, the first wine was released, thus creating a new chapter of this unique story by the new custodians.

Capezzana Olive Oil has a very intense green colour and very fruity aromas of freshly cut grass and artichokes. On the palate, it is dense and viscous, with flavours that match the aromas on the nose, a very long finish with a touch of spice. A very elegant and harmonious Olive Oil. Capezzana Estate "Always known among the products of the Tenuta di Capezzana is extra virgin olive oil, obtained from olives of the Moraiolo and Frantoio varieties, with a small percentage of Pendolino and Leccino. The olives are pressed within the 24 hours fo... read morellowing the collection in the modern technically innovative company crusher because it extracts the oil by subjecting the dough to a soft centrifugation. The low temperature and speed of processing contribute to giving an oil rich in aromas and aromas typical of the territory of Carmignano. The oil then decants in the historic orciaia adjacent to the mill, according to the ancient system that avoids a second centrifugation. A Brilliant green, Capezzana oil is distinguished by its elegance and delicacy."

Clarendon Hills live under the motto of ‘purity and perfection’ and Biochemist Roman Bratasiuk has been flattering the palates of consumers and critics alike since 1989. With no formal oenological qualifications, his obsession to attain a finished product of unrivalled quality has been fuelled by a personal love of exceptional wine. At this McLaren Vale property he is now joined by sons Adam and Alex who help with management and winemaking. Production is dedicated to varietal wines from vineyards that have exceptional soils,... read more aspect and climatic conditions that aid optimal berry development and expression of the individual grape variety. Most vine stock is original French cuttings of more than 90 years old, which are dry farmed to prevent dilution of juice concentration. Harvesting of fruit is done by hand followed by rigorous sorting before pressing. Roman insists on using indigenous yeasts in the fermentation process as a means of expressing a sense of place and identity. This philosophy carries through to the pre-bottling stage where the wine sees no fining or filtration for maximum flavour intensity.

Coulter Wines are minimal intervention, small batch wines that focus on cleanliness and purity. Working as a winemaker for a large company for a number of years, Chris Coulter always had a nagging desire to produce his own wine and eventually took the leap and created Coulter Wines. Fruit is sourced from premium growers in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Riverland. Fruit is handpicked and crushed on the same day.  You have spent many years working for large winemaking companies including McGuigan and 1847, did this experience hel... read morep you create a list of ‘must haves’ and ‘never in a million years’ pointers for your own wines? Chris - Winemaking is all about attention to detail, working for a large company like McGuigan taught me this. This includes thoughtful and careful treatment of your wine even down to minimizing movement and interactions with the wine where possible. The bottom line is look after the product and be fully aware of any consequences of your actions or lack thereof. Did you always have a little voice in your head urging you to create your own brand and how did you eventually manage to turn that nagging desire into Coulter Wines? Have there been any disasters that you’re able to look back at and laugh about now? Chris - I have always wanted my own brand. I started with one Tonne of fruit in 2015 and have slowly built that up to the current levels. Benefits include a broader knowledge of the various components within the industry like package design and the legality’s of producing alcohol just to name a few. Touch wood, there have been no disasters as I do my research before tackling any project I am not fluent with – I imagine this has saved me. I also draw information from various colleges and mentors within the industry.  

"Being named as "the newest buzz in Margaret River," Domaine Naturaliste is the project of Bruce Dukes, a highly experienced winemaker with a career spanning over 25 years... it is Bruce’s belief that a holistic approach reaps the greatest rewards, both for the wine and the environment." Whilst completing his degree, Bruce worked as assistant winemaker for Francis Ford Coppola at Niebaum- Coppola in the Napa Valley and has also had a significant stint at the great Pierro Winery closer to home in Margaret River. B... read moreruce approaches winemaking with the passion of an Agronomist, beginning with a deep understanding of soils and sustainable farming practices, it is Bruce’s belief that a holistic approach reaps the greatest rewards, both for the wine and the environment. Domaine Naturaliste vineyards are located in the heart of the highly regarded Wilyabrup sub-region, located on the north eastern coast of Margaret River. The vines are 7km inland from the magnificent Indian ocean. The gravelly loam soils provide a stable foundation for the 20 year old grapevines, allowing them to achieve the perfect balance. The maritime climate is characterised by cool wet winters, and long gentle summers. The Karri Trees that dominate the landscape here, provide shelter from the prevailing westerly and south-westerly winds that blow in from the Indian Ocean, making the area a pristine environment for growing high quality grapes.  

The Elderton Vineyard began when early German settlers gave the name to a vineyard on the banks of the North Para River in Nuriootpa in 1894. In 1916 it was purchased by Samuel Elderton Tolley who built himself a sprawling homestead on the estate and sold fruit to his family’s winery. In 1979 Lorraine and Neil Ashmead were given a proposal, “If you buy the house, I will give you the surrounding 72 acres of old vines for nothing.” The rambling old homestead looked ideal for a growing family and the Ashmead’s w... read moreorked tirelessly to salvage and restore this treasure of a vineyard. In 1982, the first wine was made under the Elderton label. Tough times prevailed but ultimately the vision of the founders shone through and Elderton is today celebrated as a major reason for the rejuvenation of the Barossa. In 1993 Elderton shot to national prominence after winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy. International success ensued. The second generation took the reins of the business in 2003. Brothers Cameron and Allister believe very strongly in continuing the traditions that began a generation earlier, on the Nuriootpa vineyard. They want to take the family company to the next level, so together they devised a plan to buy great vineyards in other significant sub appellations of the Barossa. Through using sustainable practices, the hope is that the next generation of the Ashmead family have a lot to work with when they are at the helm.

We love all our wine producers however, there were three which rocked our vinous world in 2020. Standish Wines, Utopos and our third, Gemtree. Gemtree Wines is owned and operated by husband and wife team; Melissa and Mike Brown. They are dedicated to growing their incredible wines, naturally with minimal intervention in the winemaking process along with an environmentally friendly farming system. Gemtree produce biodynamic and certified organic wines which are powerful, concentrated and beautifully express the true characteristics of each grap... read moree variety and region. Team Vinorium have been blown away by their range and we are very excited to share them with you all. The purity and elegance of your wines speak for themselves but did you initially need some convincing to move into Biodynamic principles back in 2007?  Mike: In 2005, we had a trial underway farming a block of Petit Verdot organically. This was initiated by Melissa who was heading down the organic path at home and wanted to put it into practice in the family vineyards. Around this time, Mike attended a conference in the Barossa Valley on Shiraz and participated in a tasting of biodynamic wines. He was blown away by the purity and quality of the biodynamic wines and suggested to Melissa that we should give it a go at Gemtree. Melissa had come across biodynamics while at University on a field trip to Cullen Wines in Margaret River so had a basic idea of what it was about. Convincing Melissa’s father was a challenge, but persistence paid off!  Who better to ask than Mike and Melissa from Gemtree who have provided a fascinating insight into their world of biodynamic winemaking…

"Nick's 2010 Mon Pere Shiraz was awarded the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show - the first time in the trophy's 50-year history for a Tasmanian wine." Nick Glaetzer of Glaetzer-Dixon is a member of one of Australia’s most recognised winemaking families, son of Baron of Barossa Colin, brother to Ben of Barossa’s Glaetzer Wines and nephew of John, the chief winemaker at Wolf Blass and creator of the famous John’s blend. Nick’s father, Colin began as a winemaker fo... read morer the Seppelt’s at Rutherglen and Great Western before establishing the Glaetzer name in the Barossa Valley where Nick worked his first vintages. Nick then moved on to work with some of the great names in Australian wine including Leeuwin Estate, Wolf Blass, Lindeman’s, Rosemount, Evans & Tate and Frogmore Creek as well as working some vintages in France at Domaine de la Ferrrandière in the Languedoc, Domaine Albert Morot in Burgundy and Weingut Egon Müller in Germany. This broad experience created a passion for Pinot Noir and Riesling and with his family name being firmly rooted as one of the greats of the Barossa Valley, Nick began to search for the finest terroir to produce the finest wines from these grape varieties. After tasting what he thought was a Grand Cru Burgundy at a blind tasting at Leeuwin Estate, Nick was stunned to discover the wine was in fact a Tasmanian Pinot Noir and his mind was made up. Nick moved away from his roots in Barossa and headed for the cooler climate of Tasmania where he converted an old ice factory in Hobart into a winery that Nick and his family live above, and established Glaetzer-Dixon in 2008. Sourcing some of the finest fruit from the Tamar, Derwent and Coal River Valleys, Nick’s passion is for Pinot Noir but it was his Mon Père Shiraz that earned him the coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy, an achievement made even more special as it was the first time in its 50 year history that the trophy has been awarded to a Tasmanian wine.

"Founded in 2005 by Master Sommelier Greg Harrington and his wife Pam, Gramercy Cellars based in Washington has very strong influences from Bordeaux and the Rhône." Founded in 2005 by Master Sommelier Greg Harrington and his wife Pam, Gramercy Cellars (based in Washington, USA) has very strong influences from Bordeaux and the Rhône in both their approach to wine making and the varietals used. The idea behind Gramercy was to create a winery that was ‘focused on quality, integrity, and sustainability.’ Greg Har... read morerington is one of the very few 130 people in the USA to pass his Master Sommelier Exams and was named ‘Best New Winemaker in Washington’ by Seattle Magazine in 2008 with Gramercy taking the title of ‘Best New Winery.’   Gramercy has also won a number of other awards including ‘Best New Winery in America’ by Food & Wine Magazine in 2010 and has been listed by Wine & Spirits Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Wineries in the World” in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Future… Now, under new ownership, Greenock Creek is putting the wheels in motion to expand their global reach, which and to be fair to the previous owners, Michael and Annabelle, has lost much ground over the past decade. We have been provided with the freedom to represent these incredible wines throughout the UK, Europe and the USA which we will do with much vigour and with huge smiles on our faces, as these wines are simply fantastic.  The Past… Michael Waugh was a bricklayer, a trade which brought him to Barossa in ... read morethe 1970s. With his wife Annabelle, they purchased a 20-acre property near Seppeltsfield in the mid-1970s . The property was a neglected house along with an almond & apricot orchard and roughly 2 acres of old Shiraz vines. It is understood that Michael planted an acre of Chardonnay and produced several vintages from these vines. Of course, an ill-conceived idea as the Barossa climate and Chardonnay are a bad combination. Originally, Michael sold the grapes to Seppelt’s until the late 1980s when, and with the support of Chris Ringland, he began to produce his own wine from old Shiraz vines. In mid-1990, the celebrated Roennfeldt Road property which consisted of 6 acres of Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines along with 8 acres of apricot orchards, which naturally enjoyed basking in the Barossa sun was purchased. ’95 saw the first vintage of the Roennfeldt Road Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from this entirely dry-farmed vineyard. The apricot orchard was pulled out and replanted with 8 acres of Shiraz, and aptly named the Apricot Block. Alice’s Vineyard was planted on a 20-acre property adjoining the original homestead on Radford Road and produced its first vintage in 2008. The world market became obsessed with this small, boutique winery, when and at his most prominent, Robert Parker awarded 100 points for the ’95 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. Parker awarded a further 100 points for the ’96 & ’98 vintage. Their ’98 Roennfeldt Cabernet Sauvignon also received 100 points. Skip a few vintages until the ’01 & ’03 Creek Block Shiraz scooped 100 points and both the ’02 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz & Cabernet received the same accolade. Five wines have been awarded 99 points and nine, 98 points… To date, Greenock Creek is the most ‘Parker’ celebrated Australian winery(Penfolds Grange & Torbreck The Laird have each received three 100-point scores, two for Torbreck Run Rig & Astralis and Hill of Grace has never been awarded 100 points).  

Now owned by Greg and Alison who, in 1995 left their life in the city to move their family Sean, Bridget and Jessica to start a new life among the vines. The historic vineyard located in the idyllic, rugged surroundings of the Barossa Ranges was planted at the beginning of the last century and is home to some of Barossa’s oldest vines. With a strong belief in organic and biodynamic practices, Greg and Alison have managed to bring renewed vitality to these ancient vines by carefully and painstakingly hand pruning and removing dead w... read moreood from the vines to re-establish their original shape, helping the vines to continue to prosper. The unique soil and cooler climate in the Barossa Ranges allow the vines to be ‘dry-grown’, only watering in extreme conditions to maintain the health of the plant. The soil is coarse, yellow, podzolic soil on top of clay subsoil, mixed with decomposing rock which has ideal water retention allowing for this practice. This results in extremely low yields of highly concentrated grapes, the cooler climate helping to preserve essential acidity, a combination that produces wines of great power and intensity. “Our philosophy in making our wines is simple; nurture the vines and concentrate on preserving the complex balance of flavours and acids as the grapes mature. The secrets of soil and seasons bring so much to the wines we make. Hand pruned, handpicked and hand made.” Greg and Alison have worked alongside Pete Schell of Spinifex for the past 10 year producing their flagship wine Tin Lids, a Shiraz-Cabernet blend. This is made from extremely low yielding vines in miniscule quantities of just 130 to 300 cases.Greg and Alison’s relationship with the winemakers they collaborate with is key, their influences showing throughout their wines.    

JC’s Own is the solo venture of Jaysen Collins. We know Jaysen very well, through his Massena wines that he produces with his friend, Barossa veteran and Vinorium favourite, Dan Standish. It’s fair to say that Jaysen follows a creative style of winemaking, interfering as little as possible and allowing the grapes to do the work for him. However, his twenty years of wine-making experience and his other project at Massena means that this experimental style is far more than just guess work! Very often, his wines are bor... read moren out of an idea and Jaysen, drawing on his years of experience, has an inherent ability to seek out the vineyards that will communicate this idea to its very fullest. He even conceived the idea for the label of one of the wines first, and set out to produce a wine that would express the sense of this, finding the ideal site in Adelaide Hills. Jaysen is Barossa born and bred, starting out as a qualified accountant, he began working in the business side of wine, becoming the general manager for Turkey Flat as well as the great Barossa winery St Hallett. It wasn’t long however, until Jaysen’s passion for wine grew and he decided that he’d “rather make wine than crunch numbers”. So scraping together enough money to buy some Grenache and Shiraz, he produced his first vintage with his good friend Dan Standish. Massena was originally meant to be no more than a side project for personal consumption, but grew to be one of Barossa’s most recognized and respected brands. After two decades honing his skills as a wine maker, Jaysen felt it was time to take another step and start his solo project. JC’s Own wines are about letting the grapes do the talking and allowing them to naturally express the site from which they are picked, seeking out sustainable vineyards and practicing minimalist wine-making, using natural yeast, minimal sulphur and no fining or filtration. His wines are about the unadulterated essence of the grape, combining a sense of place and some great looking bottles!

"It was his time spent at Wolf Blass that had already earned him the reputation as one of Australia’s greatest winemakers, winning the prestigious Jimmy Watson Trophy no less than four times plus eleven Montgomery trophies for the Best Red Wine at the Adelaide Wine Show." The Glaetzer name is almost woven into the very fabric of the Barossa region and Australian wine itself. John Glaetzer is the Uncle of Ben Glaetzer, of Glaetzer Wines in Barossa and Nick Glaetzer of Glaetzer-Dixon in Tasmania, John, along with wife Margarete, ... read morehad a vision of creating their own unique, premium wine label. They produced their first vintage of John’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon in 1974, which was an instant success when released in 1977. John worked as senior winemaker for Wolf Blass from the early 1970s, and during his time here and thanks to his contribution; won an array of prestigious awards. These included four of the sought after Jimmy Watson Trophies, and eleven Montgomery Trophies for the finest red wines at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show… to name just a few. Based in one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, Langhorne Creek in South Australia and famed for its Cabernet Sauvignon, John’s Blend specialise in small batch productions of this premium grape. In 1995, Margarete’s Shiraz was added to their label, a beautifully rich and intense wine and the perfect companion to their Cabernet Sauvignon. John’s Blend continues the tradition that John established with Wolf Blass in 1974 - great red wines, full of soft, succulent fruit, matured in the finest oak. John’s work with Wolf Blass has had an undeniable influence on and helped to shape Australian winemaking. Notoriously, John is a man of few words and does very few interviews, but is recognised as being one of Australia’s most decorated winemakers. John retired from Wolf Blass in 2004 after three decades. However, he continues to put all his efforts into the growing success of John’s Blend and more recently, a new venture and wine label; Gipsie Jack, named after his beloved Jack Russell.

"The oldest McLaren Vale winery to remain in founding family hands (since 1890) is no stick-in-the-mud. However, the Kay’s 22ha of ‘mud’ is special, especially Block 6, planted in 1892, which produces an iconic Shiraz. Attractively earthy, flavoursome reds (including a Nero d’Avola) are vinified in the original basket press and open fermenters. With more restrained oak, nothing is over-blown." - Sarah Ahmed, January 26, 2020 The French call it ‘patrimoine’ but in the realm of the Kay Brothers, it i... read mores simply tradition. The Kay Brothers tradition is to produce full bodied, fruit driven red wines with unabashed confidence. Being the oldest family run estate still to exist in McLaren Vale since acquiring their Amery vineyard in 1891, the Kay Brothers estate is revered both home and abroad for its loyalty to their traditions as well as their ability to produce fantastic wines for more than a century. Of note, however, is the fact that they were one of the first to embrace screwcaps in Australia with all of the winery’s production bottled under this closure today. With such a long history of winemaking, at the disposal of the winemaking team is an enviable stock of old vine Shiraz yielding immensely concentrated berries which are used in the two superior bottlings, Hillside Amery Shiraz and Block 6 Shiraz. What sets the two wines apart, despite coming from the same terroir, is the more favourable position occupied by the Block 6 plantings. Widely regarded as the junior sibling of the two, the Hillside Amery Shiraz is more approachable when young and offers comforting drinking whilst waiting for the grand Block 6 Shiraz to mature. Medium tannins, dried fruit and aniseed notes are usually complemented by a full-bodied weight that manages to deliver an extraordinarily balanced wine. Featured in Decanter's top 10 'Names to know in McLaren Vale.'

“Lange Estate is a family-owned and operated farming business in the Frankland River wine region. The Lange family has been cultivating and farming in rural Western Australia for five generations. The vineyard was established in 1997 and, more recently, the family has embarked on creating a wine label which consists of three ranges showcasing the best of the estates fruit. The results are really promising, and I expect some exciting things in the future.” Ray Jordan | 2020 Wine Guide The Lange family have been cultivating and farmi... read moreng in rural Western Australia for five generations. The tradition continues in Frankland River with the Lange’s vineyard, established in 1997 and run by the family, including Kim and Chelsea, their children Jack, Ella and Dylan together with Don and MaxineThe vineyard is situated in the picturesque grape growing region of Frankland River known for producing premium quality fruit - especially Shiraz and Riesling. The vineyard has a high elevation of close to 300m which is unique for Western Australian conditions and when combined with the red jarrah gravel loam soils it leads to wines of great intensity.

In 1972, legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Robert Mondavi, identified the future site of the Leeuwin vineyard as being ideal for the production of premium wine and provided early mentorship to Denis and Tricia Horgan in the transformation of their cattle farm into Leeuwin Estate. The unirrigated Block 20 Vineyard is planted with the Gin Gin clone and is the mother vineyard for Margaret River Chardonnay. Now more than 40 years old, many cuttings from this vineyard were used to establish the region’s wineries, with the pristine fruit defini... read moretion and winemaking philosophies of Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay inspiring other local producers to follow suit.

Massena was established at the turn of the century by Jaysen Collins and Dan Standish. In Jaysen's own words "What started as an adventure into wine by a couple of gung-ho fellas, looking to make some interesting wine, has truly been a journey. We started off by respecting our old vines and focussing on Grenache and Shiraz, moved quickly into alternative varieties and our production methods always held true to minimal intervention. In some ways we were trailblazers, in front of the curve; in new varieties or style interpretations. Lik... read moree making dry, light, textured, barrel fermented Rosé in 2007 and getting blank looks as to why we’d been doing this - roll forward ten years and everyone’s got one of these. Why would you plant Saperavi, Primitivo and Tannat in the heady days of the early 2000s Barossa Shiraz obsession? We were looking for drought tolerant, thick skinned or higher acid varieties that would combat our changing climate. When the style was big, black and oaky, ours was herbal, spicy and lowly oaked - designed for the dinner table not a glass staining contest. Now this is becoming the norm in our part of the world." Jaysen continues "Massena was not started as a profit making, slickly marketed wine company, it was conceptualised to have fun making wine that we liked to drink or had an interest in learning how to make. Our board meetings were on the golf course followed by a long lunch, when we really should have been combing through our sales budgets or strategising our cost saving initiatives. That sounded boring and we were only in it to actually make the wine, not ordering someone to do it for us. The authenticity in Massena is it has always been about making the most interesting wine possible at that given time and thoroughly enjoying the process, not chasing what is the current fad or trend. Then suddenly you become old enough in the cycle that the style of the day just rolls around and finds you!"

"Julian's wine show success (and the team he has led) have gold medals flying around the room like confetti, with trophies (including the biggest of all, the Jimmy Watson) equally plentiful. And most of all, he is universally admired and liked by all who have had contact with him and/or the great wines he makes."James Halliday Nocturne is the husband-and-wife partnership between recently-crowned Jimmy Watson-winner and James Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year, Julian Langworthy and his wife Alana who also owns and ru... read morens the Yallingup Cheese Company. We are proud to be the exclusive UK agent for Nocturne, which is a serious new venture producing single-vineyard wines from exceptional sites in Margaret River. This is the region where Julian grew up and where he’s honed his winemaking skills. The pair are acutely sensitive to the best fruit sources in the region including their pride and joy, the newly acquired Sheoak Vineyard with its beautifully mature Cabernet vines. Both Julian and Alana are incredibly ambitious and highly skilled which will certainly manifest into Nocturne being some of the most sought-after wines coming out of Australia. Julian is also the chief winemaker at Deep Woods Estate and is responsible for transforming the estate after his appointment to the position in 2011 and since then has been awarded a seemingly endless collection of gold medals and trophies gaining him a reputation that will cement his place as one of the greats of Australian wine-making. Our exclusive Q&A with Julian & Alana - Read more Julian Langworthy crowned Winemaker of the Year 2019 - Read more

An entirely family run operation, owned by the Donaldson family, Pegasus Bay vineyards are based in Canterbury’s famous Waipara sub-region.
 
Due to its protection from cool, Pacific breezes from the east by the Treviotdale Range and it’s gravel soils with large, heat radiating stone, Waipara has an unusually long ripening period with warm days and cool nights. These conditions promote a high level of ripening, with grapes that are intensely flavoured.
 
Pegasus Bay have a strong belief in minimal i... read morentervention and sustainable vineyard practices and is an accredited member of the NZWG sustainable viticulture program, employing completely natural methods of disease and pest control and clarify their wines by natural settling. Awarded the highest 5 star “outstanding” rating by Robert Parker and considered by Neal Martin as “one of New Zealand’s best producers” they have received countless praise and high ratings by the critics.
 
Their Chardonnay is produced using traditional Burgundian winemaking methods, fermented in large oak puncheons, 70% of which are old so as not to impart too much oak flavour, followed by a further 12 month maturation. Their estate
 
Pinot Noir is produced from various blocks that were harvested at different times to give varied fruit profile which are individually fermented and matured separately for 22 months in 40% new oak barriques made by Burgundian coopers.
 
The Prima Donna is only made in exceptional years from the best barrels of the oldest vines. They also produce sensational Riesling, the Bel Canto Riesling is produced from bunches that have been affected by at least 30% Botrytis which maximises the intensity of flavour and concentration.

Established in 1998, Shadowfax is a boutique winery located just 30 minutes from Melbourne in the heart of Werribee Park. Dedicated to creating high quality and handcrafted wines, their renowned varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Shiraz as well as a selection of highly limited, single-vineyard wines. Chief Winemaker Alister Timms has a strong focus on regionality with the majority of fruit sourced and hand-harvested from vineyards in the Macedon Ranges and Werribee. Alister Timms - Chief Winemaker: I have seen ... read moreand been part of growing the oldest Shiraz vines in Heathcote Victoria.  We sold these vineyards ten years ago now and took a deliberate step into the coldest mainland Australian grape growing region.  Climate change forced our hand on this somewhat.  The Macedon Ranges in the 1960s was originally planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for Sparkling Wine production.  Over the years, as the sites have warmed up, the Chardonnay and Pinot wines produced from here now are some of the most expressive in the country. Production has been kept small so we can focus on the quality of each wine and not get distracted by corporate rubbish.  The flexibility is still there, as we are always on the lookout for new vineyards coming up for lease in the Macedon Ranges, giving the opportunity to experiment with new wines.

The Hidden Gem in the Yarra Valley... We find this hidden gem located down a country lane, in the dress circle of the Warramate foothills of Gruyere. It is from here that Soumah set out to make wine with the charm of northern Italy but the provenance of the majestic Yarra Valley. Unravelling the story behind the exotically named Soumah, it is in fact an abbreviation of South of Maroondah, hinting at its location in the heart of Yarra Valley. Their wines however are far from exotic and instead they brim with the cool climate character an... read mored provenance of the majestic Yarra Valley. The perfect state of balance, calmness and composure of Soumah wines are expressed across the range, with the flagship wines receiving the graceful name ‘Equilibrio’. The global press wax lyrical with strings of medals including the Decanter Gold winning Equilibrio Chardonnay and Decanter Platinum Equilibrio Pinot Noir. "If I had to provide a brief statement to describe their wines – I would state, they are truly splendid and offer compelling drinking without the need to stress one’s wallet. From bottom to top, I believe these to be perfectly tuned with a satisfaction level of 100/100. They are not ‘pretenders’ and overdeliver with pure energy. The winemaking is skilful and the fruit, pure and natural. All in all, Soumah offer great drinking at affordable prices." - Stuart McCloskey

Stylistically Dan's wines are as rich and profound as you would expect from Barossa Valley old vines, but they have a satin texture and dreamy perfume that sets them far apart from his contemporaries Simply put, Dan Standish produces the best Shiraz to come out of the Barossa, hence our excitement to be Dan’s UK importer. A 6th generation Barossan, Dan Standish established his eponymous winery in 1999 whilst still working as winemaker at Torbreck Vintners. His endeavour initially began around an ancient ... read moreparcel of Shiraz owned and farmed by his father... All batches of fruit are fermented and matured individually then follow a strict selection in the winery that can see as much as 80% of the original blend discarded and sold off in bulk. As with the finest producers in Europe only the finest material is sold under the Standish Wine Company label. Dan is credited as being one of the most experienced winemakers in Barossa, not only for his incredible work at the great Torbreck winery but also working with his friend Jaysen Collins of JC’s Own, on their joint project Massena. He has also spent time honing his talents working vintages in both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California and Rioja in Spain, but his real passion developed through the experience gained whilst working in France’s Rhône Valley. The time in Rhône working with Shiraz, which Dan is almost unrivalled in his expertise with, and the techniques he learned there led to the creation of The Relic in which Dan co-ferments a small quantity of Viognier with Shiraz to create a wine that stands up to the very best in the northern Rhône. Stylistically Dan's wines are as rich and profound as you would expect from Barossa Valley old vines, but they have a satin texture and dreamy perfume that sets them far apart from his contemporaries. Here, dark fruits are encased in cocoa and earthy richness but with gentle spice, soil tone, asphalt and a stony minerality that gives the wines a beautiful dimension. These are very special Australian wines. The Standish 2016 wines cemented Dan’s reputation as one of Barossa’s greatest winemakers even further when several of his wines including The Relic and The Standish were awarded a huge 99 points by Robert Parker.com. Dan's reputation as one of the emerging greats of Barossa has recently been recognized when his wines were included on the list of The Barossa Super 100 Classification, the first ever regional classification, highlighting some of Barossa's very best and most sought after wines.

  Winemaker, Mike Hayes says, “My philosophy is to express the terroir of the vineyard and not the barrel maker from the south of France. I feel that great wine comes from great vineyards, not great winemakers. I also feel that to capture the flavour of the earth and express it in the bottle is a far greater challenge than manufacturing wine in the lab. Topper’s Mountain unique terroir arises from its high altitude location on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range and deep, volcanic (Krasnozem) soils. Over more than a ... read moredecade, Mark Kirkby, in close collaboration with winemaker Mike Hayes, has established a vineyard packed with exciting alternative varieties that revel in their terroir. New England is unlike any other wine producing region in Australia. In a country which NASA declared ‘the flattest in the world’ we find a wine producing region situated at over 1000m above sea level, putting them at a similar altitude to the peak of Mount Snowdon! This provides a cool climate, with soils and topography which work perfectly for the mostly Mediterranean grape varieties that the team at Topper’s Mountain focus on growing here. Topper’s Mountain is our first, exclusive winery from New England which is an exciting, re-emerging wine region with a captivating history dating back as far as the first settlers, who began planting vineyards and making wine there due to the difficulties in transporting alcohol from other major centres. The Topper’s vineyard was founded by Mark Kirkby in 1998 and sits at 900m ASL, meaning that despite sitting much closer to the equator than most of the world’s viticulture, they are still bestowed with cool nights, low maximum temperatures and a generally continental climate. These all combine to create wines of great elegance and fruit definition which are more comparable to wines grown a thousand kilometres or more from the equator.

Two Hands were featured more times than any other producer on the Barossa Super 100 Classification. Two Hands Wines have become a beacon for artisan, single vineyard Shiraz in Barossa Valley as well as other premier regions in South Australia. Winning admiration from leading critics around the globe such as Robert Parker, James Halliday and Jancis Robinson demonstrates that the wines are far from one-dimensional in their outstanding balance, structure and elegance. Further testament of this came in 2012 when the estate was named in Wine Specta... read moretor’s Top 100 for the 10th consecutive year. Both from négociant fruit in McLaren Vale, The Two Hands Lily’s Garden and their Bella’s Garden Shiraz are single vineyard expressions of Shiraz combining ripe black fruit wrapped in chocolate and smoky richness. Lily’s Garden is widely regarded as the more approachable of the two when young with Bella’s Garden having the staying power of a premium red Rhone, avoiding the often jammy character found in other examples from the region. Two Hands were featured more times than any other producer on the Barossa Super 100 Classification, a list of some of the most highly regarded and collectable wines from Barossa drawn up by the Barossa Grape and Association, which saw its inaugural launch in 2019. Two hands have have an incredible eight wines on the list including their My Hands, which is one of only seven wines featured in the above $500 dollars category.

"A great deal of my time was spent snooping around the Barossa trying to source grapes from established growers for Teusner Wines in the early days.  It was in this endeavour that I first came across the vineyard that we now call Utopos.  We were already sourcing fruit from vineyards adjacent to this property for Teusner that were making some of our very best Shiraz wines (Albert and Righteous) so I knew the ability of the geology and microclimate of the area to produce outstanding reds.  I instantly fell in love with the... read more site and the way that it was planted.  I so desperately wanted to play with the fruit that was growing here.  However, the owner of the property was signed into pretty tight contracts with Penfolds and wasn’t willing to jeopardise that to sell me a bit of out of contract.  He did nothing to lessen my desire, however…  Bragging to me that the cabernet sauvignon was some of the only Barossa fruit to make Bin 707 grade etc etc.    So I was forced to just dream about it every time I drove past to visit my other growers in the area. Until the day in late 2014 that the owners decided it was time to slow down and move into town and put the property up for Auction. All of the big names from around the area were at the auction.  Standing on one of the highest points of the area overlooking some of the most beautiful views in the Barossa. I was so desperate to have it – these properties rarely become available over multiple generations - so I just went in with all guns blazing and put in my best offer as first bid.  It was the one and only bid and the property was ours!" - Kym Teusner   Read our Q&A with Kym Teusner - Read article Read 'Tasting Utopia' - Read article

Vina Cobos was founded in 1997, this high altitude winery in Argentina’s famed Lújan de Cuyo district is the brainchild of renowned Napa winemaker Paul Hobbs and his partners, Andrea Marchiori and Luis Barraud. Production is centered on the release of wines from old vines with low yields across four labels: Felino, Bramare, Bramare Single Vineyard and Cobos. Felino represents the entry level wines with an emphasis on varietal character, fruity notes and freshness on the palate. Being versatile styles they drink well on their own o... read morer with food. Bramare, the next tier up, comprises varietal wines from the specific parcels of the Lújan de Cuyo and Valle de Uco regions. These are often vineyard sites owned by growers with whom the winery has long-standing contractual arrangements. A change in gear at this level sees the wines undergo fermentation with indigenous yeasts, oak ageing in premium barrels with fining and filtration avoided for maximum flavour expression. It is with the Bramare Single Vineyard range where terroir expression is remarkable. In particular, the Marchiori Vineyard, which is owned by Andrea Marchiori’s family showcases vines of more than 50 years of age with a south-eastern exposure that result in wines of both opulence and balance. The Malbec produced here is profound, long-lived and an outstanding example of this variety. At the very top of the estate’s portfolio is The Cobos label which includes the Malbec and a Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon blend called Corte uNico, recently renamed Volturno.

The group’s founder, Ricardo Fernández Núñez, an Argentinian of Galician descent, embraced viticulture as the best way to honour his ancestors, who settled in the Uco Valley in the early 20th century. It was in this same corner of Mendoza that Fernández Núñez established himself as one of the most successful Malbec producers. His work was rightfully recognised at the 2022 Decanter Wine World Awards, where his Callejón del Crimen wines shone. We have never seen such magnificent results, rega... read morerdless of their price. Fernández has amassed a personal collection of vineyards in four of Mendoza’s most prestigious regions – Paraje Altamira, Gualtallary, Pampa El Cepillo and Vista Flores, Fernández explains: “We own 150 hectares of vineyards in the most renowned terroirs of the Uco Valley. The land here allows us to produce wine consistently and sustainably, reflecting the DNA of a winemaking region that is impressing drinkers the world over.” The experts behind Callejón del Crimen are oenologist Pablo Navarrete and María Hilen Pareja, a specialist in organic viticulture. Together they have created a portfolio of wines that express, especially in the Single Vineyard collection, the identity of the micro terroirs of the Uco Valley. “The Callejón del Crimen Single Vineyard collection is the result of our commitment to studiously explore the different terroirs found in the Uco Valley and its micro-regions,” says Pablo. Today, all that hard work has produced four Malbecs that embody the best of Paraje Altamira, Vista Flores, Pampa El Cepillo and Gualtallary. Callejón del Crimen Single Vineyard Gualtallary Malbec 2019 won a Platinum Medal (97 points) at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards. The work behind the collection further inspired the team to create Callejón del Crimen Blend de Terroirs Malbec 2019, which also won a Platinum Medal (97 points). “Our Blend de Terroirs is a combination of the four micro-regions where we have vineyards, and allows us to capture and enhance the quality of the land and virtues that the Uco Valley so generously makes available to us,” says Pablo. In addition to Callejón del Crimen’s excellent performance at the last edition of the DWWA, the Iluminado Vinos de La Luz Single Vineyard Malbec 2015, a wine made with grapes from Paraje Altamira, was named Best in Show (97 points) in the 2019 edition of the awards. Irrefutable proof of the fact that Callejón del Crimen produce some of Argentina’s very best Malbec.

"Today, the area under vine totals some 15 ha that are dedicated to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and have helped them achieve cult status" David and Diana Anderson first planted vines in their family-run Heathcote estate Wild Duck Creek Estate in 1974. Today, the area under vine totals some 15 ha that are dedicated to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and has helped them achieve cult status in the eyes of many. Their first commercial release was in 1991 and things have only got better with the ... read morecouple now joined by their son, Liam who is going full steam ahead with biodynamic practices in the vineyard. In the winery, traditional winemaking techniques are the status quo, with winemakers David and Liam choosing to use open top fermenters, basket presses and the finest French barrels and American hogsheads for extended ageing. Produced only in exceptional years, the Reserve Shiraz uses fruit predominantly from the Original Vineyard that has been barrel aged and then selected for the final blend after extensive tasting. A blockbuster with high alcohol, its richness is seamlessly balanced by moderating acidity and ripe tannins, which prevent it from becoming syrupy. The Springflat Shiraz comes from a small 1ha site planted in 1988 that yields just over 20,000 bottles annually. After maturing in French and American oak barrels for a year or more, the wine is bottled unfiltered for maximum flavour expression that results in a deeply coloured, sweet-fruited red with an intense concentration and a long finish. Renowned American wine critic, Robert Parker regularly awards Wild Duck Creek wines wines 90 points or more.

*Only available for UK delivery* Enhance your drinking experience
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