Chris Ringland Limit Lodge Cabernet Mataro
Chris Ringland Limit Lodge Cabernet Mataro is a blend of exceptional fruit from exceptional vineyards, a new style from winemaker Chris Ringland and grape grower Adrian Hoffmann. The name Limit Lodge comes from a historical parcel within the Hoffmann vineyards, and is also appropriate given the limited number of bottles made. Matured in aged French oak, this is a juicy Cabernet blend rich in dark, plummy fruits with savoury notes of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and anise. The finish is long with mouth-coating tannins, and a slight salinity. Plenty of potential for ageing.
Barr-Eden Estate Love Over Gold Shiraz
Barr-Eden Estate is a storied piece of land situated at the crest of Mengler’s Hill, one of the highest points of viticulture in Australia. Well-known grape-grower Joel Mattschoss first acquired fruit from the site, which sits atop the ancient goldfields of the Eden, in 2014, to produce the first small batch Love Over Gold wine with Frenchman Pierre-Henri Morel. After the passing of the estate’s owner, Barossa icon, Bob McLean, in 2015, a venture began between the two, along with friends Michael Twelftree and Tim Hower, to become the new custodians of this special property of great pedigree. The vines at Barr-Eden Estate were planted in 1928 and 2018 is turning out as an excellent Eden Valley Vintage. The bunches are formed with a long framework and very loose clusters and picked at optimum ripeness. Bunch thinning manages low yields and high quality fruit. Coming from a 95-year-old vineyard, the old vines are able to withstand heat spikes, as well as its elevation which brings cooler night temperatures. Destemmed by hand, berry by berry and fermented slowly over weeks. Ten percent whole-bunch Gentle pigeage was performed twice daily with the natural ferment progressing at a cool temperature. Once ferment was complete and after 24 days, free run was drained to a 2 year old extra tight grained French puncheon. Love Over Gold possesses a core of ripe and defined fruit with tannins that are coating and very long, it will age effortlessly over 20 to 25 years.