Zontes Footstep has been on a quest to find and grow the worlds best white varieties in regions that express the fruits best attributes for more than a decade. Our Pinot Noir comes from one of the finest cool-climate vineyards located in the Adelaide Hills. The soils in this vineyard are ancient; research estimates the soils are 1800 million years old, mostly gravel with limestone/calcium silicates and ferrous pebbles spread throughout. Hand-pruned, harvested and made it is our holotype for Pinot Noir. Winemaking Whole bunches of hand-selected and picked in the cool of the early morning dawn. Destemmed without crushing the fruit. 30% of this was the whole cluster fermented, while the remaining fruit was crushed and went through traditional open fermentation with 30 days of extended skin contact. These parcels were packed into 30% new and seasoned French oak hogsheads to mature and take on the character for seven months. Deepish red with a healthy tinge of purple hue. Dark cherry aromas, rich and ripe, fruit-driven with abundant spice, nettle characters. Red cherries and plum are to the fore followed by some subtle hints of fresh rocket and anise. Medium-bodied driven by cherry again hints of strawberry sasparilla root and dried oregano. Damson plums and cinnamon kick in with notes of cedar-like flavours and tannins. Long aftertaste of ripe red cherries/plums, subtle anise and spicy cedar notes. Absolutely delicious.

Nine Lives Stone Wall Shiraz 2021 is deep purple in hue with aromas of dark fruits, plum, blackberry, and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg spice. The palate leads with generous flavours of blackberry and satsuma plum, alongside spice, toasty oak and graphite. The palate is framed by fine silky tannins and persistent fruit length.

Sourced and grown in the Adelaide Hills, this is a fine example of how good Chardonnay from this region can be. This is a blend of 3 different cultivars of the Chardonnay grape. Bunch pressed and in part wild fermented. Partial malolactic fermentation imparts further complexity. A beautifully textured and complex wine.

The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.