Portuga
Portuga is made by Casa Santos Lima, a grand Portuguese estate in the Lisboa region, just north of the capitol. João Santos Lima founded it in the 19th century and it has been in the same family for three generations. Diogo Sepúlveda is the winemaker today. He has worked vintages all across the world, including Bordeaux's prestigious Pomerol and California's Napa Valley. He is a talented winemaker, who relaxes in his spare time by wrestling bulls (all muscle, no knives!). Portuga is a rich, velvety blend of traditional native varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, aged gently in oak. Delicious either served on its own, with rich pork dishes, or tangy tomato pasta. It's an ideal wine for a barbecue too or with mature hard cheeses.
Temple Bruer Preservative Free Cabernet Merlot
Temple Bruer continues to be one of the standout Organic producers in Australia with flavoursome and richly textured wines. This Cabernet Merlot has the great bonus of being Preservative Free for those with sensitivies to Sulpher Dioxide.
Château Haut Madrac Rouge
Second label of 5th growth producer Château Lynch Moussas this classic blend of Cabernet and Merlot has a distinctive cherry and blackberry palate enhanced by vanilla and cedar notes.
Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red
Pinot Noir 60%, Sangiovese 28%, Shiraz 12% All the individual varieties were fermented separately in small 2 tonne parcels. The fruit was 100% destemmed and pressed after 18 days on skins. The Pinot Noir and Sangiovese were blended together immediately after pressing and the Shiraz shortly after to ensure a longer period of time for the varieties to integrate. Nick Spencer Wines is a small Canberra based wine company dedicated to producing exceptional, hand crafted wines that honour their local landscape. Producing stunning, award winning wines for nearly two decades, Nick's passion and remarkable talent for considered, quality wines is evident in every bottle. Awarded a degree in oenology at the University of Adelaide in 2000, Nick has worked for notable producers across the industry including Rosemount, Coldstream Hills, Madew Wines, Tertini Wines, and most recently, proudly lead the team at Eden Road for almost a decade. Nick has received extensive industry recognition, winning the 2009 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy, the National Wineshow Trophy for Best Shiraz in 2011; as a Len Evans tutorial scholar in 2011, as a finalist in the Young Gun of Wine Award in 2011 and a finalist in the Gourmet Traveler Winemaker of the Year in 2014. Nick made wine in Khakheti in Georgia for several years, has toured extensively through France, New Zealand and Californian wine regions and is a regular judge at many regional and national wine shows including in Sydney and Queensland. Nick lives in Canberra with his wife Sarah and their two young children.
Dune Pyla Red Blend
Château Reynon
Château Joanin Bécot
Château Chantermerle Médoc
This wine displays a sustained and brilliant colour of great depth. The nose has already evolved and shows blackcurrant and other black fruit aromas. On the palate tannins are soft and smooth, with a steady balance and a long, fresh finish. Aromas of fruit, tobacco and liquorice harmoniously blend with those from the oak, giving rise to flavours which coat the palate without roughness. Overall a tender wine which has passed through a spirited youth to reveal the elegance typical of Chantemerle's terroir.
Carpineto Spolverino
Carpineto Spolverino (Feather Duster) is an exciting Sangiovese blend from Chianti that pokes a little fun at the traditional Italian wine laws which prohibit a wine being labelled 'Chianti Classico' being bottled under screw-cap. As we love our wines to be fresh and vibrant in Australia, this brilliant (and affordable!) Chianti, closed with a Stelvin Lux, has enticing red cherry aromas blended with a touch of tobacco leaf and spice. Wonderfully medium-bodied, the palate is rich and generous, although supported by that typical Tuscan structure of zippy acid and soft, powdery tannin. Saluté!
Shadowfax Minnow Rose
Very pale salmon, some light red hues. Red fruits, raspberry, cranberry, a touch of liquorice, some light spice and earth. Pinot Noir is apparent on the front palate, with berries, fluffy talc and crystalline texture. The Grenache brings weight through the middle, a riot of red fruits and tarry spice. Mourvèdre fills the rear, with lovely fine extract framing the palate and adding length. A harmonious and very fine Minnow Rosé by Shadowfax: complex, dry and delicious.