This Chardonnay has plenty of robust varietal aromas of stone-fruits and melon on the nose, which is well supported with spicy oak. The palate has a soft creamy mouthfeel while maintaining a tight structure that includes well defined fruit flavours of melon, pears and a touch of citrus acidity bound by well integrated French oak.

FABIEN COCHE, Bourgogne Chardonnay Grandes Coutures

Graceful chardonnay woven with whispers of new French oak. From the cool climate single vineyard; Coal River Valley, Tasmania. Handpicked on a fruit day on the full harvest moon, whole bunch pressed, wild ferment en new demi-muid. Matured for 12 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered with perfect natural balance.

The 2018 Harold opens with intense aromas of black olive, cassis and coffee, complimented by subtler tones of lavender and violets. It is immediately apparent that this is a powerful, dark, brooding and soulful wine. The texture is rich yet lithe, and the freshness in the wine carries the depth with poise. Liquorice, dark chocolate and blackberry dominate the classically brackish palate. The cool vintage conditions provide balanced acidity and soft, ripe tannin. It is pure Northern Barossa Shiraz from a tiny, old plot in the heart and soul of the western ridge, Moppa. Decant and enjoy now or keep in the cellar for the next 8-10 years. I grew up in the Wimmera in Victoria at a time when the creeks and lakes flowed bountifully with water. We regularly fished for trout in these lakes and Dad, being a tragic angler, would never be short of gear. Sometimes we would share 20 fishing rods between our family of five, which eventually caused issues as we could not tell which rod was biting. We decided to name the rods, and in doing so they took on their own personalities. Harold Fisher was an old, traditional, grain farmer that Dad sold tractors to, and he wasnt renowned for his abilities as a scholar or fashionista. It was obvious to name a rod after Harold, but little did we know that this rod was to become as much a part of the family as the rest of us. A legend in and out of the water, Harold was purchased in the 1950s and is still used to this day. He is old and grumpy yet freakishly talented. The 2018 Vintage once again proved that timing is everything. Following a wet growing season in 2017, we had minimal autumn and winter rain, setting us up for a potentially difficult year. However, spring provided us with bountiful water and the season was set from there. We experienced another dry and hot summer, which restricted our yields but amplified the quality of the harvest. For Izway, a late March start resulted in cool picking conditions, lower alcohols and incredible purity and energy in our wine. The result is another spectacular vintage characterized by intensity and elegance. Izway wines was conceived on a handshake between two Aussie wine makers in a chateau in Beaujolais. Brian Conway and Craig Isbel met during vintage at Chateau de Bluizard in 2002 and after many nights drinking pastis they decided to start their own winery in the Barossa Valley.