Taking its name from the Capuchin friars who arrived in 1619, the Clos is protected from winds by the surrounding hills and by the walls enclosing it. The soils here consist of sand, alluvial pebbles and granitic gravel and this produces a Riesling as zippy, zesty and mineral-driven as it is fleshy. White peach, green and yellow citrus along with melon, kaffir lime and lemongrass notes. Lovely texture and a vibrant, fresh finish.

The Triolet blend, first produced at this vineyard in 1987, was inspired by the white wines of Graves, Bordeaux. Each variety is picked at optimum ripeness, and is usually fermented separately. The characteristics of optimum ripeness are different for each variety. We pick the Sauvignon blanc after the strong herbaceous flavours have disappeared, the Semillon when the acid is not too harsh, and the Muscadelle when the flavour intensity peaks.

Derwent Estate Calcaire Chardonnay offers a complex bouquet of lime, nuts and gentle spice. This modern style of Chardonnay offers a creamy palate of citrus fruits and white pears enhanced by hints of butterscotch and fine grained oak. The finish is clean and marked by citrus flavours.

The Beechworth terroir has a distinctive fruit character of pear/peach fruit. The oak has minimal impact by using older French oak and mainly puncheons. The warm year has meant less citrus lift but has bran meal notes from the wild ferment and extended lees contact. The palate is quite rich with zesty acid line through to the finish. Drinking well now but will improve with further bottle age. Maybe leave the 2012 and 2013 for a couple more years and enjoy this in its place. Enjoy with Seafood to light meats.

COLOUR Pale ruby, bright and clear AROMA A spicy, perfumed nose of wild thyme, leather, violets, dark cherries and plums. AGEING POTENTIAL Decant in its youth and serve with hearty beef stews full of carrots, thyme, rosemary and parsnips, or cellar with confidence for 12+ years from vintage. PALATE Structured and serious, the tannic framework is robust while still yielding luscious fruit and a silky texture in its youth. The fineness of the tannins is a feature and coupled with the impressive length of the finish, this is a wine to savour and cellar.