Levantine Hill Estate Blanc de Blanc
WinemakingAll fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed. The cuvee taille (first cut free-run juice) was settled naturally overnight prior to racking to a mix of stainless steel tank and large format old barrels for fermentation.Fermented and aged separately in small batch lots on settled lees for nine months. The blended wine then underwent secondary fermentation in the bottle. This wine has been aged for an extended period on its autolysing yeast lees for more than four years to garner richness and complexity to its innate elegance and finesse.Winemaker's notesThe protracted growing season allowed a drawn-out ripening, resulting in an uncommon richness of flavour tempered by the abundant natural acidity contributed by the season.A bouquet of nashi pear, glazed brioche, lemon cheesecake and Amaretti buscuit. Flavours of nougat, lemon rind, jasmine and chestnut underpin a palate of steely acidity with delicated bubble, fruit weight and earthy 'sur lie' characters providing textural accompaniement, richness and creaminess to the finish. An excellent match for freshly-shucked oysters or semi-hard cow's milk cheeses.
Philippa Farr Mornington Pinot Noir
The 2017 Mornington Pinot Noir is off a 20 year old vineyard, with predominately clone 115, and some MV6 and 114. The vineyard is south-east facing and seems to take just a few extra days to ripen than the vineyards close by, which can make all the difference with hot summers. The vines are on a bed of rich red loam over course gravel.
Oakridge 864 Close Planted Block Syrah
Vibrant purple red. Lifted fragrant and fresh black and redcurrant fruit followed by jasmine like florals, ground spices, summer pudding and pannacotta. A secondary look with air shows whole bunch notes of spice and sauvage adding complexity. The palate is juicy soft and round, laced with black fruit, raspberries, white pepper and spices. Very much medium bodied, this has beautiful line of acidity that adds length and balance to the velvety, gentle core of sweet fruit. A pure, fresh, fragrant wine.
Yering Station Shiraz Viog
Spicy cool climate Shiraz is fermented with whole bunches of a small portion of the white Viognier grape to produce this elegant style. Attractive floral notes of white flowers and peach blossom are enhanced by French oak and Rhone-like pepper and spice on the palate. Time in our cellaring programme has buffed the 2014 wine to a very smooth finish.
Irrewarra By Farr Pinot Noir
By Farr is the brand of the Farr Family, started in 1994 by Robyn and Gary on a north facing slope in the township of Bannockburn in the Moorabool Valley. The Original wines where Chardonnay by Farr, Viognier by Farr, Shiraz by Farr and Pinot Noir by Farr now known as Sangreal by Farr. Overtime with the help of Cassie and Nick the vineyards have expand to adjoining neighbouring properties and eventually greater expression of the single site wines that we have today because of the pieces of dirt that we love to farm. The wines of By Farr are built around complexity, layered structure and undeniable length that places them in the highest regard by both consumers for their drinkability and age worthiness or critics around the world for their individuality. The Irrewarra Vineyard site has now been in the hands of the Farr family and team for 12 years. The vineyard was planted by the Calvert family in 2001 to a mixture of clones on own roots. It is predominantly pinot noir with 6 acres and accompanied by 2 acres of chardonnay. The vineyard sits at the top of the slope facing large water reserves ‘Salt Lake’ and the ‘Calvert Lough’ to the north. It generally takes 10 years for a new planting to bed down there roots and show consistent characteristics. Well it has also taken 10 years to truly unlock the potential of the Western District site. With the support of owners John and Browynn Calvert, the soil management and vine health give wines of unique cool climate viticulture. They are a cooler expression By Farr. It is a site that shows great fruit expression with a deceptively long and mineral palate. Vintage occurs during April after quite a long growing season. The vineyard is located in the heart of the Western District Farming country, approximately 150 kilometers south-west of Melbourne. Think dairy, beef, sheep, wheat, hay and forestry production. Irrewarra is surrounded by in land lakes and volcanic plains. It is a diverse and beautiful landscape that relies on a high amount of natural rainfall throughout the year. The Western plains are quite exposed to the elements which contributes to the vineyard sites mystic. The soils across the slope of the site are a mixture of grey sandy clay loams at the south end to dark brown loams with fragments of buckshot and quartz gravels towards the north. All with underlying brown to yellow clays. Overall the soils remain very moist throughout the year because of the clay based soil profile and annual rainfall of 885mm, resulting in the very attractive damp earthiness character in the fruit and wine. The vineyard was planted by the Calvert family in 2001 to a mixture of clones on own roots. It is predominantly pinot noir with 6 acres and accompanied by 2 acres of chardonnay. The vineyard sits at the top of the slope facing large water reserves ‘Salt Lake’ and the ‘Calvert Lough’ to the north. It is a site that truly reflects the complexities and varietal characters of the vines that are planted in this cool climate region. It is a site that shows great fruit expression with a deceptively long and mineral palate. Vintage occurs during April after quite a long growing season. These are wines that are built around the seasons in which they are grown, the sense of place, and an expression of emotion. Sit back and take in the aromas from a glass of this pinot as you think about sitting at the top of the vineyard surrounded by cows, water, grass and all things Western District farming. The wine has flavours of sweet and sour cherries, earth, spice and a lovely elegant structure.
Fromm Pinot Noir
A classic Fromm Vineyard Pinot Noir, a multi-layered wine, very concentrated without appearing big or heavy, with positive tannin support. At its best it shows a masculine charm with a distinct terroir-related identity, aging superbly.
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
Many class Ata Rangi as the quintessential 'New World' Pinot Noir, the best example of the variety outside of Burgundy. It's hard to argue when you let the supple, dark berry and spiced fruit pass your lips. Considered 'Grand Cru' in New Zealand, Ata Rangi was awarded the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa classification, cementing its pedigree.
Bannockburn Pinot Noir
Bannockburn is spicy with well intergraded savoury oak and great acidity backbone. The varietal flavours such as, raspberries, strawberries and red cherries fruits lingers with a faint hint of forest floor on the palate with well supporting tannins. A greatly composed wine, this is undoubtedly pushing the setting of this country's benchmark for Pinot Noir to another level.
Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir
From vines yielding less than 1 tonne/acre, 100% whole bunch, natural yeast ferment, 100% new oak. A powerful and structural Pinot Noir by Lethbridge. An unusual presentation of the MV6 clone in the Estate vineyard produces fruit of great density of flavour, and very low yield (0.5 tonnes/acre). This wine was fermented with 100% whole bunch inclusion and had pre-fermentation maceration for 7-10 days. Wild yeast fermentation in small open vats proceeded with daily pigéage. Pressing was straight to barrel (100% new French oak) to allow for gross lees contact and natural MLF.
Stefani Estate Sangiovese Riserva
The wine is ruby red in colour. It displays notes of warm cherries and forest fruitsThe palate is rich, textural and integrated with notes of blackberry fruit. The addition of 10% Cabernet gives structure and richness. Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years.Fruit is entirely grown and hand-picked on the family estate vineyard in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. The wine has been aged in new larger oak format to give subtle structure to the wine.50 dozen Bottled August 2018