Established in 1963 by Doctor Max Lake, Lake's Folly was the first new vineyard in the Hunter Valley last century. In early 2000 Lake's Folly was purchased by Peter and Lee Fogarty and family who, along with Hunter-born and bred winemaker, Rodney Kempe, have continued to maintain the integrity and direction of this significant vineyard. There is an old saying that the wine is made in the vineyard (good fruit makes good wine). Most of the Lakes Folly Cabernet vines are now more than 50 years old. This means that over the years, the vines have ‘self-regulated’. This natural low cropping gives the grapes better consistency of flavour. The terroir, which is a rare combination of volcanic hill, alluvial creek flat and south-easterly aspect, is ideal for the production of fine wines. The vines are pruned heavily for low production high quality fruit, and trellised with vertical shoot positioning, which gives more reliable flavour even in difficult years. Maintaining a true ‘estate’ philosophy allows Lakes Folly to fully express the terroir of this particular site. Crop levels are also critical in achieving complexity. Needless to say, growing all their own fruit at the Folly enables them to be super diligent in achieving these goals, the weather having the last say on the fruit intensity for a particular year. With the old vines, low crop levels, and good canopy management, we are consistently presented with above average fruit. Throw in some traditional winemaking, French oak and you have a unique distinguished single site wine. Their two flagship wines, a Cabernet blend and a Chardonnay, are made in limited quantities and are grown, vintaged, and made on the estate. The wine styles are restrained and elegant, showing finesse and complexity. They have clarity of structure and great length of flavour. A first for Lake's Folly, this year's Red is a blend of Shiraz 47%, Merlot 34%, and Petit Verdot 19%. After harvesting the Shiraz, Merlot and Petit Verdot (and Chardonnay) grapes in 2022, they experienced very late harvest rainfall which impacted the Cabernet grapes, leading to the decision to not harvest the Cabernet (the first time on record this has happened at Lake's Folly). The finished result: a unique, unprecedented blend - a cracking wine (albeit without the usual Cabernet component), though in very limited quantities this release! The fruit is open-fermented producing softer, more subtle tannins, and then transferred to large format casks for six months for settling, and then into small French oak barriques (new, one, and two-year-old) for approximately one year before bottling.

Giaconda vineyard was established by Rick Kinzbrunner, a mechanical engineer who became interested in wine in the early 1970's. Rick then spent the next ten years working in the industry, travelling and following his passion for wine. After a brief stint in New Zealand, he studied at Davis University in California and worked at some of the most respected wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys (namely Stag's Leap, Simi and Matanzas Creek). In Europe he worked for the Moueix group in Bordeaux, co-owner of the fabled Chateau Petrus.

Mac Forbes philosophy towards pinot is to look after the detail, keep it simple and respect the fruit. The onus is on fruit quality and balance and not on winemaking solutions or corrections. For them winemaking is an extension of the vineyard where they aim to capture the fruit expression and carry this through to bottle. They pick when the fruit is ripe but still crunchy to taste. The Yarra Valley Pinot is a blend of Mac Forbes declassified barrels from their grower vineyards and the Mac Forbes single vineyard sites. The Bordeaux blend is still arguably the most successful of all grapes or blends from the Yarra Valley. At relatively low alcohols the wines are elegant, perfumed and ripe. While approachable as a young wine, Hugh will age gracefully for twenty plus years. In this wine Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety and is complimented by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Tolmer Cabernet Sauvignon displays a deep red colour with a violet rim. The fragrant nose emanates candy raspberry, blue fruit and dusty oak aromas. A sip of the wine offers vibrant flavours of blueberry and cassis, supported by rhubarb nuances and chalky tannins. The pleasing characters in this enticing Cab Sauv culminate in a complex and captivating finish. This full bodied red wine from Penley Estate compliments foods like simple meatballs, Asian BBQ lamb ribs, and brisket.

The Cannonball is a perfect symbol of freedom. Legs tucked beneath you, soaring through the air. That uninhibited spirit is the soul of Cannonball Wines. Cannonball wines are a pure expression of the varietal. Cannonball wines are sourced from select regions throughout California. The diverse California micro climates, topography, and soils provide the perfect palette to create wines that are complex, highly consistent and a pure expression of the varietal. Diversifying sourcing allows for flexi-bility to achieve their signature style and maintain continuity with each vintage. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Cannonball is an exciting revival of a classic style. It has the best characteristics of traditional California and old world Bordeaux. It explodes with black cherry, wild berry fruit and notes of chocolate oak. The rich texture of this wine lingers long with a bright, fresh finish.

Henschke's flagship Cabernet is named after the late Cyril Henschke who purchased the Eden Valley property in the 1960s. Stephen and Prue Henschke then established the vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines which produces this intensely perfumed Cabernet. Matured in 100% new French oak for 18 months, this exceptional wine shows blackcurrant and cedar characters balanced with superb fine grained tannin.

Bright medium red with purple hue in colour; On the nose: pronounced Blackcurrant, crushed wet leaves and dark plums, bouquet of wild violet and a decent amount of almost wet tobacco oak. A full bodied wine that has great length on the palate with firm but refined tannins. Simply outstanding in its class.