Cuveé Aux Antipodes is the meeting of two winemakers from the two hemispheres. The old world represented by François Millet of Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, where he has made wine since 1986. The new world, by the site - the Prophet's Rock Home Vineyard in Central Otago, and its winemaker Paul Pujol.

Two vineyards were established in the Bendigo sub-region: The Prophets Rock Home Vineyard and, subsequently, the Rocky Point. Both are steep and elevated, and each is distinctive The Home Vineyard with its rare mix of soils, including schist, clay and chalk, and Rocky Point with its stony ground and almost treacherous slopes. Rich ruby in colour, displaying red berry fruit, spice and floral aromas on the nose leading on to an elegant well-structured, mineral driven palate. The rich aromatics are accompanied by silky tannin and well-balanced acidity leading on to a long finish. This wine will reward cellaring over the next 6-10+ years from vintage.

POOLEY Jack Denis Pooley Pinot Noir, Coal River Valley, Tasmania

Vietti is a winery with a rich history spanning almost 150 years. Founded by Carlo Vietti in the late 1800s in the heart of the Langhe, on the highest point of the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto, the winery was transformed into a high-quality wine producer by Carlo's son, Mario Vietti, upon his return from living in the United States in 1917. In the 1950s, Alfredo Currado, oenologist and art lover, brought new intuitions to the winery, intertwining wine knowledge with art and culture. Vietti produced one of the first Barolo Crus in 1961 and the first vinification of Arneis in 1967. The wines were accompanied by Art Labels starting in 1974, making the Vietti brand an icon and standard-bearer of important revolutions. The winery's commitment, vision, culture and passion have contributed to its growth and recognition as one of the best Italian wine labels. The Krause Family purchased Vietti in 2016 and decided to extend the winemaking properties with new, renowned crus in the denomination of Barolo and Barbaresco. In 2023, the Heritage was taken over by the Krause Family, already owner of the Cellar since 2016 and standard-bearer of the new future of the Vietti brand. Vietti maintains its founding values and looks towards the future with even more promising and stimulating prospects, with each wine being the result of artisanal work and the profound understanding and interpretation of each individual terroir. Since 1974, Vietti wines have been adorned with specially-designed original works inspired by the wine of that particular vintage. These works include lithographs, xylographies, etchings, silkscreens and linocuts. The print run is the same as the number of bottles produced and the first hundred labels are signed by the artist. Each work is only used once, just for the wine of that vintage. Since the presentation of the 1982 Barolo Villero in 1988, the artist’s labels have been dedicated exclusively to the wines grown on this great vineyard. The idea for these unique labels was conceived by Alfredo Currado and a group of artist friends over a bottle of Barolo Rocche. They believed that wines like these deserved to be graced with labels unlike any other and the idea began to take shape the following day. These art labels have become an iconic part of the Vietti brand, adding a touch of art and culture to their already exceptional wines. Barolo is a renowned red wine produced in the Piedmont region of Italy. The wine is made from Nebbiolo, a small, thin-skinned red grape varietal known for its high acidity and tannins. Harvesting of Nebbiolo grapes generally takes place in late October, as it is one of the first varietals to undergo budbreak and last to be picked. Barolo wines are required to be solely composed of Nebbiolo, with no exceptions. The Barolo DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is the highest classification for Italian wines and guarantees specific production methods and quality. Wines from the Barolo DOCG must be 100% Nebbiolo and aged for at least 38 months, with 18 of those months in wood barrels. This results in a wine with a unique flavor profile and exceptional quality. Vietti's Barolo Lazzarito is a premium wine made from grapes grown in the MGA “Lazzarito” vineyard in the municipality of Serralunga d’Alba. This fabulous amphitheatre-shaped plot has a south-western exposure and is situated at an altitude between 260 and 390 m asl. The soil is rich in limestone and clay, making it ideal for growing high-quality grapes. The average age of the Guyot-cultivated vines is 42 years, and there is a density of around 4500 plants per hectare. The Vietti Barolo Lazzarito Serraluna d’Alba 2019 is a stunning example of a Barolo D.O.C.G. wine made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. The grapes were harvested by hand on 09 October 2019 and underwent gentle pressing before fermenting for around four weeks in a steel tank, in contact with the skins. The wine was aged for around 30 months in oak barrels and for a small portion, barriques. This wine has an intense ruby-red color with garnet hues and an alluring and profound nose. Notes of hay, cut grass, tobacco, white pepper and wild mint emerge. On the palate, it is robust and potent, with a taut, mineral finish. As is typical of Serralunga, the tannins are stark, sharp and very profound. The sweet persistence of the finish is delightful. This wine pairs perfectly with game, red meats and cheeses. The Vietti Barolo Lazzarito Serraluna d’Alba 2019 is an exceptional wine that showcases the best of the Nebbiolo grape variety and the unique terroir of the Lazzarito vineyard.

Bubb+Pooley Wines is a venture born out of passion and expertise. Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley, both with over 20 years of experience in winemaking across the globe, have finally decided to release their own wines. After working with premium vineyards throughout Tasmania, they are now collaborating with exceptional vineyards and people across the state to produce wines that connect with their philosophy of making wine from the ground up. Their use of concrete vessels is not an experiment but a traditional style of vessel that has been used for centuries in the Old World. Each shape has been chosen specifically to enhance the texture of the varietal within them and these beautiful, handcrafted vessels will last lifetimes. At Bubb+Pooley Wines, sustainability threads through and underpins their approach to everything they do. All of their decisions are focused on how they can do things better in order to minimize their impact on the environment. Their wines are raw, expressive and speak of place. The Coal River Valley wine region is located in Clarence, Tasmania, just northeast of Hobart. It was named after the first village that discovered coal in the area. The majority of grapes are grown on northern slopes and the region produces high-quality Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon blanc. The cool climate alluvial and sandy soils with a high concentration of clay sandstone provide a unique terroir for the wines. Bubb + Pooley WKR Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 is a high-quality wine made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes sourced from three vineyards in the Coal River Valley region of Tasmania, Australia. The Brinktop Vineyard in Sorell, the Pressing Matters vineyard in Richmond, and the Bubb + Pooley vineyard on White Kangaroo Road all contribute to the unique flavour profile of this wine. The grapes were carefully handpicked and wild-yeast fermented with 10% whole bunches over a period of 25 days. The wine was then matured for 9 months in a combination of concrete (30%) and French oak puncheons (70%), with 20% new oak. This maturation process has given the wine a complex and well-rounded flavour. One of the unique features of this wine is that it is bottled unfired, making it vegan friendly. This is because no animal products were used in the process of clarifying the wine. The Bubb + Pooley WKR Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 is made from 22-year-old vines at the vineyard on White Kangaroo Road. This gives the wine a depth of character that can only come from mature vines. In the glass, the Bubb + Pooley WKR Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 displays a vibrant ruby red hue, hinting at the wine's youthful freshness and vitality. As you bring the glass to your nose, a captivating bouquet of aromas unfolds. The first impression is one of ripe red cherries, intermingled with delicate notes of wild strawberries. These fruit-driven scents are complemented by subtle hints of baking spices, including clove and cinnamon, adding depth and complexity to the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine showcases a beautiful balance between fruitiness and elegance. Juicy red berries take centre stage, with ripe raspberries and cranberries leading the way. The tannins are velvety smooth, providing a luxurious mouthfeel that caresses the palate. Mid-palate, the wine reveals layers of complexity, with flavors of black tea and subtle earthiness emerging. These secondary notes lend a sense of depth and sophistication to the overall tasting experience. As the wine lingers on the palate, a touch of toasted oak and a whisper of vanilla come forward, contributing to a satisfying, lingering finish.

There are very few stories in the world of wine that are more important to tell than that of Bruno Giacosa. A man’s legacy etched into lore, and with such gravitas that it is still felt today in his native Piemonte by almost all the producers in the region. Born in 1929 in Neive where the winery remains, Bruno Giacosa spent his formative teenage years working with his father Carlo as a ‘commerciante’ or grape broker. This very important but often overlooked part of Giacosa’s history is perhaps the key to understanding his unrivalled ability to select fruit, even that which he hadn’t grown himself. The family’s income at that time revolved solely around the ability to sell fruit to winemakers, and taking any fruit to Vinify themselves would have been a conflict of interest. In fact, his father so vehemently opposed the young Bruno’s intention to bottle his own wine in the early 1960’s, that he had to do so without the blessing of the family. The first vintage wearing the label Bruno Giacosa was 1961, a single Barbaresco bottling from a mixture of vineyards as was custom at the time. It was the prominent wine author and critic Luigi Veronelli who at the time was crusading for Piedmont’s adoption of the French ‘cru’ classification of vineyard that convinced Giacosa to bottle and (importantly) label single vineyard wines soon after his first vintage. The first labelled cru bottling was the 1964 Barbaresco Vigna Santo Stefano, but it is possible that even the first wine used fruit exclusively from there. While the obsession with site continued and strengthened throughout Bruno Giacosa’s career, so did the predilection to purchase fruit from growers rather than buy vineyards himself. Though Giacosa was not the only winemaker somewhat late to the party in buying land in the Langhe, it is regarded as his greatest missed opportunity. Some of Italy’s greatest wines ever were Giacosa’s red label bottlings from Santo Stefano di Neive, Villero and Collina Rionda, none of which are produced today by the estate. In vinous literacy, it is impossible to read about the Langhe without reading about Giacosa and his contemporary Angelo Gaja. While Gaja was a willing frontman for the region, Giacosa continued to toil in the background. Both leading from the front and each producing the region’s best wines. Winemaking involves a great many small decisions, each affecting the next. One can only hope to get them right, to capture what there was in the grapes to begin with. - Bruno Giacosa Very few wines in the world come close to matching the complexity and presence of red label ‘Vigna Le Rocche’. In the vintages this plot is kept as a Riserva, the acidity, tannin and above all the balance must be in complete harmony due to the rigorous demands of both extended barrel ageing and the potential for a half-century in bottle. In their youth, Le Rocche Riserva is an immense wine. It is not forthcoming with its fruit when young, but nor is it disjointed in alcohol or tannin at any point. A rare kind of wine that seems carved from billet rather than made up of different parts. A cohesive wine of the tallest order, with some vintages vying for greatest wine of Italy. Intense red garnet colour with orange hints. The bouquet is complex and elegant, with notes of small ripe red fruit, blackcurrants, pomegranate and raspberries. On the palate it is full bodied, with an excellent tannic structure, the tannins are silky that give an excellent persistence to the wine.

Established in 1998, Shadowfax is a boutique winery located just 30 minutes from Melbourne in the heart of Werribee Park. Dedicated to creating high-quality and handcrafted wines, Shadowfax is renowned for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Shiraz, as well as a selection of highly limited, single-vineyard wines. The winery takes its name from J.R.R. Tolkien's classic, The Lord of the Rings, where Shadowfax was chief among horses. Contemporary in design and function, Shadowfax's unique architecture reflects an attempt to create a harmony between the winery and its natural surroundings. Designed by award-winning architects Wood Marsh, the winery's rusted sheet metal exterior and terracotta interior evoke the best of Australian wine heritage. At Shadowfax, the team is passionate about allowing each vineyard site to express its unique character, with the grapes grown reflecting the site and telling their own story. The vineyards are grown depending on their own requests, with the team always listening and tasting to ensure the vineyard's needs and wants are met. Shadowfax is not afraid of new ideas, experimentation, trials and tribulations, all while having fun doing so. The vineyard is allowed to do the talking, using the wine glass as its stage. Shadowfax is a winery that truly cares about the land and the wines it produces, resulting in some of the most exceptional wines in the region. Shadowfax Wines is a premium winery with vineyards located in some of the most unique and sought-after regions in Australia. The Little Hampton single vineyard site near Trentham sits at 730m above sea level, making it one of the coolest in the Macedon Ranges. The deep red volcanic loams over hard basalt outcrops give Little Hampton a unique balance between aromatics and power, producing exceptional fruit, particularly Pinot Noir, which forms the flagship Little Hampton Pinot Noir. Other vineyards include Straws Lane, planted in the 1980s to Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer near Hesket, Midhill, with slightly acidic and well-drained red volcanic soils and Werribee, which produces powerful and robust K Road Shiraz and unadulterated Minnow wines. The Pyrenees vineyard produces Shiraz with natural spicy aromas, a full palate and long fine tannins, thanks to the inland location at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountain range. Shadowfax Wines' commitment to minimal intervention in the winery and precision farming results in wines that are vibrant, pure and drinkable. The Shadowfax Pyrenees Shiraz 2018 is a bold wine that boasts a dark red to black color with a ruby hue. The aroma showcases white pepper spice, dark plums and fig fruit with hints of cinnamon spice. On the palate, satsuma plums and blackcurrant fruits explode onto the front palate, with pepper spices and cinnamon adding further intrigue. The fine but firm tannins build through the palate, leading to a crescendo of flavors that resonate with the drinker long after the wine has left one's lips. This is a full-bodied wine with great length and depth, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy a bold and complex Shiraz. This wine pairs well with roast duck, Schezuan chicken and rump steak. The carefully hand-harvested fruit was picked in the cool of the morning to retain vibrancy. The fruit was destemmed into small open fermenters, where wild yeast performed their magic. The wine was then pressed and left to rest in 20% new French barrels, allowing it to develop its full flavor profile and complexity.

Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils is located in the village of Châteauneuf du Pape, has built a solid reputation over the years as producing rich, ripe red wines, so it's interesting to see that Thierry Usseglio and his son, Gregory, are experimenting with the use of whole bunches and an entirely new wine style that combines a large proportion of white grapes and use of amphorae. Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils Lirac 2020 vintage is produced with 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah. The fruit selected is from 40 year old vines. They harvested manually and completely destemmed. The fermentation is followed by thermoregulation, lasting about 20 to 30 days. The wines are then aged in concrete and demi-muids vats over a period of 12 months. Loads of black raspberry and spice, medium to full body and a lush, ripe, yet seamless mouthfeel.

Bubb+Pooley Wines is a venture born out of passion and expertise. Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley, both with over 20 years of experience in winemaking across the globe, have finally decided to release their own wines. After working with premium vineyards throughout Tasmania, they are now collaborating with exceptional vineyards and people across the state to produce wines that connect with their philosophy of making wine from the ground up. Their use of concrete vessels is not an experiment but a traditional style of vessel that has been used for centuries in the Old World. Each shape has been chosen specifically to enhance the texture of the varietal within them and these beautiful, handcrafted vessels will last lifetimes. At Bubb+Pooley Wines, sustainability threads through and underpins their approach to everything they do. All of their decisions are focused on how they can do things better in order to minimize their impact on the environment. Their wines are raw, expressive and speak of place. The Coal River Valley wine region is located in Clarence, Tasmania, just northeast of Hobart. It was named after the first village that discovered coal in the area. The majority of grapes are grown on northern slopes and the region produces high-quality Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon blanc. The cool climate alluvial and sandy soils with a high concentration of clay sandstone provide a unique terroir for the wines. Bubb + Pooley Shiraz 2022 is a wine that truly pushes the boundaries of what a Shiraz can be. An exciting twist on their Syrah this year sees the inclusion of Viognier, creating a blend of Syrah from the Tamar Valley and Coal River Valley co-fermented with whole bunches of exotic Viognier. Hand harvested, destemmed and open fermented with 6% Viognier inclusion, this wine has produced a truly unique and aromatic experience. On the nose, it offers a bouquet of dark fruit, black pepper and exotic spices with hints of floral and citrus notes from the Viognier. On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied with layers of texture and flavors of blackberry, plum and a hint of vanilla. The tannins are firm yet silky, providing a long, smooth finish. The Bubb + Pooley Shiraz 2022 is a wine that is both complex and approachable, perfect for any wine lover looking to try something new and exciting. It's a wine that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a variety of dishes, from grilled meats to hearty stews.