SWTD May 2022
90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only the finest of these two varieties, selected during harvest, are destined for Astrale Chianti Riserva. Having reached the ideal point of ripeness, the grapes are processed separately, at controlled temperature, undergoing a long maceration. By the end of the year, 30% of the blend is placed in French Barriques and 70% in older, lager French Oak, all for about nine months. Further maturation is done in bottle prior to release. Of intense and persistent fruity bouquet, flavour develops sinuously, subtle notes of vanilla, coming through in the end. Warm palate with soft tannins, velvety shades, rich structure, with long after-taste.
There's nothing in the Notes, but on consultation with others, eight to ten years development would be reasonable.
Also from the Notes Sheet: “Since the mythical times of Roman Gods, Italian culture is anchored in the skies. The celestial spheres have always served as guides on the sea and land. 'Astrale' is for us a bridge to a distant past when a culture was being born of Gods and Emperors, of myth and history blended together to define the people of the same land under the same skies.” This Tuscan 'blend' also comes with food pairing recommendations with roasts, pasta with spicy sauce and should be serve at 18°C.
Available to Retail.
Web: www.tenutepiccini.it
Sydney Distributor: Single Vineyards
Phone: 02 9460 3177.
McLaren Vale, 75% Viognier and 25% Marsanne. Small bunches of grapes were crushed gently and transferred to stainless steel basket presses. Fermentation was long and cool to retain fresh fruit characters. About 4% underwent wild fermentation for complexity, and 14% of the Viognier was fermented in aged French Oak to add mouth feel and support the subtle Viognier tannins. The Marsanne component received similar treatment but was not blended until the final stages of the winemakng process. Pale straw in colour. A lovely perfumed orange and citrus blossom, green papaya, tropical pineapple and grapefruit notes. A slight whiff of almond kernel and hazelnut presents itself the more you swirl the wine in the glass, add a sneaky complexity. Some ginger flower spices thanks to the Viognier component. Refreshing style with great vibrancy, mouth filling generosity and a lovely long finish.
“Fresh and early, now drinking and over the next few years.”
Many of McLaren Vale's vineyards are on free draining soils underlain with limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of the local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that inhabits the cast off shells of others. The Osborn family thought the name appropriate for this, McLaren Vale's first ever blend of Viognier and Marsanne. “Hermit” is also an abbreviation for the French appellation where the Marsanne grape variety dominates.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8329 4888
Fax: 08 8323 9862
Open: Daily 10 to 5.
Address: Osborn Road, McLaren Vale, S.A., 5171.
Web: www.darenberg.com.au
100% Tempranillo harvested from 30 year old plus vines, at an altitude of 600 to 800m, on the central plateau of Castilla-La Mancha in Southern Spain. The grapes underwent cold maceration at 5°C for 48 hours, followed by fermentation at 24 to 28°C for 12 to 18 days. Ageing was four months in one to two year old French oak. The colour is clear, deep ruby – purple. Clean and distinguished aromas of black cherries, strawberries, roasted coffee beans and chocolate. On the palate, berry flavours with juiciness getting smoothed out with light vanilla and delicate milk chocolate and roasted Java bean. The wine is luscious, full – bodied with firm and velvety tannins and a long finish.”
“Warm and friendly drink now and over five years or so.”
Indeed, my first thought on this wine was that I found it more endearing than the label. My conservative side was challenged again with the Cabernet Sauvignon in this lot. However, on the advice of Jacki Osborne and her fellow diners' enthusiasm for this 'good value' wine, I became interested, and enjoyed its 'good fun' approach. “Our dear friend, El Gringo, used to be an extra in Western Movies. If you ever meet El Gringo, he will tell about his beginnings as an actor, how he ended up in Spain, and a thousand of other anecdotes …. always with a glass of wine in his hand – of course!
Available to Retail.
Web: www.elgringo.wine
Sydney Distributor: Young and Rashleigh
Phone: 02 9967 5900
The fruit was destemmed and wild fermented for 35 days on skins. The ferment is plunged only. Post maceration it was pressed to 40% new French Hogsheads to undergo Malolactic Fermentation. Post MLF, minimal sulphur dioxide was added, and the wine matured sur lie (on lees) for 20 months. Bottling was in December 2013. The colour is medium brick red. A pungent, intricate nose of violets and cloves, layered with cherry fruit and hints of cordite and cola. The palate is complex, savoury, cherry cola on a taut frame of leathery tannins.
“The strength of Nebbiolo is its capacity to age, and this wine is made with longevity in mind. Drink up, but also a 15 to 20 year proposition.”
“Sourced from a unique vineyard near Kersbrook in the northern Adelaide Hills (340m above sea level on complex sandy clay loams over shale) that is ideally suited to growing Nebbiolo, this wine is made with longevity in mind. Savoury and unyielding, tuck it away and wake it up when you feel the Forza! Good growing conditions, generally, and not surprisingly, the cool ripening conditions delivered fruit with intense aromas and flavours, and allowed every site to show its full potential and individuality in the resulting wines. 2012 was a privileged vintage. After the mother of all harvests the previous year, we were rewarded with outstanding quality across all varieties. It will sit among the greatest vintages, perhaps the most glorious! Truly blessed and grateful.”
Available to Retail.
Open: Wednesday to Saturday 10.00 to 4.00.
Address: 30 – 38 Barossa Valley, Nuriootpa. S.A., 5355.
Web: www.firstdropwines.com
Phone: 0488 299 233
Our Estate Chardonnay was hand selected and pressed under inert conditions. Following overnight settling, juice was racked and fermented in French Oak. The wine underwent partial Malolactic Fermentation and regular lees stirring. After nine months maturation in oak (40% new) the wine was cross flow filtered and bottled. No fining. Straw in colour. A bright aromatic profile on the nose. Elements of stone fruits, citrus and cream drive this classy expression of cool climate Chardonnay. Structured, textured fruit through the middle gives way to great length and presence. Its juiciness and clean acid lines ensure vibrancy and longevity.
“As well as enjoying now, this Chardonnay will develop in the bottle over the next five to eight years.”
“Our Estate Chardonnay was sourced from stand out parcels of fruit within our Bonadale and Outlon vineyards. Vines were winter pruned for optimal fruit to vine ratios and underwent vigorous leaf plucking towards season's end to ensure optimal light exposure and ripening. The season started with a rush of warm spring air that exploded the vines into life, before falling into a summer slumber with cooler days and wet patches slowing things right down. A mild, dry autumn won the day though as fruit reached its perfect targets just in the nick of time. Moderate volume, high quality season.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 03 6428 4005
Web: www.ghostrock.com.au
Open: Daily 11.00 to 5.00.
Address: 1055 Port Sorrell Road, Northdown, Tasmania, 7307.
Margaret River Chenin Blanc grown on the Three Hills Vineyard in Karridale. Hand picked, crushed and pressed straight into old barrels. Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts. No fining, no filtration and no stabilisation – nothing added, nothing taken away. The wine is all Granny Smith apple and quince, dry and fresh. There might be some haze and wine crystals formed in the bottle, naturally.”
No mention of cellaring in the Notes, 'nothing!' Probably drink now. How interesting.
“KP wines are driven by Katie Priscilla Kerrigan, challenging her father, veteran winemaker Michael Kerrigan, to question the way we do things. Wine that displays the true aromas and flavours of the vineyard. Nothing else.” ( Michael Kerrigan appears as co winemaker on the label). Another W.A. Chenin Blanc, and I've seen impressive write ups on this one. A little controversial in our increasingly 'organic and biodynamic' aware world. It is, nevertheless, 'interesting,' which is all part of the Dozens make up. I read a thoroughly enjoyable book recently simply called “Natural Wine,” written by Isabelle Legron MW, the first French woman to become a Master of Wine, and she lives in London. And that’s interesting too. I am in no way qualified to be on either side of the debate, science wise, but a quote from her shows her to be passionate in the dictionary sense of the word: “Natural wine is not new, it is what wine always was, and yet, somehow today it has become a rarity. It is a tiny drop in a big ocean, but, oh my, what a drop.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 9755 6046
Web: www.hayshedhill.com.au
Open: Daily 9.00 to 5.00.
Address: 511 Harmans Mill Road, Wilyabrup, W.A., 6280.
All fruit was gently destemmed and inoculated. Each fermentation was pumped over twice daily, with the ferment peaking at just over 30°C. Maceration or left on skins post ferment for 12 to 28 days, then ten months in barrel (5% new French, 15% one year old and 80% 'neutral.' Full body, firm tannins, flavourful with balanced acidity. Dry fruit with light touches of spice and blueberry, with ripe cherries and a mouth feel that's firm. Velvety and satisfyingly smooth.
“Five to eight years.”
“Lapis Luna (Latin for stone and Moon) wines stunning labels introduce the drinker to 'the faceless hero,' a timeless story of struggle, aspiration and redemption. The quest depicted on the bottle reflects the hero's journey to reach their goal. This journey represents the story of the wine's creation. Established in 1999, every release has pushed conventional winemaking limits to produce exceptional wines from undiscovered Californian vineyards. Lapis Luna's motto: Reach for the Moon, imparts the quality of turning everyday moments into joyful gifts and creating objects of beauty that bear the mystery of life's never ending journey.” Interesting! What was 'interesting' to me however, was, Nicholas Gibson, long time friend of the Dozens called me to say he had some wines opened at his place, including this one. It had been opened for two days as he had been showing it to possible buyers, and was still quite fresh. That spelt pretty good quality to me and it wasn't the scary price some wines ask from that part of the world.
Available to Retail.
Sydney Distributor: Single Vineyards
Phone: 02 9460 3177.
Web: lapislunawines.com
98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier. Cold soaked pre-ferment, 14 day co-fermentation, barrel aged in new and used French oak puncheon and barriques for 12 months. The colour is deep, dark purple / red. Aromatic, perfumed, spicy with sweet dark berry and plum nuances. Bright, medium bodied palate with concentrated forest fruit; juicy and succulent with supple, velvety tannins. Youthful and vibrant with well integrated fine cedary oak. The Viognier adds a silky sheen to the supple texture.
Nothing in the notes
Again from the Portfolio: “Modern, expressive and elegant cool climate wines. Moppity Vineyards is an exciting revelation for wine explorers seeking the next stage in evolution of sophisticated Australian wine. Perched at high altitude in cool southern NSW, this mature vineyard, planted in 1973 hosts a unique marriage of soil, climate and vine clone that has produced two Great Australian Shiraz Challenge winners (2014 and 2016).” Jacki from Budburst and two other Portfolios was a significant contributor in this Dozen as she continues to familiarise herself with all 'collections.' Her enthusiasm certainly brought forward inclusion of these reds from the Southern Slopes of NSW.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 02 6382 6222
Web: www.moppity.com.au
No Cellar Door
Sydney Distributor: Young and Rashleigh
Phone: 02 9967 5900
100% Malbec from vines planted in 1992 in the Mendoza Region of Argentina. Grapes were hand harvested mid March and bunches were selected in the winery. This was followed by a 12 to 24 hour maceration period at about 5 to 8°C. Fermentation was in a mix of stainless steel and concrete tanks (Pools). Malolactic Fermentation occurred spontaneously. The wine is deep violet red in colour, and its aroma remembers fruits with slight floral tones. The palate, it is round, with good character and remarkable structure, with pleasant tannins that give it great complexity and a memorable finish.”
Drink on release and over the next three to five years.
From the Portfolio Summary: “Pulenta Estate is a family owned operation, established in 2002 by Edouardo and Hugo Pulenta in honour of their pioneering father Antonio Pulenta. They're third generation winemakers. The Estate is located in Mendoza, Argentina's main wine producing Region, situated on two sites, Alto Agrelo and Uco Valley. The Pulentas make excellent Malbec, increasingly recognised as Argentina's signature grape variety, enhancing its natural exuberant fruitiness with discipline and structure.” ….... “Making great wine is an act of generosity, always considering the one who will taste it. Our mission is to produce limited series of great wine proudly made in Argentina.”
Available to Retail.
Web: www.pulentaestate.com
Sydney Distributor: Cuttings Wine Merchants via Young & Rashleigh
Phone: (02) 9967 5900
100% Cabernet Franc, the colour is purple / red with vibrant hues. The nose registers rich, youthful aromas of blackcurrant. It is a deep, concentrated wine, which translates to a medium – bodied, intense, beautifully balanced and framed palate, with ample soft tannins and real harmony of components. A bold, delicious red wine.
“Enjoy over the next seven to nine years.”
This wine came to notice as much more than a pleasant surprise. I was able to attend a Tasting conducted by 3 Drops owner, Joanne Bradbury. I arrived at the Tasting, wondering at the prospect of perhaps using her Shiraz in this Dozen. And no doubt I will at some stage. I can't recount her story as to how she entered 3 Drops Cabernet Franc into the 'Invitation Only,' Global Fine Wine Challenge. Well respected, local wine writer Huon Hooke was mentioned by Jo as being closely involved. At the Show this wine, the 2018, won not only the best Cabernet Franc, also the Best Red wine of the Show. She went on to say that she hasn't got any of the wine herself, and that the only stock anywhere was with Jo Newton's Bacchus Wines. And so, I was simply lucky to be able to grab it for this lot. Previously 3 Drops used their Cabernet Franc to blend with their Cabernet Sauvignon for their Cabernets wine. The 2018 was their first straight varietal Cabernet Franc. I notice that a 2019 is now on their listed wines in the current Bacchus Portfolio. Fabulous story
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 9315 4721
Web: www.3drops.com
Open: No Cellar Door
Address: PO Box 1828, Applecross, Western Australia, 6953
Harvest on the 7th March with the fruit being taken immediately to Watervale for pressing to avoid extended skin contact and over extraction of phenolics. Made using the classic methods of the great John Vickery, pressings material was included for structure and longevity, but 'finessed' to avoid excessive extraction or bitterness. Fermentation took place in inert stainless steel for 40 days at cool temperatures. The wine was bottled 15th August 2018 and held to mature in our temperature controlled cellar until deemed appropriate for release. Pale straw with medium intensity, gold hues and silver rim. The nose shows good intensity of lemon curd and spice with some developed characters beginning to show. Honey and golden syrup, fresh lime and hints of flint and floral notes. Beautifully balanced. The palate shows vibrant and intense flavour, very fresh with a clean structure and chalky acid. Lime and lemon curd, nectarine and tarte tatin.”
“Lovely now, but made to age 20+ years.”
“From the 2018 vintage, a small parcel from the Castine “Hayshed Block” stood out for its unique character and potential for ageing, and was kept separate from the main Watervale blend. The “Hayshed Block” has east – west row orientation and a gentle west facing aspect. The vineyard sits at approximately 420m above sea level from top to bottom. Even with a dry winter 2018 was a great Watervale vintage with excellent quality, and the Hayshed Block produced wine of exceptional purity and finesse allowing for extended ageing and a late release.”
Available to Retail.
Sydney Distributor: Vinsight 1300 048 114
Phone: 0404 110 462
Web: www.vickerywines.com.au
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc. Harvested at its optimum maturity and fermented for seven days under controlled temperature in a combination of rotary and static fermenters. Maturation for 16 months in small French and American oak barrels has assisted in the development of a wine that shows vibrancy and richness. It shows intense red colour with garnet hues. The aroma is attractive and lively with ripe red berries and soft pastille notes. The palate is ripe and juicy filled raspberries and cherries. The sweet fruit flavours are complimented by vanillin oak to provide layers of complexity.
“This wine is drinking well at the time of release and also has good cellaring potential. 10+ years under screw cap.”
“Zema Estate is a true Coonawarra family winery, forged in Australia but based on the undeniable passions and traditions of its Italian heritage. Over four decades it has developed a reputation for producing premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, with a consistency that defies vintage and seasonal fluctuations. It has achieved this through attention to detail – hand pruning, careful fruit selection, meticulous viticulture, passionate winemaking, diligent bottle ageing and a deep respect for the place and provenance of Coonawarra.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8736 3219
Open: Daily 9 to 5.
Address: Riddoch Highway, Coonawarra, S.A., 5263.
Web: www.zema.com.au
All prices on this web site are in $AUD
Liquor Licence LIQP24009748
Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Under the Liquor Act 2007, It is an offence to sell or supply to or to obtain liquor on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years.
You will be required to provide proof of age before any goods are shipped.
