SWTD November 2024
Premium Hunter Valley Chardonnay fruit was gently pressed with the juice fermented in both steel vats new, fine grained French oak. This was followed by a period of extended lees maturation, giving the wine an opulent richness and structure. The nose has generous aromas of white peach and toasted coconut while the palate offers a balanced clean citrus finish.
“Drink now, or cellar for three to five years for a more toasty, textural finish.”
I hadn’t found a Chardonnay for this Dozen, and it was a little worrying. My first thoughts for a Chardonnay are usually in a more cool climate direction. I did however, remember a comment made by Adrian Sparks of Mount Pleasant comparing 2023 to 2014. Definitely a positive consideration. And, although mainly in a red wine context, white varieties should enjoy the same ride. And there hasn’t been a Hunter Valley Chardonnay in the Dozens for some time. The next step was to gauge Jo Newton’s reaction to my question. And it also, was very positive. Always trusting her, I looked for it, and thought it will work well. 2023 Hunter Valley is well worth remembering.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 02 4990 4256
Open: Mon to Sat 9.00 to 5.00 Sun 10.00 to 5.00
Address: 132 Lovedale Road, Lovedale Hunter Valley, NSW, 2325.
Web: www.allandalewinery.com.au
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The 2024 Chenin is a vibrant wine showing lively citrus and floral notes. The nose displays white jasmine and nashi pear, Meyer lemon and quince flower. A pleasant and clean palate which fills the mouth with moreish textural acidity, the palate has flavours of red apple, white peach, honeydew and mandarin. McLaren Vale Chenin Blanc is all about a clean, crisp, easy drinking white and the 2024 delivers on all fronts.
“A wine to enjoy now but will also reward long term cellaring.”
“Chenin Blanc is Coriole’s principal white variety and was first planted in 1977. Chenin Blanc is an aromatic wine that has great fruit concentration and yet shows an outstanding ability to age. It has proven to be well suited to the moderately warm climate of McLaren Vale. The painting featured on the label is by Mary Kathleen “Molly” Lloyd, co-founder of Coriole, who was inspired to capture Coriole’s beautiful spring landscape from a neighbouring hillside.” And under the heading “Winemaker Says:” “Beautifully crafted from five vineyards scattered throughout McLaren Vale; try it and discover that Chenin really is ‘the better Blanc!’” Ho Ho Ho, many agree.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8323 8305
Open: M to F 10 to 5; Weekends and P/H 11 to 5.
Address: Chaffeys Road, McLaren Vale, S.A., 5171.
Web: www.coriole.com
Grenache grapes off 90 year old vines grown in Ebenezer, northern Barossa at 300m. The fruit was crushed / destemmed and fermented at temperatures from 20-22 °C for five days on skins. The fermentation is managed by a variety of techniques, including aerative pump overs and drain and returns, which assist in extracting colour, flavour and tannin from the grapes. At the end of fermentation it is drained and pressed and transferred to three and four old French puncheons to undergo Malolactic Fermentation. Matured for six months, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Colour is garnet red with purple hue. On the nose, intense strawberries and raspberries. An explosive attack of spicy cherry fruit flavours, with a hint of Turkish Delight, presented on a ‘moorishly,’ textured palate.
“Drink up, but also a five to eight year proposition.”
“Above average winter rainfall initiated healthy bud burst and minimal irrigation was required as a result. Spring and summer were also relatively cool and windy which led to some prolific canopy growth in parts of the vineyard and some uneven flowering which saw lower yields in patches.” And to finish in John’s own style: “A flavourful wine, this Grenache is a charismatic red with a dramatic mouthfeel. Notes of strawberries and cherries come charging in on a palate of spicy raspberry attack. Grab it by the horns!”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 0488 299 233
Open: Mon. to Sat. 10 to 4; Sunday 11 to 4.
Address: 30-38 Barossa Valley Way, Nuriootpa, S.A., 5355.
Web: www.firstdropwines.com
The grapes were handpicked and then whole bunch pressed before fermentation in 400L ceramic eggs and 600L demi muid oak (less oxygen take than smaller barrels). Some intact bunches were added to build texture into developing wine. The wine is left to mature in the same vessels for six months, with occasional stirring to suspend yeast lees, build texture and freshen the wine. The wine is minimally fined to preserve its natural flavours. More Gris than Grigio, this wine is lightly spicy and fully flavoured, with a focus on complexity and subtlety. It offers gentle aromas of field flavours and meadow honey, with hints of ginger and spice, transitioning into flavours of citrus, apple and stone fruits. The skin contact and fermentation in oak and ceramic eggs contribute to its silken texture. The acidity is moderate and the finish, savoury and saline.”
Drink on release style.
“The Pinot Gris is a cousin of Pinot Noir, with ‘gris’ meaning grey in French and referring to the colour of the berries at the onset of ripening. However, the actual colour before harvest can vary from pinkish orange to brown to dusty purple. The wine style is characterised by its subtle complexity with fresh fruit flowers, from berries to stone fruits; and aromas of spices, herbs, flowers and minerals. Given its relation to Pinot Noir, it’s not surprising that Pinot Gris originated in Burgundy and spread to its neighbouring European countries and then, the rest of the world.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 0487 010 275
No Cellar Door.
Address: Flowstone, PO Box 570 Margaret River W.A., 6285.
Web: www.flowstonewines.com
100% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Individual parcels of fruit were fermented in stainless steel fermenters for five days, then transferred to French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks to finish fermentation. The wine parcels were then aged for another six months in oak before being assessed, blended and bottled as a young red to retain freshness. The Composer is a vivid dark magenta red in colour with a bright crimson hue. Lush eucalyptus and red fruit aromas are paired with a bright, flavour filled, medium weighted palate of cassis and red berries. Subtle oak integration enhances the smooth and balanced finish.
“Five to eight years+.”
“‘The Composer’ by Majella is the newest addition to our range. It is a finely crafted wine created from selected parcels of estate grown fruit from the Majella vineyard in Coonawarra. We hope you enjoy this fresh, vibrant example of classic Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.” The story is in the ‘Vintage conditions.’ “The 2021 Coonawarra vintage was free of disease, drought and smoke taint. Dry conditions continued right through summer and consequently, berries remained relatively small with thick skins. Coonawarra did receive several small rainfall events during the growing season which was beneficial to the general vine health and soil moisture. These climatic conditions led to long and steady increases in maturity levels, allowing winemakers to pick at optimum levels of ripeness and flavour.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8736 3055
Open: Daily 10.00 to 4.30.
Address: Lynn Road, Coonawarra. S.A., 5263.
Web: www.majellawines.com.au
This is somewhere in the vicinity of 82% Shiraz off 1946 Rosehill vines. The Pinot Noir is old too. Floral notes combine with red fruits and blackberries and spice to provide a complex nose. A beautifully intense palate of red and dark fruits. The palate is rich and long, with the tannin of the Pinot Noir combining with elegance and grace of the Shiraz, providing this classic Hunter blend with complexity and depth of flavours.
“The Mount Henry is designed to drink in its youth; however, recent examples have shown the ability to age for greater than 20 years.”
“Australia’s unique blend crafted by Maurice O’Shea in 1937 has now become a cult hero among wine lovers. Sourced from our own vineyards, the Shiraz is lightly framed and blended with Pinot Noir from our 100 year old block, providing a wine of balance, complexity and finesse. Mount Pleasant revived this blend in the late 1990s and it has since been emulated across all regions in Australia for its amazing complexity.” I remember Adrian Sparks speaking generously, regarding Vintage 2023 being up there with 2014. I learnt of the Mount Henry 2023 release in October and went for it. It was tried after 10 hours in carafe with a steak and a family member. After the second pour and presumably some more gentle ‘agitation’ it spoke, and simply continued to improve. Two smiles in that bottle.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 02 4998 7505
Open: Thursday to Monday 10.00 to 4.00
Address: 401 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin, NSW, 2320.
Web: www.mountpleasantwines.com.au
Every effort was made to keep as many whole berries intact in the ferment as possible to ensure the nuances of the variety were present in the resultant wine. A gentle touch was maintained throughout the ferment with only a once daily short pump over undertaken to wet the cap. The wild ferment took off after a brief cold soak and fermented steadily through to dryness. A total of 14 days on skins. Limited use of French oak as this is a wine made unashamedly in the ‘Vin de Soif’ style, a refreshing summer glass! This style of wine when made with high quality fruit are simply a delight. Enjoy!
“Enjoy in its youth with cellaring potential up to five years.”
“Grown at the stunning Glenmore Springs Vineyard in the cool upper reaches of the renowned King Valley at 340m. Planted to well drained gritty clay loam soil on a north easterly facing aspect with rows planted in a north-south orientation. A reliable katabatic wind (winds that flow downhill due to gravity) draws the cool air from nearby mountains through the vineyard on its way to the valley floor below most summer evenings. Marco’s vineyard is simply immaculate. The Pinot vines are Dijon Bernard Clone 115 and are all painstakingly arched cane pruned each year; leaf plucking is undertaken on the east side to expose the fruit to the gentle morning sun. In short, this is fruit from an amazing grower with a beautiful cool climate vineyard site planted with a high quality Pinot Noir clone.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 03 5725 1698
Open: Friday to Sunday 11.00 to 5.00.
Address: 1317 Eldorado Road, Eldorado, Victoria, 3678.
Web: www.nomadsgarden.com.au
A slow and balanced ripening period was excellent for achieving fruit flavour and ripeness at lower sugar levels while retaining high levels of natural acidity. Selected blocks in the Lot Three vineyard were hand picked at optimum tannin and flavour ripeness; crushed and destemmed with a small percentage (15%) of whole bunch, the fruit was warm soaked for a day. Fermentation on skins for seven days, the free run juice was then drained and allowed to settle before racking into barrel to finish primary and Malolactic fermentation. Matured in a combination of new and seasoned French oak demi muids (650L) and puncheons (500L), for 17 months before bottling. Deep brick red in colour with a ruby red hue; the nose is complex and intriguing with blue fruits, cherry and plum, but it also shows subtle spice with a savoury edge. Toasty French oak is finely integrated and builds complexity. The palate is seamlessly integrated, structured and long with the elegance and power that is typical of Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale. Plum and blue fruit flavours persist.”
“Drink now or cellar for 15+ years.”
“Our vineyard at Lot Three, Elliots Road, Blewitt Springs was planted to Shiraz through the 1960s on the ancient 56 million year old soil known as North Maslin Sand. With an elevation of 156 meters, sandy, free draining soil and mild to warm climate create ideal growing conditions for our old vines. Vintage 2021 will go down as not only Australia’s largest vintage to date, but also possibly one of the best from a quality perspective.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8296 8261
Open: M to Th 10 to 5, F 10 to 9, Sat 10 to 5, Sun + P/H 11 to 5. There’s a program here!
Address: 13-23 Clacton Road, Dover Gardens. S.A., 5048.
Web: www.patritti.com.au
A bright lifted aroma showing blackberry and blueberry fruits, hints of cocoa and vanilla, with a spice element of clove and star anise. The palate is medium bodied with an intense fruit generosity and vibrancy delivering over structure and tannins.
Enjoy on release with intended good drinking three to five years.
“The 2022 vintage was well staged with healthy vine canopies and soil moisture thanks to good winter and late spring rains. The summer months were predominantly dry particularly closer and during harvest. 2022 was also very mild with Clare really showing off its cool nights. Modest yields rounded out what is one of the best vintages in recent years.” Also in the Notes under “Background Story” is a Label Dedication. “‘All new and unknown, not a shrub nor tree like those at home. Great was the joy to reach the goal of our voyage.’ Landing on Australian soil in December of 1848, the Brave Journey is the storied recollection of the two pioneering Jesuits who journeyed from Austria to the Clare Valley to build a new life in this foreign new world.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 08 8843 5900
Open: Daily 10.00 to 5.00
Address: 111c College Road, Sevenhill, S.A., 5453.
Web: www.sevenhill.com.au
Described as a ‘Grab,’ in the Notes: “Sherbet, lemon, line and length. Serious Riesling.” Then: “Free run juice only. Colour is crystal clarity with green highlights. The nose opens with lemon and lime notes with orange fruit and white blossom perfume. On the palate, an explosion of zesty, sherbet, citrus fruit. Builds into a mound of tropical fruit mid palate and drives home a finish loaded with fresh acidity and great length.”
“Six to eight years comfortably.”
“Shut the Gate (STG) purchased a 20 acre vineyard in late 2021 just in time for the amazing 2022 vintage. A single block of dry grown Riesling planted in 1970, is a star on the new Estate. Sandy, loam soils dotted with quartz allows good drainage. A cool, mid slope block facing east and with north / south trellising protects the fruit from the hot summer westerly winds. An outstanding block with even greater potential with careful pruning and cropping. The STG Estate vineyard is in a sub region of the Clare Valley known as Gillentown. Located between Polish Hill River and the town of Clare. It’s growing conditions and resulting Riesling profile is somewhat between Polish Hill and Watervale Riesling flavours. It consistently produces high grade dry Rieslings with a distinctive floral nose and zesty lemon and lime flavours. These premium Rieslings are renowned for their longevity, cellaring for decades from the better vintages. 2022, a classic year with many Clare Valley senior winemakers sighting it as the best vintage since 2002.”
Available to Retail.
Phone: 0488 243 200
Open: Daily 10.00 to 4.30
Address: 8453 Main North Road, Clare, S.A., 5453.
Web: www.shutthegate.withwine.com
The Cuvee is usually Chardonnay dominant but embraces the complexity that Pinot Noir and reserve wines can bring to the blend. Long lees ageing (approximately 60 months) adds richness. Low dosage enables greater purity and expressiveness. Wonderful freshness, vibrancy and complexity which can only be achieved with great fruit, gentle handling and patience – time in bottle. Teriffic intensity of white fruit, florals, strawberry, brioche and nuttiness. Fine mousse is lively on the palate. Delicately balanced dosage. Long fine palate.
Released to enjoy, within five years.
“Swift hails from the elevated slopes of Orange, NSW. (The Orange Wine Region is defined by elevation. Vineyards sit above the 600m contour line and rise to 1100m). The cool climate of these sites is perfect for the production of traditional method sparkling wines. Hand picked fruit is gently handled and blended to create a range of premium sparkling wines. Extended lees ageing is a feature of these wines, rewarding with complexity yet retaining freshness and vibrancy.” Swift Sparkling Wines enjoy an outstanding record in wine shows, generally, and fill a substantial space in the Notes Sheet from which the above is taken.
Available to Retail.
Phone: 02 6366 8422
Open: Mon to Fri 3.00 to 5.00; W/E11.00 to 5.00.
Address: 208 Nancarrow Lane, Nashdale, NSW, 2800.
Web: www.printhiewines.com.au
54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Cabernet Franc and 3% Tempranillo. Each variety was hand harvested from individual blocks in two distinct vineyards (94% Gimblett Stones and 6% Gimblett Estates, Hawkes Bay), destemmed and fermented separately, with hand plunging or pump overs daily for colour and tannin extraction. Total time on skins (including post-fermentation maceration) ranged from 14 to 29 days, which helped improve the texture and tannins while softening and stabilising the individual wines. 20 months in new (53%) or seasoned French barriques. The sophistication and refinement of the Cabernet Sauvignon is complemented by the beauty and perfume of the Cabernet Franc. A youthful, deep purple / ruby red colour and enticing violet fragrance introduce aromas of blackcurrants and blackberries along with hints of bramble, cedar, liquorice and toast. Ripe blackcurrant and blackberry flavours, savoury oak, fine grained tannins and juicy acidity combine to produce a supple, textural palate that glides effortlessly to a long and succulent finish.
“A stylish “The Gimblett” that will only get better with time. Up to 2037.”
“Since 2005, “The Gimblett” has typically been a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, in varying proportions, depending on the strengths of the vintage. Thanks to a warm growing season, this release is made almost entirely from the Cabernet family.”
Available to Retail.
Web: www.trinityhill.com
SYDNEY DISTRIBUTOR: Young and Rashleigh.
Phone: (02) 9967 5900.
Phone: +64 21 737 058
2396 State Highway 50 (Roy’s Hill Rd), Hastings, New Zealand, 4175
Open: Wed-Sun11:00 – 17:00 Bookings recommended
Web: trinityhill.com
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.
