2023 Rag and Bone Riesling
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The rationale behind this label is a quirky one! Our product manager found out that due to the tiny production of a particular wine, half the vineyard fruit was to be discarded....so he stepped in to say we would be interested to play with this other half given the quality of the wine over previous years. This lead to thinking about up-cycling the near-discarded, how one man’s trash is another man’s treasure etc and whilst humming over a potential moniker for the wine, God’s honest truth, a rag & bone van parked up outside his house calling for any old iron etc. Albeit a man in a white van, rather than horse & cart, the name stuck. The label reflects a collection of discarded items that together make up an eclectic assortment greater than the sum of its parts.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose classically expresses the vineyard... it's like having a fresh lime in your hand that you crush gently over minerals... literally lime on the rocks!!
Palate
The palate is bright, zingy, singing with natural acidity and really textural. It reflects the vineyard with its fine sandy texture with really bright, white pithy fruit. Just a cracking Eden Valley Riesling!
Awards
- The Wine Merchant Top 100 2019 - 2018 vintage
- Silver at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2019 - 2018 vintage
- Silver IWC 2018 - 2017 vintage
- Gold IWC 2017 - 2016 vintage
- Silver IWSC 2016 - 2015 vintage
Production
Eden Valley Riesling is prized for its vibrancy, purity and longevity and has produced many of Australia’s greatest Rieslings. The fruit for Rag & Bone is sourced from Binder’s single-vineyard, high up on the Eastern side of Eden Valley. Warm days and cool nights ensure that the grapes develop ripe, intense fruit flavours whilst retaining appealing zing and acidity. The fruit was delivered to the winery immediately after harvesting in the cool hours of the morning, then processed very gently through our tank press. Free run and pressing portions were determined by Christa, using her vast experience with this variety. A Ratafia style wine was made from the pressings and the free-run juice was used to make this wine. The juice was cold settled and 3 days later the clear juice was transferred into fermentation tanks. Bottling took place in the middle of June.
Specifications
Year | 20223 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Riesling |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Well suited to seafood dishes, spicy cuisine and anytime in the company of those who enjoy a quality riesling! Try chili prawns, green Thai curry, fish and chicken laksa (with chili, coconut, ginger and lime). |
Origin | Eden Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2019 Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Cabernet Shiraz Merlot
Regular price £18.75 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Excellent colour and mid-density.
Nose
Being 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Shiraz it is more of the classic Aussie blend Cabernet/Shiraz. Lifted dark fruit and cedar notes on the nose. Riper dark fruit aromas than previously vintages, due to a warm year in McLaren Vale.
Palate
The vanillin oak background adds extra lift to the dark cherry/plum aromas, and finishes with a ripe tannin mouthfeel. Turkish delight and dark chocolate from the Shiraz component, makes this a very enjoyable Cricket Pitch blend.
Vinification
Winemaker Comments
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and highquality expressions of Australian terroir.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Shiraz, 11% Merlot |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Pairs well with rich seafood, pasta and light meat dishes. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2022 Smalltown Vineyards The Black Craft Shiraz
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Germans were the first free immigrants into Australia in the 1850s onwards. They planted Shiraz in Barossa. Germans also invented letterpress in the 1500s. The suspicion around the “magick” of a printing press coupled with the inky hands of the printers meant that the art became known as the Black Craft. The wine is an homage to both the German influence of the oldest wine-making in Australia, as well as the letterpress.
Tasting Notes
A compelling, dark and rich chocolately beast. A classic Barossa Shiraz with intense savoury flavours of thick blackberry compote, black pepper and typical iron-rich beefy flavours. Not a hint of jam here, no sweetness, this is serious Shiraz for grown-ups with balanced acidity, a touch of cocao powder in the finish and tremendous length.
Production Method
This Shiraz is sourced from the finest available vineyard sites across the premium Northern Barossa Valley including for the most part Greenock, Western Ridge and Ebenezer. Aged 11 months in a variety of oaks, all American and French, new and old, around 35% new. All oaks were AP John, Barossa coopered. As usual withSmalltown, it was fermented in open fermenters. They don’t set the blades too close together during crushing so a fair bit of whole berry in the ferment which gives the wine generous fruit and soft tannins.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | As the name implies, black is the key - anything chargrilled would be superb here, so think griddle pans and barbecues! |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Barossa |
2021 Glaetzer Wallace
Regular price £24.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Glaetzer Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa Valley blend of Shiraz and Grenache in a modern way.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vibrant purple with bright red hues.
Nose
Wild cherries with a hint of blueberry and rose petal.
Palate
Upfront red berry fruit, midpalate richness and brightness from the Grenache. Finishes fresh and long.
Glaetzer Wallace takes on the traditional Barossa Valley blend of Shiraz and Grenache in a modern way. The Shiraz brings backbone, flesh and body to the wine with the Grenache adding a soft, vibrant juiciness.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—80 year old Shiraz and 50—100 year old Grenache. Yield 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
Vintage Conditions
A wet winter and spring coupled with cooler than average spring temperatures resulted in slower yet balanced canopy development and healthy flowering and fruit set. A mild summer with regular rainfall events followed allowing the fruit to be in no rush to mature, perfect for consistent ripening. Harvest commenced a few weeks later than recent years. The 2017 wines are of excellent quality exhibiting purity and lift with firm tannins and exceptional length.
Vinification
Old vine Barossa Grenache has a liveliness and structure that does not benefit from oak maturation—oak contact was thus minimised for the Grenache component to preserve the purity and animation of the fruit. The Shiraz was matured for 16 months in 2—3 year old oak hogshead barrels (80% French / 20% American).
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, sitespecific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2018 Wallace from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 72% Shiraz and 28% Grenache |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | A wine to enjoy in its youth that will also develop additional complexity over 6 to 8 years of cellaring. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2017 Mac Forbes 'Hugh' Cabernet Blend
Regular price £66.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Gentlemen (and ladies), grab your Claret, for the game is afoot. Wonderful, sophisticated wine." Gary Walsh - The Wine Front
Mac's much-loved Cabernet blend named in honour of his father. An Australian Bordeaux.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Wine
Mac Forbes believes the Yarra Valley's best wine is, in fact, the Cabernet blend, rather than Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. He's been inspired by the likes of Mount Mary where he worked for many years, and this blend, named after Mac's father Hugh, is every bit the highly fragrant, medium-bodied and elegant style of Bordeaux blend the region is famous for.
The 2016 season in the Yarra Valley brought lovely ripeness to the Cabernet et. al. in this blend and has resulted in one of Mac's best releases of the wine to date. This site offering perhaps a little more 'flesh' on release than previous versions of Hugh. If you like your Cabernet blends in a more subtle and elegant style, this is simply stunning. Only made in tiny quantities and just a pleasure to drink.
The "Hugh" Cabernet Blend
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 – the 2017 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.
The Vintage
2017 started slowly and took a more leisurely stroll through to harvest in March. Punctuated with regular rainfall and a moderate warmth, 2017 was a gorgeous season with near-perfect conditions for ripening fruit. Low sugars and higher acids dancing with glorious fruit weight define 2017.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec. |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Drink until 2030. We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving. (14-16 degrees) |
Maturation | 15 months old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Glen, Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2021 Smalltown Vineyards 'The Good Luck Club' Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Tasting Notes
Summer pudding reaches from the glass, there is an abundance of blackberry and cassis fruit with a naughty creaminess of oak that marries on the palate for a bold pastiche of old vine Barossa Cabernet.
Production
The Smalltown block was purchased in 2016, 40 hectares of 28-year-old Shiraz and Cabernet in the premium Ebenezer District of the Barossa Valley. This wine was aged in new and tertiary French oak for 24 months. The oak lends a subtle texture and structure to the fruit leaving the palate fresh so this is a bright, varietal Cab that wears its oak lightly as a structural veil rather than anything more monstrous.
Producer
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa’s prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. We work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open-top fermenters to best capture the Barossa’s magical flavours. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…
A note about Sustainability
As of the 1st July, 2019, Australia changed from its previous sustainable programme called EntWine to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Smalltown Vineyards is a participant in this programme, which assists with tools and resources to enhance business sustainability, meeting customer sustainability requirements and sustainability claims made by participants.
Awards
- 2020 IWC Bronze (2017 Vintage)
Alan's Tasting Notes
"This is a cracker - loads of red berry and blackcurrant aromas and flavours with a structural creaminess as scaffolding in the background. Balance, complexity and length are all perfect - a real well put together glass of wine - sublime and great value at £13.99" Tasted Dec 2021.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | It’s lovely with steak tartare, seared tuna, roast Mediterranean veg and some crunchy, matured hard cheese. |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Barossa Valley |
2019 Heartland Directors Cut Shiraz
Regular price £27.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Directors’ Cut is Heartland’s most powerful expression of Langhorne Creek’s classic varietals. Only the best fruit makes the “cut”.
Tasting Notes
In appearance, an opaque mulberry core softens to a thin crimson rim. The nose is blackberry jam with complimentary aromas reminiscent of a Turkish spice bazaar. The palate offers purple fruit with hints of refreshing rosewater and rich aniseed. The finish is long and refreshing.
Vinification
The grapes are selected from some of the best Shiraz vineyards in the region. These vineyards are chosen for the consistent intensity and texture of the fruit. The strictest pruning techniques are used. The fruit for Directors’ Cut Shiraz was harvested at night and then crushed to small open top stainless-steel fermenters. After 24 hours of skin contact fermentation was commenced with our Rhône isolate yeast. Following 10 days of cool fermentation on skins and pumped over 3 times daily, the wine was transferred to French and American oak hogsheads for 12-14 months maturation. In the 2019 vintage we have limited ourselves to 40% new oak to ensure the fruit remained the focus.
Vintage
Ben reckons this might be the finest vintage he has ever seen from Langhorne Creek. Only time will tell. Harvest was more generous than the previous few years, with above average quantity and quality. Total degree days were up from the last three years, with wonderful ripeness levels recorded leading to amazing fruit intensity. This may supersede the 2012 vintage for overall quality and has led to a very happy winemaker.
Information on Heartland Wines
Heartland Wines is a joint venture from industry veterans and lifelong mates Ben Glaetzer (of Glaetzer Wines fame) and Nick Keukenmeester in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. From its inception in 1999, Heartland’s ethos has been to create wines of balance, texture and a distinctive Australian identity, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Langhorne Creek’s exceptional terroir is the soul of Heartland. One of Australia’s oldest viticultural regions, the area is unique in South Australia due to its cool maritime climate and significant diurnal range. The resulting long growing season, along with ancient alluvial soils, makes it particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Many local growers have been cultivating the variety for generations, which explains the prevalence of old vines; Langhorne Creek boasts the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world. In addition to purchasing old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from the region’s top growers, Heartland has also experimented successfully with plantings of Dolcetto and Lagrein, which make up a few of their unique blends. Sustainability is the cornerstone of Heartland’s approach to viticulture: they encourage plantings of indigenous trees, grasses and bushes, practice rational water management, and eschew chemical treatments in the vineyards. They even have a herd of goats to keep the weeds down. Heartland’s wines are made at Ben Glaetzer’s Barossa Vintners winery in Tanunda, Barossa. Completed in 1995, Barossa Vintners is a purpose-built, pioneering solar-powered and gravityfed winery. Here Ben Glaetzer takes his characteristic minimum-intervention approach, with gentle handling and long, cool fermentations to guarantee freshness, elegance and drinkability in the wines. The whole range truly reflects the terroir of the region and demonstrates the stylistic differences that can be achieved in this beautiful area of Australia
Accolades
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Infomation | Contains Sulphites |
Cellaring | 15 years + |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Langhorne Creek |
Appellation | South Australia |
2021 Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz
Regular price £31.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Typical medium-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz from a great year that will reward for many years.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Superb colour with dark red and purple hues.
Nose
Lifted aromas of red fruit and ginger spice. While there is some oak, it is very much in the background.
Palate
Soft entry on the palate, fine tannins and perfect acid carry through to the finish. A typical medium-bodied Hunter Valley Shiraz that will give drinking pleasure now and over the long term.
Vinification
Winemaker Comments
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high quality expressions of Australian terroir.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Very enjoyable over the medium term, and will reward long term cellaring |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Veal, duck and cheese. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2021 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz
Regular price £69.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Amon-Ra Shiraz is an iconic wine that epitomises Ben Glaetzer’s passion to create wines that are full flavoured, multi layered and intense but still elegant, stylish and finely balanced.
Tasting Notes
In Egyptian mythology, Amon-Ra is considered to be the king of all gods. The temple of Amon-Ra was believed to be the first temple to ever plant a monoculture vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple.
The eye on front of the label is the all-seeing eye of Horus or wedjat ("whole one") - a powerful Egyptian symbol of protection. It is represented as a figure with six parts, corresponding to what Egyptians regarded as the six senses; touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell and thought.
Ben created Amon-Ra Shiraz to appeal to all these six senses.
Colour
Deep purple in youth, will evolve to a lovely dark red hue with maturation.
Nose
Blood plum showing hints of dark cherries and dried garden herbs.
Palate
Rich and mouthcoating yet with the balance, finesse and elegance that epitomises Amon-Ra. An earthy spice complements the brooding dark fruit flavours.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 50—130 years old. Yield 2 tonnes per hectare.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, site-specific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley.
Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80 - 110-year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
Reviews
"The 2019 Amon-Ra Shiraz is 100% Shiraz and 100% from the 2019 vintage, as Ben Glaetzer felt it – unlike many previous vintages – didn’t need to be freshened with a small proportion of younger wine. From old vines in the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley, it offers classic notes of blackberries and spice, framed by hints of cedar and vanilla (it’s aged in 100% new oak hogsheads, mostly French). It’s full-bodied yet crisp, supple but tight and really long. Offering lovely dark fruit, hints of espresso and black olive, it finishes mouthwatering and firm. Give it some time in the cellar and drink it from 2025 – 2040." 96+ points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.6 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | 2025-2040 |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2020/21 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
Regular price £26.40 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Outstanding value Pinot Noir from one of the Yarra Valley's most loved small producers.
Tasting Notes
A stunning vintage with near-perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set.
Colour
Semi-translucent red colour with a light red hue.
Nose
Fragrant violet, red cherry, strawberry and subtle anise aromas are intermeshed with dried herbs, forest floor and spice.
Palate
Fresh and light in weight the palate has a savoury profile of red cherries and delicate rhubarb over forest floor, infusions of fresh herbs and spice. Bright finish with polished tannins and an elegant aftertaste.
"Our 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 us winemaking is an extension of the vineyard where we aim to capture the fruit expression and carry this through to bottle. We pick when the fruit is ripe but still crunchy to taste. The Yarra Valley Pinot is a blend of our declassified barrels from each of our single-vineyard wine." Mac Forbes, Owner/Winemaker
About the Wine
Mac Forbes is passionate about Pinot Noir, and his 'Yarra Valley' release is the perfect way to get to know his unique style. It comes from declassified portions of Mac's six single-vineyard Pinots, taking on characters of each to present a beautifully balanced wine that reflects what quality Yarra Pinot is all about.
This gives the drinker an immediate insight into what Mac Forbes Pinot Noir is all about. He stands for quality, and this characterful Pinot this is sensational value. Tiny volumes were made so get in quick!
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2020/21 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
11.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Drink until 2022-27. We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving. (14-16 degrees) |
Maturation | 11 months in old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
The Yarra Valley Pinot is a blend of fruit from Coldstream, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction, and Gladysdale vineyards.
|
Appellation | Victoria |
2022 Smalltown Vineyards 'The Next Big Thing' Chardonnay
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Tasting Notes
With the faintest whiff of biscuity oak this bright, tangy Barossa Chardonnay is an absolute delight. It has that classical Barossa charm, elegance, poise, tang and naggingly more-ish elusive something-or-other which makes one wonder why there isn't more Australian Chardonnay.
Production
Grapes are hand-harvested from an old block on the Binder family Barossa vineyards. Small batches of Chardonnay are picked and pressed through a tank press with some skin contact. 25% is fermented in French puncheons and American hogsheads for 6 months, aged on lees then blended with the 75% unoaked juice, settled, and bottled. Into the main Barossa blend, a small component of Eden Valley Chardonnay is blended and the whole sees a tiny bit of secondary use oak for some fine structure.
Producer
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa’s prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. We work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open-top fermenters to best capture the Barossa’s magical flavours. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…
A note about Sustainability
As of the 1st July, 2019, Australia changed from its previous sustainable programme called EntWine to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Smalltown Vineyards is a participant in this programme, which assists with tools and resources to enhance business sustainability, meeting customer sustainability requirements and sustainability claims made by participants.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Anything with chicken, pork, prawns, seafood... Brilliant as a quaffer or perfect with a lovingly cooked meal. |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Barossa Valley |
Our Autumn Reds
Regular price £60.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Light that fire! Curl up on the couch with a great book, series, friend or loved one, and a glass or three from this collection of Autumn Reds.
Each case contains one bottle of:
2022 Broken Record Shiraz (Australia). Broken Record captures Southeast Australia’s essential joy. Soft and juicy plummy fruit flavours are balanced by smooth, savoury tannins. Enjoy with spicy red meat dishes like kofta or tagine, or grilled vegetables and halloumi.
2022 Percheron Old Vine Cinsault (South Africa) From gnarly 40-year-old bush vines - an elegant national treasure from dry-grown coastal vineyards. Serve slightly chilled with Asian Duck dishes, pork belly, stir-fried beef and indeed carpaccio of tuna, beef or game.
2022 Showdown ‘Man with the Ax’ Cabernet Sauvignon (America) The ‘Man with the Ax’ is the nickname for the King of Diamonds in Poker-parlance, and in California, Cabernet is undoubtedly ‘King’. Rich cassis fruit and a good lick of oak make this a plush, easy-drinking example of why it is so highly prized.' Almost any red meat, especially served rare, is going to do the trick!
2022 Melea Organic Tempranillo (Spain)The creation of Melea Organic wines was a labour of love, named after a rare species of bee! Simple Tapas dishes including olives, Manchego cheese and sundried tomatoes.
2021 Miopasse Nero d'Avola Appassimento (Italy) The bouquet is very intense, with deep notes of dark cherries, damsons and blackcurrants. The palate is powerful, yet approachable, with silky smooth tannins, great depth of flavour and layers of complexity
2021 Adobe Reserva Malbec (Chile) Vibrant aromas of redcurrant and blackberries, elegantly combined with mild notes of white pepper. Medium-bodied on the palate with silky ripe tannins and a long, broad finish. An elegant wine that is easy to drink.
Save £12 on this collection of delicious reds plus Free Delivery!
2020 Glaetzer Bishop
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Icon's of Barossa
Glaetzer Bishop is a true expression of Barossa Shiraz that is elegantly structured with a long finish.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep inky red with purple hues.
Palate
An explosion of brooding dark tones with bright cassis and coffee bean
hints. Subtle richness with flavours of dark plum and blackberry intermingled with dark chocolate and dried spice. Generous yet restrained tannin provides exceptional palate length and persistence
Background
Bishop is the family name of Colin's wife' Judith. Fittingly the sign of Venus, a symbol which has come to represent women and feminine energy, is the centrepiece of the Bishop label. In mythology, the symbol meant the Roman goddess Venus or her Greek equivalent Aphrodite. But the sign has also been linked back to ancient Egypt – a nod to Bishop’s link to Amon-Ra and Anaperenna.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, site specific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2019 Bishop from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Review
"The 2019 Bishop Shiraz is all Shiraz and all from the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley. Aged almost exclusively in second, third and fourth use oak (mostly French), it features slight herbal overtones to the black cherry and black olive notes. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, supple, generous and reasonably concentrated, folding in hints of peppery spice and mocha shadings on the velvety, mouthwatering finish." 91 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is a real delight - loads of dense fruits with spice, herbs and vanillin in support. Super smooth tannins give it great complexity, structure and length. A real triumph Barossan beauty. Well worth double the retail price!" January 2023
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | Great drinking now but this wine will also benefit from 10—12 years of careful cellaring. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2022 Majella Sparkling Shiraz
Regular price £24.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Majella have kept the Australian tradition of making sparkling red wines. This is a delicious Sparkling Shiraz to add to your list of 'must try'!
Tasting Notes
One of Australia's best sparkling red wines. Full flavoured with a subtle balance of fruit and vanilla wood, hints of spice cinnamon and pepper with a presence of yeasty bread characteristics with soft acid balance to finish the palate.
Production Method
Primary fermentation is in 10 tonne stainless steel static fermenter's pumped over twice daily and finished in hogsheads. Secondary fermentation carried out in bottle on the lees for almost 12 months. The wine is then disgorged and a small amount of "liqueur" (sweetener) is added. In the true Aussie tradition they use some really fantastic vintage port.
Producer
Majella are an absolute stalwart within our portfolio and regarded as one of Coonawarra’s, if not Australia’s, best producers with an abundance of awards to support this.
However, the effusive Brian ‘Prof’ Lynn would never brag. Self-depreciating to the end, he describes himself as the humble custodian of top quality vineyards on world-famous ‘terra rossa’ soils. Every step of production is engineered with sustainability in its heart. This combined with the immense talent of winemaker Bruce Gregory, has been the magic on which Majella’s reputation has been built; with their sparkling Shiraz reaching cult like status on both sides of the globe and their impeccable Cabernet Sauvignon listed in Langton’s Classification of Australia’s Best Wines.
Awards
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Syrah |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Match | One of Australia's best sparkling red wines. Full flavoured with a subtle balance of fruit and vanilla wood, hints of spice cinnamon and pepper with a presence of yeasty bread characteristics with soft acid balance to finish the palate. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Coonawarra |
2019 Mac Forbes Strathbogie Dry Riesling RS3
Regular price £28.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"A joyful wine! " ..." A very refreshing style, low alcohol (12%) and it is unbelievably bright on both nose and palate", David Crossley's Wide World of Wine.
Tasting Notes
Unusually for an RS this was a blend of first and second pick. First pick went straight to concrete for ferment which is so vivid and riveting, blended with some second pick fermented in large oak, bringing a fine supple texture that veers from the highly recognisable RS style we know to a structural clarity that seems just a little more amplified than normal.
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Vineyard
"Over the past 15 years, we have always been overwhelmed by the presence of our Caveat vineyard in the Strathbogie Ranges. A supposedly sealed road that wanders north from Yea climbing to the elevated granite soils that sit 600m above sea level. Generally 5 degrees cooler than the valley floor, this small vineyard is surrounded not by other vineyards but rather unforgiving grazing land."
The Vintage
A hot and exceptionally dry growing season, yields were low in 2019, but produced grapes with an intense and complex fruit profile different to what we had seen from this site previously. The RS3 is a blend of two harvest days - March 6th and 14th. It was fermented and matured mainly in neutral French oak barriques, with a small component being drawn from our brand new 2000L concrete tank. "
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Riesling |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2020 Brokenwood Hunter Valley Semillon
Regular price £26.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This is an outstanding young Hunter Valley Semillon and great drinking now or this will age gracefully if a more mature style is desired.
Tasting Notes
The warmer weather has resulted in great fruit intensity. The colours are outstanding, lots of luminous green tints. Lifted aromas of citrus/lemongrass notes. Sweet fruit flavours with great lime juice acidity.
Classic Hunter Valley Semillon aromas of talc, citrus rind, and notes of orange blossom in the background. This wine has a great balance and finish.
Vinification
Harvesting all by hand. The fruit was crushed, chilled and pressed immediately. Neutral yeasts were used for the fermentation, bottled in May. No oak and no malolactic ferment, only stainless steel.
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir.
Awards
- 94 Pts - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion (2019 vintage)
- 2016 Silver Medal - Hunter Valley Wine Show
- 2014 90 Pts / Silver Ribbon - Huon Hooke
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Semillion |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Asian food, any seafood especially freshly shucked oysters. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2019 Hay Shed Hill Chardonnay
Regular price £21.99 Sale price £17.99 Save 18%This wine showcases the strength of Margaret River for Chardonnay with a restrained, modern, elegantly structured wine from one of the great Margaret River vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Colour
The wine displays fresh green tinges on a pale straw colour.
Nose
The nose exhibits aromas of fresh-cut pear and honeydew melon with some zesty citric notes. There are no overt woody or buttery aromas with the primary fruit characters expressed with clarity and definition.
Palate
The palate is fresh and lively with clean crisp acidity complementing the vibrant fruity flavours. The palate has very good extension and ends clean and bright. This is a restrained style of Australian Chardonnay and highlights how far we have come with this style of wine over the last decade.
Producer
We have worked with Michael Kerrigan for more than 25 years, and we are continually impressed with his talent and capacity for reinvention. Former winemaker at Howard Park and Madfish, Michael struck out on his own when his dream vineyards in the key quality region of Wilyabrup came up for sale. With more than 30 years of winemaking under his belt, and 12 years going solo with Hay Shed Hill, this man is one of the most experienced, respected and revered winemakers in Australia - and rightly so. He is also a strong purveyor of classically blunt Aussie pearls of wisdom: “It’s all in the detail - you quite simply visit the vineyard every day. I’m not interested in being epic, I just want to make wine I like to drink”. He likens Margaret River’s climate to “Bordeaux in a perfect year”, and attributes the region’s success to its maritime climate, meaning a low diurnal range, very important in a country that is known for its extremes in temperature, and pretty much everything else!
Michael produces wines under two labels - the entry-level ‘Pitchfork’ range and the estate, single vineyard ‘Hay Shed Hill’ wines. The Pitchfork range represents unprecedentedly good value considering that all of the grapes are grown in Margaret River – very unusual for a wine at the entry-level from this region, and yet another example of Michael’s commitment to quality over all else.
There are 4 lip smackingly good, everyday wines in this range. Everything under the Hay Shed Hill label is single-vineyard, which Michael explains: “I make single vineyard and single block wines because they express a particular character – otherwise what’s the point?” All of the vines are dry farmed and made from free run juice only. The vineyards are around 20 years old and they are all farmed organically, but without certification. The Chardonnay sees 25% new oak and represents the ‘modern Australian Chardonnay’, in the words of its maker.
Reviews
95 Points | James Halliday Estate-grown. The bouquet is very pure, pointing to the restraint of the palate, where white stone fruit, apple and grapefruit do the talking. It was barrel-fermented, which has left its imprint on both the bouquet and palate. The way the wine has developed to date makes me certain it will grow old with grace a long way down the track. Great value.
93 Points | Ray Jordan, Wine Guide 2020 Great fruit from this vintage has pumped some seriuos quality into this excellent chardonnay. Retains a bright and lively mouthfeel, but with layers of complex meal and grapefruit character. Oak is neatly judged, with the 11 months maturation adding further complexity. Rich middle palate with a fine edge of melon and pear to finish. Nice wine.
92 Points | Sam Kim, Wine Orbit Delightfully fruited and elegantly expressed, the wine shows white flesh nectarine, rockmelon, nougat and lemon zest aromas on the nose, leading to a beautifully rounded palate that’s succulent and creamy. It’s splendidly composed and styled, offering lovely drinking.
91 Points | James Suckling, UK This has an array of lemons, lime juice, pears and melon with quite a fine, pared-back and taut textural stance.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Margaret River |
Appellation | Western Australia |
2017 Mac Forbes Coldstream Pinot Noir
Regular price £31.68 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Utterly charming and generous wine from Mac's warmest Pinot site.
An understated, elegant Pinot with fine ripe red fruit well balanced with freshness and hints of spicy oak. Subtle and long, hints of minerality with great purity.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Wine
"This is our warmest Pinot vineyard," says Mac, "so we are conscious of protecting the fruit from hot prevailing winds and high temperatures. The soils hold much of the afternoon heat so this is usually the first vineyard picked. Due to the increased exposure, this wine displays greater fruit punctuation supported by a firm yet dense tannin bed."
Critical Acclaim
"Mac Forbes’s pinot noirs – not to mention his gorgeous rieslings – are the epitome of elegant freshness, with this equivalent of a Burgundy village all about purity and clarity of red fruit and subtle savouriness."
David Williams, The Observer Magazine, 14th April 2019
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Alan's Personal Notes
"This is delicious!! Not many times I reach for a second bottle but I did tonight!! Delicate soft berry fruit, fresh acidity but not overwhelming, soft, supple tannins. Light bodied but with great length, structure and complexity- a true masterpiece!!"
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
11.5 alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Drink until 2027. We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving. (14-16 degrees)
|
Maturation | 11 months in old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Coldstream, Yarra Valley
|
Appellation | Victoria |
2021 Soumah of the Yarra Valley d'Soumah Pinot Noir
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pinot Noir is a very selective grape. It does not like the heat but does like the sun. It likes to be on well-drained soils so not good on flat landscapes. It likes warm days but more important, cold summer nights. It is so demanding that only a few Australian regions can aspire to produce a Pinot Noir of any pedigree...the Yarra Valley being one of them.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright, cherry and raspberry aromas are supported by a palate of brooding dark fruit and deep earthy flavours.
Palate
Elegantly balanced on the palate of soft tannins and subtle spice with a lengthy finish
'
Producer
Soumah of the Yarra Valley is a producer of fine wines from the region. A hidden gem located down a country lane, in the dress circle of the cool Warramate foothills of Gruyere. Soumah set out to make wine with the charm of northern Italy but the provenance of the Yarra Valley. Situated an average of 120 meters above sea level, the vineyard is elevated above the valley floor. The ancient sandy-clay loams with broken sandstone shape the small yield and define the detail in these precise, focused expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Production Method
There are four clones of Pinot Noir on Hexham Vineyard and once combined they create a classic, cool climate style wine showing elegance and savoury spice. Fermentation is completed using indigenous yeasts followed by a lengthy maturation in premium French oak to add a layer of earthy complexity.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"More a savoury Pinot than a fruity one. There is good fruit but it’s dark and brooding and overlaid with a smoky oakiness - but it’s the savoury notes that shine through from start to finish. Very well made - smooth and with some complexity held together with soft tannins. Very good value! April 2023
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Grilled spatchcock with braised lentils or roasted mushrooms and pecorino polenta. |
Origin | Victoria |
Appellation | Yarra Valley |
2020 Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Regular price £16.75 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A perfect summer drink paired with a wide range of food
Tasting Notes
Colour
Lovely pale yellow colour with green tints.
Nose
Citrus pith and florals on the nose with a clear Sauvignon Blanc lift.
Palate
Initial flavours of citrus and melon, light cool palate at 11.5% alcohol. Grapefruit, finger lime and a zesty acidity adds to the structure.
Vinification
Fruit outside the Hunter Valley is processed to the primary juice stage before transport to the winery in the Hunter Valley for fermentation and blending. This ensures the delicate grape and fruit aromas are preserved. A small percentage (approximately 5%) of this wine was fermented in barrel.
Winemaker Comments
We’re quite proud to introduce this wine as it is the 26th vintage of the blend. The label didn’t get the full Cricket Pitch livery until the 1995 vintage, although the Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot was labelled as Cricket Pitch for the 1991 wine released in 1993. This wine is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon, one of the highest proportions of Sauvignon Blanc we’ve bottled. Four regions make up the blend being Cowra 85%, Hunter Valley 5%, Orange 3% and McLaren Vale 7%. This wine also highlights our desire for lower alcohol and weighs in at 12.0% and with plenty of zesty fruit lift.
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
11.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 8,63 units |
Type | White Blend |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | A dozen freshly shucked oysters and a whole baked barramundi for lunch or a spicy Asian laksa for dinner. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2021 Brokenwood Chardonnay
Regular price £24.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A very modern Australian Chardonnay that will age perfectly.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Perfect, pale green colour and lifted grapefruit aromas.
Nose
The finesse on both aroma and palate comes from earlier picking dates and older, large format French oak. Some ‘bran meal’ notes but the fruit takes centre stage with stone fruit and zesty citrus characters.
Palate
The minimal oak sits nicely with the fine, juicy citrus flavours on the palate accompanied by subtle bran meal. The driving force of this wine is the acidity – long and pure. Approximately 90% from Beechworth and the balance from Orange, the final components of this wine basically selected themselves. Another top-notch vintage!
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz. Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production.
Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Astounding balance of fresh fruit and oak in this beauty. Lots of zesty citric fruits are tempered by a really soft, round oak influence. The oak is larger format and older than standard Australian practices - which tempers the influence over the fruit. Perfect balance and poise, lovely complexity - all the attributes for good bottle ageing - so will hide a few of these for later years!" May 2022
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.3 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Rich seafoods, pasta and light meat dishes. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2018 Mac Forbes EB42 Summer Lovin' Pinot Meunier
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pinot Meunier made for smashing in the sunshine. Such a gluggable delight from Mac Forbes!
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
"This is our second go at a Pinot Meunier. Like its predecessor (EB26) this light red is best served chilled on a balmy day….because sometimes, all you want is a refreshing thirst quenching red." says Mac.
Mac's had a few digs at Pinot Meunier over the last few years, it's as light as a feather. A crunchy nouveau light red that loves a little chill before being served.
Mac's got great feel when crafting Pinot Noir, same deal here with the cousin variety. Chill it down and drink in the warmer months!
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Meunier |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 10.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 7.88 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2022 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2022 Soumah of the Yarra Valley d’Soumah Chardonnay
Regular price £18.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'% A fabulous value, contemporary Chardonnay made with great care and focus. Really has the balance between Australian joy and Old World restraint for a really glorious glass of Chardonnay that shows contemporary Yarra Valley at its best.
Tasting Notes
Nose
A nose of toasted hazelnuts, cold butter and a slight struck-match lift over classic varietal stone-fruit notes.
Palate
The palate is a delicious combo of hazelnuts, basil leaves, creme-fraiche acidity and the Mendoza-clone's signature clementine tang with a taut, structured finish.
Producer
Soumah of the Yarra Valley is a producer of fine wines from the region. A hidden gem located down a country lane, in the dress circle of the cool Warramate foothills of Gruyere. Soumah set out to make wine with the charm of northern Italy but the provenance of the Yarra Valley. Situated an average of 120 meters above sea level, the vineyard is elevated above the valley floor. The ancient sandy-clay loams with broken sandstone shape the small yield and define the detail in these precise, focused expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Production Method
Chardonnay was early as we can to ensure a fresh line of citrus fruit and crisp natural acidity on the palate. Structure is developed in the wine by predominantly barrel fermenting the juice and allowing it to mature gracefully for eight months before bottling a wine with balanced weight and silky texture.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is good. It is cool climate-restrained chardonnay - but we are in Oz so it’s got a lot of ripe peach & apricot fruit for me - not as citric as the 'tasting note led me to believe. The strong oakiness masked it initially but through time the fruit exposes itself. Don’t get the hazelnuts in the tasting note but it is very toasty - I guess from the barrel ferment and maturation. Medium-bodied, medium to high acidity, good length, and altogether well made - but I’m guessing not as classy as the Mac Forbes Chardonnay (which is obviously at a different price point!) - but very good value indeed." April 2023
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Barbecued baby squid on a bed of fragrant fresh fennel, basil, coriander and bay leaves, or for something a little heartier, earthy mushroom and taleggio risotto. |
Origin | Victoria |
Appellation | Yarra Valley |
2015 Brokenwood IRL Reserve Semillon (11% abv)
Regular price £53.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The ILR (Iain Lesley Riggs - Chief Winemaker) Reserve Semillon is released from the best years and this is a beauty.
Light-bodied and lithe, it is silky, weightless and immensely complex.
Tasting Notes
Colour
At 6 years of age on release, the colour is just starting to show some development with yellow tints complimenting the green edges.
Nose
Lifted almond bread and the floral notes heading to beeswax and toast.
Palate
Lively lime juice, Bickford cordial characters and backed by a superb zesty acidity. The magic of Hunter Valley Semillon on display with texture, fruit weight and great length from a wine that sees no oak.
Vinification
Harvesting all by hand. The fruit was crushed, chilled and pressed immediately. Neutral yeasts were used for the fermentation, bottled in July. No oak and no malolactic ferment, only stainless steel.
Winemaker Comments
Brokenwood’s 41st vintage got underway a lot earlier than anticipated. The continued dry weather across the eastern half of Australia intensified in early January with a run of above average temperatures including a new January record high of 45.7C in Sydney. Tasmania suffered through bush fires, Victoria and NSW were also on high alert. The heavy rain that disrupted the 2012 red harvest gave way to a typical dry winter and even drier spring when only 92mm of rain fell in the 4 months July to October. La Nina seemed to be on the way out. November, December and the early part of January were also dry, leading to lighter canopies to go with the lighter crop load. Semillon started rolling into the winery on January 16th and well over half was picked before a tropical deluge of 150mm after Australia Day. Guess La Nina wasn’t quite gone.
About Brokenwood Wines
Founded in 1970 as a hobby venture by three Sydney-based solicitors - Tony Albert, John Beeston and Australian wine critic James Halliday - Brokenwood is perhaps best known for their Cricket Pitch label, which was first sourced from a 4-hectare block at the foothills of the Hunter Valley’s Brokenback Ranges. The block was originally earmarked as the local cricket ground before they decided to plant a vineyard instead.
Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz.
Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs (ILR) joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production. Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir.
Ratings
- 97Pts James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2019
Awards
- 4 Gold Medals
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Not cheap but a real treat! 6 years old but still very young. Wonderful citric fruit with aromas of beeswax- a classic hunter valley Semillon descriptor. Great weight, wonderful balance and a complexity that will see it evolve for many years yet. Simply sublime and a real star and keeper. Will be interesting to see how it develops!" February 2020
Specifications
Year | 2015 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Semillon |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Asian food, any seafood especially freshly shucked oysters. |
Origin | Hunter Valley |
Appellation | New South Wales |
2016 Mac Forbes Healesville Syrah
Regular price £36.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A great intro to cool climate Syrah from the cool climate master Mac Forbes.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Vivid purple
Nose
Fresh fruit scent.
Palate
Very intense, bittersweet, with crunchy blackcurrant flavours. Pepper and spice on the finish.
Is this a look-alike for Hermitage? Whatever, it’s very convincing. One of Matthew Jukes’ 100 best Australian Wines 2018/19.
The Vintage
In 2017, the warmer conditions offered fruit ripeness with plenty of flavour from the fruit grown on his home block near Healesville. This Syrah is filled with spice and plenty of juicy fruit. It sits well and truly in the cool-climate style, however, there is no shortage of flavour. Lovers of the spicy side of Syrah will find plenty of joy here. Very high quality Yarra Syrah for a modest price.
Alan's Tasting Notes
Such a wolf in sheep’s clothing, iron fist in velvet glove kinda wine, very attractive, super smooth with lots of supple fruit and no real tannins or rough edges. But it’s complex and packs a real punch at the same time!! Stupendous from young Mac - maybe he should spend more time on Syrah/Shiraz!!
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Syrah |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Drinking Potential |
Now until 2024 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2007 Penfolds RWT Shiraz
Regular price £130.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Penfolds RWT Shiraz presents an admirable alternative to the multi-regional sourcing and American oak maturation that are hallmarks of Grange, expressing instead, single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured only in French oak. The initials RWT stand for 'Red Winemaking Trial', the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a 'Trial'!
RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive. RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and fine texture rather than sheer intensity or power of flavour. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa Shiraz at the highest quality level.
"Now into its second decade of release, the 2007 vintage excels. It encapsulates what is now the RWT style... defined with its own personality and style territory." Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Colour
Dark Red
Nose
Opulent glaceed fruits - saturated blueberry and satsuma plum elude from a freshly mixed summer berry compote. Stylish cedary oak marries with mixed spices and an element of (Gorgonzola) blue-vein cheese. Aromatically decries Barossa, and Shiraz - but not separately, as per these words!
Palate
Firm, lively & vibrant. Cola and a flavour sensation not dissimilar to a generous longitudinal slice of Blackforest cake, replete with fruits. Tight, finely-grained harmonious oak and lacy, mouth-coating tannins induce a multidimensional 3D palate, tempered by crisp acidity. Awash with flavour, depth & extract. The essence of Barossa Valley Shiraz... oh, and balanced! Convincing ... and out of 2007!
Reviews
Please Note
A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!
Specifications
Year | 2007 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2030 - Penfolds Rewards of Patience VI Edition, 2008. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Duck, red curry 'ice cream', split rice porridge, lychee, tamarind and pineapple |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2021 Mac Forbes Yarra Junction 'Village' Pinot Noir
Regular price £34.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Succulent, vibrant single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Mac Forbes. A fine-boned Pinot of great elegance and finesse - a real crowd pleaser!
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Wine
The Yarra Junction Pinot Noir is the softest and perhaps the most generous of the 2018 suite of single-vineyard wines from Mac Forbes. It feels like the vintage has given it an extra width, not something generally associated with Mac's exquisitely fine-boned Pinot Noir expression. The perfume is sweet and floral, the mouthfeel is light and devastatingly easy to drink. It's the wine that you won't be able to keep your hands off.
The Vineyard
Yarra Junction is his coolest site located in the far eastern Yarra Valley, next to Wesburn. Situated on gravelly soils, this northeastern site receives cooling influences of the surrounding mountains and is protected from the afternoon sun. Yarra Junction will appeal to those who prefer a more accessible style. It offers femininity and fragility almost within the context of a classic European Pinot.
The Vintage
2018 growing season was broken into two halves. With a wet winter and spring, the vines surged into summer with good vigour and available soil moisture (coupled with high disease pressure). Summer shifted gear into above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Drink until 2027 - we recommend decanting this wine prior to serving (14-16° C). |
Maturation | 11 months in old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
|
Appellation | Victoria |
2017 Mac Forbes Wesburn Chenin
Regular price £40.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Amazing Chenin Blanc from Mac's final Wesburn release. A special wine.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Wine
This is the final release of Wesburn Chenin Blanc. Mac feels that this variety matches perfectly with the Wesburn vineyard. It's a textural, flinty version of the variety. Immensely cellar-worthy and finely detailed.
On the list of the country's best Chenin Blancs, this sits in the top echelon. A phenomenal final release of this unique wine, Wesburn Chenin going out with a bang. This will unwind in the bottle for the next decade or more.
The Vintage
"2016 was a year that tested the vine and tested us. Ripening was condensed in a manner we have not witnessed and freshness came and went in a blink. So with all our picking crews working overtime, not to mention the staff in the winery, we went to work and didn’t stop until the last grape was squeezed to barrel. However, it is becoming very exciting that we have sites that can and do cope with such an array of seasonal challenges."
Alan's Tasting Notes
"This is really interesting. Fully dry but with a lovely, honey mouthful initially which gives way to a refreshing, mineral acid rich mouth feel. Oozes class, depth, and interest and I suggest this will develop well in bottle and continue to change its spots over the next few years."
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chenin Blanc |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5 % alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Maturation | 9 months in old oak |
Cellaring Potential | Drink until 2027 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2022 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Regular price £26.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This may be Mac’s ‘entry level’ Chard but the wonderful 2017 vintage has offered up a top drink here. This is one of those 'cult following' wines that always sells out and offers terrific value.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Vineyards
The Yarra Valley is one of the homes of Australian Chardonnay and is definitely an area of expertise for Mac Forbes.
All of his Chardonnays strike that lovely balance between old-world elegance and finesse, with new world fruit and freshness. They’re superb. It's a blend of fruit from our Healesville, Hoddles Creek and Woori Yallock vineyards, designed to capture the essence of Yarra Valley Chardy.
Critical Acclaim
The 2017 Chardonnay is a light-bodied, slightly creamy-textured wine, fermented and aged in older oak. White peach and pineapple notes dominate, with some custard-like leesiness to add layers and length. Enjoy over its first several years of life.
The 2017 will mature beautifully as noted by Gary Walsh in his 93+ point review.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Generally, they can be enjoyed young but cellaring will reward with increased complexity. Drink until 2027 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2017 Mac Forbes EB38 'Showdown' #2 Pinot Noir, Syrah
Regular price £26.40 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Drink this slightly chilled for a super Summer red.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
Mac Forbes loves to tinker with new blends in his EB ('experimental batch') range: 2016 was Nebbiolo/Pinot, 2017 Pinot/Syrah.
This meeting of varieties was made famous in the Hunter Valley where some of the country's greatest wines were made half a century ago. Mac brings the blend to the Yarra with great results. The richness and spiciness of the Syrah, the prettiness of the Pinot, the varieties get along brilliantly.
Slippery, spicy, floral and delicious, this is one experiment that has definitely paid dividends for Mac.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Noir & Syrah |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Now - 2024 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matching |
BBQ lamb chops.
|
Origin |
Yarra Valley
|
Appellation | Victoria |
2019 Smalltown Vineyards Clovella Mataro Grenache
Regular price £16.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
It starts with cassis, a nose full of promise. Clove and black pepper spice. The palate is dark and sultry with a dried fruit appeal. It finishes with a gentle lick of oak from the time the wine spends in oak.
Production
Clovella is a field planting of roughly 60/40 Grenache and Mataro. It is a 40 year old vineyard from the Gomersal sub-district of the Barossa Valley that Rolf Binder has been cultivating himself for many years. The wine spends 22 months in older French oak. The purpose of this wine is to show Mataro and Grenache with some development rather than the super-juicy-young-bright Grenache of the moment.
Producer
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa’s prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. We work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open-top fermenters to best capture the Barossa’s magical flavours. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…
A note about Sustainability
As of the 1st July, 2019, Australia changed from its previous sustainable programme called EntWine to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Smalltown Vineyards is a participant in this programme, which assists with tools and resources to enhance business sustainability, meeting customer sustainability requirements and sustainability claims made by participants.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Grenache, 40% Mataro |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Braises and stews: long slow cooked roasts of pork or lamb. |
Origin | South Australia |
Appellation | Barossa Valley |
2021 Mac Forbes EB77 Big Willy Nebbiolo
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Perfumed, lithe and floral this is Nebbiolo at its most ethereal.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Oh so pale ruby in colour, with a slight rusty Neb tinge.
Nose
A floral and plump nose, red rose, red apple, confected cherry and ripe blood plum.
Palate
The palate is so, fresh and underpinned by sneaky hallmark Neb tannin. High acid, low alcohol, plenty of raspberry, cherry, spice, and savory tannin carrying the wine all the way to the back of the mouth. A lighter approach to the variety, a great light red pour or with a pizza!
It’s pure, fresh, and light as a feather. Delightful.
When Mac Forbes’ resident Brit Willy P accidentally blew the top off a puncheon, he inadvertently created the perfect open-top fermenter for making Nebbiolo and EB77 was born.
Fruit from Dixons Creek was fermented for 28 days in the newly crafted (!) open top fermenter and aged for 7 months in a combination of small and large old oak.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nebbiolo |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
11.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2031 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Yarra Valley
|
Appellation | Victoria |
2019 Glaetzer Anaperrenna
Regular price £54.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Glaetzer Anaperenna is a seamless fusion of the two varieties Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Voluptuous, opulent and yet refined, with a very long and satisfying finish.
Tasting Notes
The name Anaperenna has been inspired by Anna Perenna, the Roman goddess of the New Year. Anna Perenna symbolises the year's cycle and her name translates as 'enduring year'. Romans honoured Anna Perenna with a festival held on the first full moon of the Roman calendar. On March 15th they would ask Anna to grant them longevity, and a healthy year for each glass of wine they drank on that day.
The symbol on the label is the Egyptian Ankh (pronounced: onk). Historically the ankh symbolised sunrise, regeneration, regrowth and renewal.
Colour
Impenetrable black with a hint of purple.
Nose
A spectrum of spicy yet plummy fruit, intense notes of liquorice and mixed herbs.
Palate
Displaying dense dark flavours yet with freshness and drive.
Vineyards
Exceptional old vine fruit was sourced from the famed Ebenezer sub district at the northern tip of the Barossa Valley. Vine age 30—100 year old Shiraz and 30—130 year old Cabernet. Yield 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
Vintage Conditions
A wet winter and spring coupled with cooler than average spring temperatures resulted in slower yet balanced canopy development and healthy flowering and fruit set. A mild summer with regular rainfall events followed allowing the fruit to be in no rush to mature, perfect for consistent ripening. Harvest commenced a few weeks later than recent years. The 2017 wines are of excellent quality exhibiting purity and lift with firm tannins and exceptional length.
Vinification
Fermented in 1 and 2 tonne open fermenters, hand plunged 3 times daily. Matured for 16 months in 100% new oak hogshead barrels (92% French and 8% American) and matured on lees to maintain fruit profile and animation. Bottled unfiltered to ensure minimal intervention with the wine’s natural characteristics.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, sitespecific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2018 Anaperenna from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 82% Shiraz and18% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Australia |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.6 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Cellaring | A wine that will mature extremely well with long term cellaring up to 20 years. |
Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
Origin | Barossa Valley |
Appellation | South Australia |
2022 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Regular price £25.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This is one of those 'cult following' wines that always sells out and offers terrific value. It is all about purity, freshness and balance.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
Background
The Yarra Valley label is the entry into Mac's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. ‘Yarra Valley’ is a blend of all declassified barrels from each of their single-vineyard sites. They represent a snapshot from across the valley and the vineyards. Generally, they can be enjoyed young but cellaring will reward with increased complexity.
All of his Chardonnays strike that lovely balance between old-world elegance and finesse, with new world fruit and freshness. They’re superb. It's a blend of fruit from our Healesville, Hoddles Creek and Woori Yallock vineyards, designed to capture the essence of Yarra Valley Chardy.
2018 Vintage Conditions
The 2018 growing season was broken into two halves. With a wet winter and spring, the vines surged into summer with good vigour and available soil moisture (coupled with high disease pressure). Summer shifted gear into above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall. The stand out varieties at this stage were late-ripening Cabernet and Syrah as well as the ever-impressive Chardonnay.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Alan's Personal Tasting notes
"Delicious - everything we come to expect from Mac Forbes - great winemaking giving excellent balance and structure. Enough acidity to be fresh and clean but nothing excessive. Fruit is pure - mangoes, pineapples and peach to the fore. Weight wise it sits somewhere in the middle of light fresh minerality and oak ripe fruit bomb. A masterpiece!" May 2022
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Generally, they can be enjoyed young but cellaring will reward with increased complexity. Drink until 2027. |
Serving | Decant this wine prior to serving (10-15 degrees). |
Maturation | 10 months in old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | The Yarra Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from Healesville, Hoddles Creek and Woori Yallock vineyards. |
Appellation | Victoria |
2021 Logan Apple Tree Flat Chardonnay
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Once upon a time, in a little town called Apple Tree Flat, a humble winemaker created quality, true varietal wines that were affordable enough to enjoy every day.
Luckily, this story is true.
The beauty of these wines can be found inside the bottle and out. The labels feature hand-drawn illustrations depicting the people, places and experiences of our winemaker’s home and winery. Whilst inside the bottle you'll find fruit driven wines with excellent regional expression that represent astounding value for mone
Despite such humble beginnings, Apple Tree Flat wines make big waves in Australia and around the world.
Tasting Notes
Floral honeysuckle, peach and pear make up the aroma, with a smooth palate of lemon, nashi pear and nectarine before a long lingering finish.
Winemaking
After crushing and gentle pressing, the juice was clarified by flotation. The pressings were oxidatively handled as juice while the free run was treated anaerobically. The fermentations were carried out by wild yeasts and took place over 18 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine remained on yeast lees for 8 months
Region
The chardonnay grapes for this dry white were harvested at 12.5° Baumé on the 26th February and 14th March 2019 in Mudgee and Orange, New South Wales. The chardonnay vineyards were 46 and 19 years old respectively.
The 2019 growing season was warm and very dry in the NSW Central Ranges, however enough well-spaced rain events across the season allowed the grapes to progress through to ripeness without suffering undue stress. These conditions resulted in a compact harvest period with clean fruit and yields per vine a little lower than average. Ripeness occurred at low sugar levels resulting in generally low alcohol in the wines.
One vineyard is trained to Geneva Double Curtain Trellis type, with the other being Vertical Shoot Position (VSP).
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Mudgee & Orange Regions |
Origin | Australia |
2010 Mac Forbes RS20 Medium Riesling
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Rare museum release of Tasmanian Riesling from the Mac Forbes cellar. This is a glorious wine drinking right at its peak! It's not often that you come across Australian Riesling with this amount of bottle age but when you do, you should jump at the chance.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
It's a Riesling crafted in 2010 from Tasmania. It's off-dry in style with just 20 grams/litre of residual sugar. The balance as a young wine must have been spot on because it's in a magic spot at the moment.
The intense acidity this showed as a young wine has softened, the fruit has blossomed in the bottle, it's honeyed and absolutely at its drinking peak right now.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2010 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Riesling |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 9.5 % alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 7.13 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Now until 2022 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Tasmania |
Appellation | Tasmania |
2021 Logan Apple Tree Flat Shiraz
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Once upon a time, in a little town called Apple Tree Flat, a humble winemaker created quality, true varietal wines that were affordable enough to enjoy every day.
Luckily, this story is true.
The beauty of these wines can be found inside the bottle and out. The labels feature hand-drawn illustrations depicting the people, places and experiences of our winemaker’s home and winery. Whilst inside the bottle you'll find fruit driven wines with excellent regional expression that represent astounding value for mone
Despite such humble beginnings, Apple Tree Flat wines make big waves in Australia and around the world.
Tasting Notes
The lovely 2021 Apple Tree Flat Shiraz has inviting aromas of raspberry, bayleaf and a slight floral lift, before a warm welcome to the palette of red berries, clove, smooth peppers and soft tannins.
Winemaking
After crushing the grapes were fermented in stainless steel. The cap was pumped over twice a day during the 7- day fermentation period, then 100% matured in stainless steel. The wine was filtered before bottling.
Vintage
The Shiraz grapes for this dry red were harvested at 12.63° Baumé on the 29th March 2021. The 2021 growing season was a tough one in the NSW Central Ranges, although overall quality was high. Yields in the Orange region were pitifully low, about 10-15% of an average year, due to a hangover from the 2018-2020 drought, snow in November and some large rain events late in the growing season which required us to remove any mould or fungus affected grapes.
Yields in Mudgee were healthier but still a little down on average. Temperatures were cooler than average leading to slow, steady ripening, however the sunshine throughout produced clearly varietal wines, generally with lower alcohol levels.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 13% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.75 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Features | Sustainably Farmed |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Australia |
2019 Mac Forbes Woori Yallock Pinot Noir
Regular price £55.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A modern Pinot icon from an incredible vineyard, and one of the country's best winemakers. Wonderful.
The release of the Villages tier represents a huge step in the broader understanding of the wonderfully diverse Yarra Valley. For years, the Yarra has been represented by both single vineyard wines and broader blends across the whole region. Mac has long held the view that with experience and curiosity, numerous sub-regions will grow in clarity and distinction. 2019 is our first release of the Villages wines and reflects our growing love and understanding of such an exceptional region.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Vineyard
Sitting behind the Waramate hills, this area encompasses both red volcanic and grey loam soils making it slightly more complicated to pinpoint a clear identity of this subregion. The undulating hills provide protection from the drier winds, the rainfall is slightly higher and the perfume, weight and structure appears more dense and effortless, pulling through seamlessly to the back palate.
The Vintage
The 2019 growing season was warm and dry. Below average rainfall and warmer conditions placed huge demands on the plants. Thankfully, in early February the vines welcomed two weeks of cool days and nights returning freshness and vigour. Overall small bunches and small berries characterised the season with above average structure and fruit weight.
The Wine
The Woori Yallock epitomises Mac's passion for exploring the sub-regions and special sites of the Yarra Valley. To Mac, Pinot Noir is just a vehicle with which to express the vineyard, not the other way around.
As he said to us, "we as Aussie producers tend to get sucked into trying to emulate great French Pinot." He believes that "if you don’t care what it ends up as, but rather just expressing that site and the season", you're going to make better, more expressive wines.
Of all the vineyards he works with, this is the one Mac speaks of the most. The wines are richly fruited but highly structural, and very long lived.
In terms of characterful, story-telling Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, it really doesn't get much better.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Maturation | 11 months in old oak. We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving 14-16°C |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |