The rivers of Australia help to irrigate the vineyards. Although water is important; the drier the river the better the concentration of flavours in our wines. We are working in close partnership with a family owned winery, which pride themselves on producing consistent and good quality wines. After harvest our wine buyer travelled to Australia to specially select these wines for this range.

Tasting Notes

Colour 

A deep and inky red in colour

Nose

Dry River Shiraz displays a nose of smoky rich fruits with a touch of mint.

Palate

Smooth and rich on the palate with spicy flavours of luscious dark berry fruits, the balanced tannins help to deliver a tremendously concentrated finish.

Oak Treatment - aged with French and American oak chips

Specifications

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 

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.

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

Warm, soft and lusciously lush this is juicy, crunchy and bright.

Tasting Notes

Black aromatic Malbec, with notes of black cherry fruit and flavours of summer pudding. Charming, soft, sumptuous but with a core grip and power that gives it length and the muscles for food.

Production

All the Malbec fruit comes from an estate in the Swan Hill region where there are 5 hectares of Malbec (approximately 12.5 acres which produces 90 tonnes of fruit per vintage). The Malbec are on their own roots and were planted in 2000. With the age of the vines and the harsh growing conditions, the Malbec vines are less vigorous which leads to a more intense colour and flavour. The vines are trained on a two wire vertical trellis, drip irrigation and minimum fertilisation. All the vines are machine harvested at night between mid to late March and grown on red sandy loam soil with limestone clay base. Climate is Mediterranean with summer temperatures between 30 and 40°C. Total vineyard area is 1250 acres. Once the grapes have been crushed pressed and sent to the fermenter, the winery then pumps over 4 times a day. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks at 25°C for three weeks. Malolactic fermentation takes place over 4 weeks. 50% of the blend is aged in French and American oak barriques for 3 months.

Specifications

 Soft supple Victorian Shiraz, dangerously moreish by the glass.

Tasting Notes

Bright, aromatic and juicy on the nose with just a touch of naughty bacon fat. True to the varietal, the tiny proportion of Malbec in this blend gives a flowery perfume. This vintage is our brightest, most dangerously drinkable Shiraz to date due to its fine, bright fruit and soft silky elegance.

Production

Our Shiraz is sourced from ancient Victorian soils in order to achieve a wine with greater finesse, purity and structure as well as typical eucalypt flavours and saline finish associated with the area. Picked at night and crushed within an hour of picking before being sent to the fermentation tanks. The Shiraz grapes were fermented in temperature-controlled tanks maintained at 22 - 25ºC to avoid extracting any harsh tannins, with the fermentations pumped over to extract good colour. 20% of the final blend is barrel aged. The winemaker also added 5% Malbec at the end of the whole process - a sneaky technique that gives a mulberry fruit twist on the finish.

Specifications

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

Tasting Notes

This vibrant Chardonnay exhibits lifted fruit character, bright tangerine fleshiness, textural mouthfeel, a bright palate and a long and foodie finish. The judicious blend of oaked Chardonnay adds palate weight and texture without overwhelming the fruit.

Production

Long-standing working relationships with some key growers enable us to source premium fruit, with the ultimate aim of making excellent quality Australian house wines with true style and character. Grapes are picked earlier than usual to ensure balance and freshness in the final wine. Harvesting took place in the early dawn hours when it’s still cool and calm which helps retain the rich characters within these grapes. Once in the cellar, they are gently crushed to maintain the bright, fresh flavours crucial to the clonal tang. Around 15% of the grapes are sourced from the cooler, sea breeze-influenced Langhorne Creek area. This portion is barrel-aged in French medium toast casks to obtain a more complex, textural and weighty style of wine. It is then added to the greater part of the blend which is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel to retain the fresh fruit characters.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Soldiers block is a new (affordable) range to us – and the Chardonnay certainly under promises and over-delivers. I say underpromises as the label is pretty underwhelming and gives nothing away about the beauty of the wine within.

This is made from rich, ripe fruit from Victoria with a percentage matured in French oak which gives a creamy, more textural mouthful. Add to that incredible balance and juicy acidity and you have an overall great wine – a real crowd pleaser and one of our most popular whites which tells me our customers have great palates!" Jan 2022

Specifications

"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

Tasting Notes 

Production

The Merlot grapes that make this wine were grown in the glorious Australian sunshine. Merlot thrives along the banks of Australia’s largest river, the Murray, near the bustling inland town of Mildura, in the middle of Australia’s food bowl. A Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunshine, we carefully tend the vines and enrich the ancient, sandy soils with recycled organic matter from other crops that also thrive locally, to make the most of every precious drop of water. Speckled light reaches through lush green vine canopies to ensure the berries ripen steadily throughout late summer in time for harvest in Autumn.

Producer

Quintessentially Australian, this range offers consistent quality, hugely appealing, commercial wine styles that have gained a loyal following. Reflecting our skill and experience in seeking out the very best of Australia, our wines capture ideal climatic conditions and pure varietal definition.

Boutinot's Samantha Bailey brings her signature palate and decades of experience to finessing our components into the loveliest Boutinot expressions of Oz.

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.

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

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

The rivers of Australia help to irrigate the vineyards. Although water is important; the drier the river the better the concentration of flavours in our wines. We are working in close partnership with a family-owned winery, which prides themselves on producing consistent and good quality wines. After harvest, our wine buyer traveled to Australia to specially select these wines for this range.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Light straw in colour

Nose

Dry River Chardonnay displays an enticing nose of peach, citrus and lemon aromas. 

Palate

The tropical fruit flavours and luscious mouth feel mid-palate complement each other to deliver a deliciously rounded wine with a crisp and clean finish, balanced nicely by acidity.

Oak Treatment - Aged with French and American Oak Chips

Specifications

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.

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

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

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

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.  

Juicy, fruit focussed, and a crowd-pleasing Merlot - perfect for entertaining!

Tasting Notes

Colour

Vibrant red with garnet edges. 

Nose & Palate

This Merlot is full of ripe plum and berries, lead to a soft rounded palate chock full of juicy red fruit, spicy undertones and gentle tannin with just a touch of vanillin oak.

Producer

The De Bortoli family story is one of determination and triumph that started 90 years ago in war-torn Europe and is now told, generations later, across Australia.

Our heritage encompasses the universal story of immigrants making good in an adopted land, the rise and rise of the Australian wine industry and the tale of a hardworking and innovative family who considers good wine, good food and good friends to be among the true pleasures in life.

Specifications

 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

A wine that celebrates Australia’s best-loved variety, Broken Record is juicy and bright and plays long on the palate.

Tasting Notes

Broken Record captures Southeast Australia’s essential joy. Soft and juicy plummy fruit flavours are balanced by smooth, savoury tannins.

Production

The creation of this wine was a judicious blending exercise to marry aromatics and lift with a generous, velveteen palate. Grapes are sourced from vineyards across Southeast Australia. They are picked at night to avoid high daytime temperatures and crushed immediately after picking. Temperature-controlled fermentation avoids extraction of harsh tannins and maintains the juicy fruit flavours.

Producer

Quintessentially Australian, this range offers consistent quality, hugely appealing, commercial wine styles that have gained a loyal following. Reflecting our skill and experience in seeking out the very best of Australia, our wines capture ideal climatic conditions and pure varietal definition.

Boutinot's Samantha Bailey brings her signature palate and decades of experience to finessing our components into the loveliest Boutinot expressions of Oz.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Everything it should be - a bright, juicy attractive blended Shiraz. Soft enough but just some tiny rough edges that could be softened out by blending in some wines from warmer vineyard sites. But sure about complexity or length (both could be better) but it really does deliver a soft, easy drinking red. I suggest Soldiers Block Shiraz has a better structure, more complexity and length - but it’s a very good simple, easy drinking Shiraz - and a bit cheaper - so choice is yours. If you like your Shiraz simple, soft 'n smooth then Broken Record is your choice - but if you like your entry Shiraz with a little more bite & spice then it’s Soldiers Block for you!" May 2024

Specifications

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.

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 

Specifications

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

"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

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

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

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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

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. 

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

 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

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

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

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. 

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.

Specifications

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

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

Specifications

Drink this slightly chilled for a super Summer red.

Tasting Notes

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

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

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

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

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

This Riesling follows in the footsteps of the previous off-dry Rieslings first made in 2005. 

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Pale Straw

Nose

Aromatic, perfume and citrus (lemon) with higher floral notes.

Palate

Fine and expressive with great length and perseverance. Sugar is textural but the wine doesn’t show the sugar.

In the Vineyard

One of the oldest vineyards in the Strathbogie ranges, Antcliff Chase vineyard was planted in 1982 by the Bennett Family and at its highest point reaches 580m above sea level. The vineyard is dry grown (no irrigation) and crops are kept to approximately 3t/ac. The soil is predominately decomposed granitic sandy loam, which is relatively unfertile.

The Vintage

2008 in the Strathbogie couldn’t have been better. A moderate summer with minimal rain and cool nights. This was ideal conditions for growing Riesling. Harvest was in late March '08.

Winemaking

2008 provided the perfect vintage albeit on the slightly warm side. They picked the off-dry Riesling first (of three picks) and crushed/destemmed the fruit into the press where they let the juice sit on skins for about 1 hour. The juice was then gently pressed into a cold settling tank where it remained for 36 hours. The clear juice was then racked with some solids into barrel and tank to ferment wild. The tank ferment was held at 9 degrees C and when the wine became drier on the palate, they arrested the ferment by dropping the temperature and adding sulphur. No other additives were made to this wine (ie. No yeast, fining, enzymes, acid or nutrients). The wine was left on lees for about 4 months before being filtered and bottled. 

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

"Just loving Mac's R37 - high in acidity and a fair whack of residual sugar, but what an extremely well made and balanced glass of wine. Searing fresh acidity matched by complex honeyed sugar characteristics. Stunning and a perfect 'pair o'teeth!"

Specifications

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

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