Sold Out
Winemaking and Dogs go together. You will struggle to find a winery in Australia without a dog that calls it home. And it is often a dog that makes a winery feel like home for all.
Jim Jim was Hugh’s faithful Labrador / Kelpie at Hugh Hamilton’s estate in McLaren Vale, South Australia. Every vintage Jim Jim would eat Shiraz grapes only when they were ripe for the picking, so with viticultural skills like that, Hugh decided Jim Jim deserved his own brand. Jim Jim went to the big kennel in the sky in November 2010 but his talent is remembered in his wines. Smart Dog, Smart Wine!
FROM THE WINEMAKER
FOOD MATCH
The easy option is a classic - Steak. Feel free to experiment a little, go beyond the norm - try this with a rich-ish pasta; Spag Bol.
JC SCORE 8/10
One of the best value Shiraz's you will find in Hong Kong - this drinks like a wine with a much higher price tag. Juicy, fruit-driven body, moorish - real winner.
View full product details
$140.00
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"The palate is elegantly structured with a silky texture and fruit sweetness to the mid palate with layers of red cherry, spice and subtle briar flavours. A big mouth fill, youthful and well balanced."
Best paired with charred middle eastern meat or a bold South East Asian curry.
FOOD MATCH
Best paired with charred middle eastern meat or a bold South East Asian curry.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
Value. So good for that price. One of the best value Cabernet Shiraz's available in Hong Kong. If you don't have a Monday-Friday Go-To Wine... you do now.
View full product details$170.00
The 5OS project, through an array of talented winemakers that call it home, is forging a new path for Australian wine, and creating an ever-brightening spotlight on small batch winemaking and the positive yet disruptive effect it can have. This is the front line of modern winemaking and we love supporting it.
This Red Blend is a cracking example of what 5OS is all about - have a crack and see if it works. This time, it did.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"We use 'thrown together' here lightly. This wine is immaculately blended to equal a lot more than the sum of its parts, and its parts are pretty spectacular coming from our small and ever-so-sophisticated winery in the McLaren Vale. With too many parts to really mention, it's easier to just say that the density and class of this Aussie red would put wines at three time the price to shame. The only reason we have it is that we are mates. It also has an award-winning label that's an amalgam too."
Steve Grimley
FOOD MATCH
Lighter than a typical Aussie Red, so see if you can match up with something that allows the wine to shine through. Perfect for a Friday night Pizza. Early evening Charcuterie (Chips and Dips).
JC SCORE 7.5/10
$180.00
Late last year we introduced you to the wonderful world of Nero. And it went bang! In just three short months, we sold out of all our precious stock and left our customers wanting more...
We have answered your call!
A series of Italian varieties grown in the heart of McLaren Vale, this beauty is unique before you even crack the top (Beauty refers to the wine and/or the lady on the label. Your choice). A blend of Nero d’Avola, Touriga, Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Sagrantino. A savoury European styled wine. Medium bodied with a touch of dry tannins but countering sweetness from the fruit.
Clean and crisp but alluring and very drinkable in its youth.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"Bright, medium bodied in the glass, looks really well prepared. 5 varieties should probably have a menagerie of aromatics and this certainly does. If I can pull one out of the mix it’s this concentrated, candied fruit, almost like kids cough medicine but not quite as strong. The palate’s got a nice combination of sweet and tart fruits, along with an alluring herbal edge, again not surprising when you look at the varietal mix. Has me daydreaming about a Sunday roast on a full, long table with water droplets winding their way down the kitchen windows."
Steve Grimley
FOOD MATCH
Go Italiano. Pizza + Pasta
JC SCORE 8.5/10
I am a big fan of this wine. There is plenty of office 'tasting' sessions done every Friday afternoon at Wine Brothers HQ. Order some more samples!
View full product details
$180.00
$180.00
The 5OS project, through an array of talented winemakers that call it home, is forging a new path for Australian wine, and creating an ever-brightening spotlight on small batch winemaking and the positive yet disruptive effect it can have. This is the front line of modern winemaking and we love supporting it.
This Cab Sav out of Western Victoria is as small batch as small batch gets. 178 cases from the Wilson vineyard.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"This is classic MV Cab, the alluvial soils of the McLaren Flat Sub region provide the density of flavour and mocha, warmed fruits and earthy undertones all hallmarks of the site. Matured in our cellars for a couple of years prior to release in mid 2016, its beautiful drinking upon release but will reward those who are patient, or capable, of forgetting its in the rack for a few years more. 'I love making Cabernet Sauvignon….nearly as much as I enjoy drinking it' "
Jess Hardy - Winemaker
FOOD MATCH
Lamb Shanks. Burgers. Blue Cheese (controversial).
JC SCORE 8.5/10
As a big Cab Sav fan, I generally stick to the known Aussie regions (Margs River is certainly a favourite at the moment). This is an exception. No regrets. Love it.
View full product detailsSold Out
When it comes to experimenting, pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo, this wine does it all. The Wine Brothers affectionately call it the love child; a concoction conceived from the most unlikely and illegitimate marriage of varieties, that comes together to produce an absolute winner. A fabulous wine to challenge that know-it-all wine connoisseur.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"This blend was born through the creativity of winemaker Steve Grimley, with a post-ferment mix of three red varieties (Durif 51%, Shiraz 27%, Grenache 17%) and one white variety (Sauvignon Blanc 5%).
Visually the wine is very imposing; it appears dark and inky in the glass. The aromatic nose offers blackberry and earthy tones. When sampled the blend presents a full flavoured and complex assault on the palate; the Durif strikes with large, fruity characteristics while the Shiraz adds weight and balanced aromatics. The Grenache flashes a bright element in the mid-palate while the Sauvignon Blanc introduces the slightest hints of passionfruit. The tannic characteristics of the Durif ensure a strong, grounded finish."
Jess Hardy
FOOD MATCH
Heavy wine. Heavy-er food needed. Can match it with red meat - lamb, steak...etc
JC SCORE 8/10
I like this. Big time. It is a real wine enthusiasts' wine. Add 1 to your cart - you won't regret it - reward the experimental vibe!
Sold Out
5OS Malbec was one of our original wines back when we launched Wine Brothers in 2016. Fast forward to 2018 and we welcome back this popular Malbec back to the family.
When it comes to experimenting, pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo, this wine does it all. The Wine Brothers affectionately call it the love child; a concoction conceived from the most unlikely and illegitimate marriage of varieties, that comes together to produce an absolute winner. A fabulous wine to challenge that know-it-all wine connoisseur.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"Looks and smells like it’s too young to get in, the brilliant purple hue a sure giveaway to what lies ahead. Fresh dark plums and mocha steal the show before smoky, earthy varietal characters jump into the light. The big, dusty tannins are somewhat out of place in what’s not much more than a medium to full palate, yet they deserve the benefit of the doubt and in time I’m assuming they’ll wrap everything up just nicely. Pretty good from where I’m sitting."
Steve Grimley
FOOD MATCH
Heavy wine. Heavy-er food needed. Can match it with red meat - lamb, steak...etc
JC SCORE 9/10
I have gone big on this. I don't dish out 9's lightly. Darking, alluring, lengthy. Probably, number 1 on the list of 5OS wines that I bring out at a dinner party, normally with a scene setter like "Wait till you try this..."
View full product detailsSold Out
Never judge a book by its cover. So they say. In this case, I would say judge away. Cracking label and even better wine. We at Wine Brothers HQ love what the 5OS Project is doing - this is another classic example of their small batch mentality shining through.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"No guessing this has a decent dollop of Touriga blended in, it jumps out of the glass and attaches like squid to the side of your boat. I’m hooked but I can see a scene early in a dinner party where this wine is debated feverishly. Reduced raspberries, like a coulis, vanilla and cinnamon cake straight from the oven hit you first up. The tannins are grainy and the oak has been really well handled and sits in the periphery and I expect will continue too. It’s adolescent at best, far from complete, but once it all comes together should blossom into a very nice bottle of wine."
Steve Grimley
FOOD MATCH
Shiraz can be punchy, Touriga can be even punchy-er. Big enough wine to sit in the heavy reds category. Versatile enough wine not to have to have steak (but it would be nice)
JC SCORE 8/10
Nice one. All night long.
View full product details$180.00
he
Merlot gets a bad names. It is the forgotten variety of the Aussie wine industry. It’s almost like it that child actor that peaks before their 10th birthday, is super popular in their early teens, then ended up washed up by the time they are 21. Sad, but not uncommon.
They are not all like that though. There are some that started young and are still cool.
Our friends at 5OS have sourced some of the best Merlot grapes in McLaren Vale (there is sooooo much Merlot produced in Australia it is not hard to find buuuuuut it is hard to find goooooood Merlot). They have gone about making Merlot great again. It has been given the love and attention it deserves and needs. The result is cracking wine, an approachable wine and a wine that goes against the Merlot.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"...right now I reckon it’s spot on. Old school oak and handling, it’s super ripe and overloaded with extract, flavour and texture. It’s screaming out for a prolonged ‘session on the reds’. Not many places in the world can make this sort of wine; lucky for us McLaren Vale is one of them. 5 years well spent and well worth remembering"
Steve Grimley
FOOD MATCH
The winemaker picked it - more your session ale sort of wine. Early afternoon with a plate of Cheese, Dips and Cold Cuts. Thank you
JC SCORE 8/10
Solid Merlot. A really good one to give to those Merlot haters out there - prove them wrong - it is a great felling.
View full product details$210.00
All Saints Estate has become a favourite of ours in Hong Kong, and a favourite amongst the Wine Brothers Family. Not only are they great people (the dream team sibling combination of Eliza, Angela and Nick Brown), they make great wine. The Sangiovese Cabernet Blend is the ‘Mr Drinkable’ of their range - Medium bodied, soft, savoury, ripe fruit, dry finish. This is a premium version of your every-day-drink; super food friendly and super versatile. Make this your go-to wine, you will be rewarded.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"We use very traditional techniques including hand plunging and long maceration in our open fermenters, basket pressing and then 12 months maturation in large tanks and old oak vessels before bottling. The intent is for the wine to develop savoury complexity whilst retaining plenty of food-friendly tannins. Medium bodied red with a brick tinge at the rim, this wine displays aromas of red fruits with slight savoury and herbal notes. There is lovely soft, ripe fruit with good, almost tart, acidity in a balanced and dry finish.
Nick Brown
FOOD MATCH
This is a very food-friendly wine and very versatile. It matched perfectly to popular Mediterranean cuisine and makes a perfect partner to dishes featuring tomato.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
Really solid first wine of the evening (or afternoon). Warms my heart this wine, transitions one straight from work/busy/stress life to home life. ✔️
View full product details$210.00
Like a red rag to a bull, you won't be able to get enough of this Temp. The wine is picked from an old, single-trellised vineyard and you'll taste the plump berries in every juicy mouthful. We at Wine Brothers love our Aussie favourites, but we can't get enough of these Spanish styles. It's fruity, vibrant and bright and perfect for those Hong Kong days where food and fun beckon.
'By George!', Fox Gordon have done it again! #sorrynotsorry
FROM THE WINEMAKER
Picked from on old single trellised vineyard whose vines produce large, plump berries this wine is round and supple with hints of gorgeous spice and subtle Dutch chocolate. Oaked in French Puncheons By George is delightful and vibrant, yet sophisticated.
Sam Atkins - Owner
FOOD MATCH
mancherò croquettes or a hearty cacciatore
WB SCORE 9/10
View full product details$210.00
Durif. Unknown name but certainly not unloved. In fact (big call)… it is my favourite variety (this week). The team at All Saints are Durif specialists - it just works so well in Rutherglen. The variety prospers almost exclusively in North East Victoria. The long warm days experienced in the Rutherglen wine region give the grapes plenty of time to develop their intense colour and rich flavours.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"The fruit was destemmed and crushed into our old 7-tonne fermenters before being inoculated with yeast for fermentation. Hand plunging was done three times a day during the early stages of fermentation, then reduced to two per day till the ferment was finished. Pressing was then done using our 130-year-old hand-cranked wooden basket press, this gentle press allows us to get all the wine out but not over extract the tannins. Maturation was in new and old oak barriques and puncheons for 18 months and was bottled in December 2016."
Nick Brown
FOOD MATCH
The firm tannins and depth of flavours of Durif are well suited to hearty dishes. Try pairing with rich Beef Bourguignon or sticky lamb shanks slow cooked in red wine.
JC SCORE 9/10
Durif has a deserved reputation as a great red wine for ageing. It is also drinking sooooo well now. Really high-quality wine. It will throw some sediment, so it best decanted before serving.
View full product details
$220.00
“Shiraz and McLaren Vale”. A famous pairing. Are there others? The Royal Family and Corgis? Gin and Tonic? Bogart and Bacall? But why the connection?
Pedigree and history: the variety has shown its suitability for so long to the region’s maritime but warm climate, and old yet well-preserved soils, that it’s hard to imagine one without the other. Shiraz in McLaren Vale grows well, always ripens, and with correct vineyard management, produces wines of great depth, flavour and structure. A true Wine Brothers favourite!
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"A core quality of good wine is consistency between nose and palate, and that’s what ‘The Rascal’ delivers. Richly lifted violets and fine French oak combine with fresh cracked pepper, spice, and lush fruit. Tremendous depth of flavour on the palate mirrors the aromatics, amplifying the spice and fruit volume. All framed tightly within a supple fine texture. While we love and respect the notion of single-vineyard wines, ‘The Rascal’ benefits from being a blend of several sites."
Hugh Hamilton
FOOD MATCH
Simple. A whole lamb leg. A whole roast fillet.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
Classic Vale Shiraz. Ticks all the right boxes and very hard to fault.
View full product detailsSold Out
Sangiovese is a grape that has a lot going for it - a superstar in its own right. Its natural acidity means it brings an interesting and lively palate to the party. Invite a splash of world-class South Australian Shiraz (8%), a dash of Tempranillo (6%) and we are now talking. This wine is the purest breed Mongrel ever to exist, and may even force our friends at Oxford to redefine the word itself.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"A decade ago in Australia, fresh young reds were rare, and rarely taken seriously. These days they are more common, and critics pay much more attention! We are not after attention per se; our aim is to take the best of Sangiovese - always the core of ‘The Mongrel’ - and build on it, in a perfumed, savoury, unchallenging style: fresh, bright and lively!"
Hugh Hamilton
FOOD MATCH
Pair with a simple pasta-e-polpette (meat-balls) dish with grated parmesan and fresh parsley (tannin and acid are natural friends if you have a little oil in a dish...) In fact, any rich, tomato-based dish will be a perfect match.
JC SCORE 8/10
A really easy wine to drink this one - pure enjoyment levels are high. The Italian side of me gets a little excited when I crack open this bottle, knowing us Aussies are doing our Italian Sangiovese-drinking forefathers proud.
View full product details$220.00
Good Cab Sav is a real treat. It is globally recognised as one of the great red wine varieties. This writer travels far and wide around Australia looking hard for the best. It is a borderline obsession. Margaret River and McLaren Vale. That is where we end up. I reckon I have found a cracking wine right here.
(WARNING - WINE TALK AHEAD). I recommend opening this one up. Let it air. Decant if you have one available. The tannins will soften, the nose will open up. If I was locked in our warehouse overnight with the choice of over 150 wines, this is the one I would drink (until I fell asleep on a bed tasting notes)
Cabernet arguably finds its greatest expression in the maritime climate of Bordeaux. McLaren Vale is warmer and drier but shares those maritime conditions. Cabernet is characterized by small, dark, tough-skinned berries, which produce long-lived wines of intense colour and firm tannins.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"With the luxury of drawing weighty, textured Cabernet from the cracking black soil of our Cellar block and blending this with the high tone perfume of the Black Sheep block we are able to produce a wine of both presence and elegance.
A compelling perfume of roses, cherry wood, and incense. Fruits of the forest, yet earthy like the forest floor itself. The aromatics lead to a palate of moderate weight, and of length and intensity. Char, roses and Darjeeling tea. A fine texture as of emery"
Hugh Hamilton
FOOD MATCH
Porcini crusted Rib Eye will do nicely (if you have the talent to make it)
JC SCORE 9/10
I've already stated this is my pick when locked in the warehouse with over 150 wines to choose from. Gets cracking scores everywhere it is taken. Lock in.
View full product details
$220.00
When it comes to experimenting, pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo, this wine does it all. The Wine Brothers affectionately call it the love child; a concoction conceived from the most unlikely and illegitimate marriage of varieties, that comes together to produce an absolute winner. A fabulous wine to challenge that know-it-all wine connoisseur.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"Look for all of the attributes you have come to expect from Tempranillo, but also the unexpected as the other varieties modulate the character of the wine. We have selected parcels of Shiraz and Nero that complement the delicate fruit characters of the Tempranillo and are themselves bolstered by its textural aspects. The result is an intriguing and balanced wine that aims to get the best out of the three varietal components.
Densely layered perfume dominated by leather and cherries. Other more subtle notes shift in the glass as it opens up over time. The leather and cherries so evident in the aromatics follow through to the palate and are joined by masses of dark forest fruits, raspberry and rose. A fine texture throughout frames up all this punchy fruit, contributing to an elegant cherry finish. cters of the Tempranillo and are themselves bolstered by its textural aspects. The result is an intriguing and balanced wine that aims to get the best out of the three varietal components"
Hugh Hamilton
FOOD MATCH
Bistecca alla fiorentina, or perhaps some Argentinian carne; the Scoundrel loves the smoke and char of a great grill.
JC SCORE 8/10
Rough, yet very forgivable, the edges of youth will settle over time, this wine is offering al lot. Will open up nicely with a bit air - decant or crack the top a few hours before drinking.
$220.00
The Loom range continues to be a great example of Single Vineyard wine at it's best. The concept of a field blend is always exciting, a bit of an unknown really. That's fine - we at Wine Brothers love a bit of experimental artistry.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"I reckon a field blend should be fermented in the vineyard which it was grown. Being my vineyard and all I can confidently say this wasn’t. Also the wine to which this note is referring to is a blend of Grenache and Shiraz and with a nod to the second sentence of this at best, monologue, I’ve more than a wink and nudge assumption that there’s a shit load more planted in this vineyard than Shiraz and Grenache. Either way I’m not fussed and looking across the table immersed in reflective sound, I’m happy to indulge in whatever conceptual misdemeanours we may be subjecting you too in the spirit of an awesome glass of wine. This is certainly that, super sweet red fruits, aniseed, cinnamon and so on, and on. Brilliant to drink, easy, yet omnipresent, the type of wine I’d love to say I made… which I sort of did."
Steve Grimley
FOOD MATCH
Not heavy. Something light enough to allow those lovely red fruits to shine. Mushroom risotto.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
Easy drinking, my uneducated, yet well worn, pallet tells me that this is very Grenache. Plenty of silky smoothness about this wine, easy easy easy drinking.
View full product details$230.00
GSM, GMS, MSG... Some good, some bad. There is plenty of the later (MSG) in Hong Kong, not so much of the former (GSM).
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"A blend of Grenache (44%), Shiraz (31%), Mourvèdre (17%) and Cinsaut (8%). The wine is medium bodied with lifted perfumed notes from the Grenache, it also shows aromas of crushed berries and dried herbs. Richly flavoured with spicy plum, dark fruits and elegant tannins in a long and balanced finish.
The Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut were co-fermented in one of our 7 tonne open fermenters with the Shiraz being fermented separately alongside. The caps for both were hand plunged two-three times a day during the fermentation before being pressing off once complete. Pressing was in our 1883 hand-cranked wooden basket press which allows a gentle pressure to ensure the delicate style of the wine is preserved. The finished wines were matured in 3-4 year old oak barriques and puncheons for 6 months, then blended prior to bottling ."
FOOD MATCH
Versatile with food - something earthy or red meaty will work best.
A wine lovers wine!
$230.00
We Wine Brothers love a Black Operation...
You don’t need to know much, other than the ‘Black Ops’ side of this wine is the blending of Australia’s great red grape, Shiraz (85%), with that of Georgia (the former Soviet republic): Saperavi (15%). It’s a Dark Art, blending, and in this case, it has produced something rare and special. When was it done? Shortly before bottling, after the wines had been matured in barrel. Hugh wanted to be sure they’d work as a team, and not assassinate each other as soon as he turned his back.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"The Shiraz I chose for this was not the biggest, boldest, most structured I could find. No - I looked through the barrels for voluminous fruit, spice, roundness and suppleness. That’s why you can drink it now. Each variety is pulling its weight in contributing to a very successful operation here. This wine is a fascinating mixture of the red and black berries of Shiraz; with a whiff of liquorice which is text-book McLaren Vale Shiraz. And the Saperavi? Look for the spices underlying the liquorice of the Shiraz. And an ever-so-subtle hint of chocolatey oak."
Hugh Hamilton
FOOD MATCH
In keeping with the covert and highly original nature of this blend, we suggest that you be adventurous. Take the path less travelled: kangaroo with dukkah crust or redcurrant glaze; or maybe roast pork brushed with soy and black bean. Go rogue!
JC SCORE 8.5/10
High level of drinkability (that means I drink a lot of it). Smooth, rounded, full. Yeh, winner.
View full product details$230.00
Q: How did we at Wine Brothers last our first 18 months without a Barossa Shiraz (probably Australia’s most famous variety/region combo) in our range?
A: We were waiting to find the right small batch producer. And now we found them!
Pontifex is the brainchild of Sam and Helen Clarke - they are both well established Barossa people with serious business and family ties to some of the big players in town. Pontifex is their project, this is their stamp on the industry, this is their expression of passion, of place, of purpose. Serious small batch. Seriously good.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"A classic vintage from the Barossa with plenty of warmth throughout Summer after a dry Spring. Vintage started early and finished early with all varietals ripening easily and developing great flavor across the vineyards. Deep red-purple colour, with a nose consisting of plum and blackberry, soft smoky oak. The body offers firm but even tannins lead to a long finish."
Sam Clarke
FOOD MATCH
Beef (BBQ, Roast or Stew), Duck, Aged or Hard Cheese
JC SCORE 8/10
Barossa Shiraz - does what Barossa Shiraz is meant to do. Length in the finish puts this in the premium category.
View full product details$230.00
Grenache (57%), Shiraz (33%), Mouvedre (10%) - GSM to us all - is the less popular and less famous companion of the Barossa Valley Shiraz. Don’t let that scare you, in fact, that should excited you. If we followed ratings and wine judges we would tell you this wine got 93 points from one of Australia’s toughest critics, but we will let you decide how bloody good it is.
Cherry + raspberry fruits on the nose, ultra smooth and silky tannins throughout the nose. This is a serious looking wine. I would hold onto it until the next roast lamb or pork - it will be the highlight of the evening. If you invite us we will be a bottle.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"A classic vintage from the Barossa with plenty of warmth throughout Summer after a dry Spring. Vintage started early and finished early with all varietals ripening easily and developing great flavor across the vineyards. Mid deep red Colour with the nose oozing Red fruits – cherry & raspberry, savoury undertones. The pallet offers long silky tannins with an elegant finish."
Sam Clarke
FOOD MATCH
Lamb (Roasted, Stew or BBQ), Steak, Pork.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
A superb Barossa GSM - well balanced and very convincing. Judges favourite (a JH 93 pointer) for a reason.
View full product details$240.00
They call this one 'The Dark Prince' which sounds a bit evil, but trust us, this one's all good. Silky smooth with subtle oak flavours, this wine is more Sirius Black than Batman.
Fox Gordon have taken Sicily's most important red wine grape and made it their own. This is an Aussie spin on an Italian classic and it delivers in spades. Big, bold, juicy and delicious. Just don't tell the Sicilians how good it is unless you fancy waking up next to horse's head.
FROM THE WINEMAKER
Bold, delicious and a lot of fun, never has a wine we have made shot up the charts as fast as this rocket.
We mature our Nero in two and three year old French oak barrels for 12 months. The aromas are stunning and surprising (think sarsaparilla) with lifted red rose florals, while the palate is complete with supple tannins from the oak.
A fast seller. Drink now or keep in your hands to taunt your friends for up to eight years.
Sam Atkins - Owner
FOOD
The Dark Prince is perfectly matched with osso buco or any tomato-based stews..
WB SCORE 9/10
View full product detailsSold Out
Our friends at Goon Tycoons are doing some pretty cool stuff. They seem to not care what the wine industry, the traditionalist, the conversations think. They are writing their own ticket, and we love it....
Mourvedre, Shiraz, Grenache. People don’t think they like MSG but it really makes everything taste better. 100% Frankland River, sourced mainly from a bush vine vineyard of International hill this wines Perfumed savoury lift gives way to a sappy juicy tannin laden core of awesomeness. The Flavour enhanced GSM!
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"2016 was a cool long growing season in Frankland River. The best wines reflect this in their subtle and balanced tannin profile. We basically did everything awesome to the individual parcels and then blended them together to make them even more awesome.
The wine is a bright crimson with medium intensity. The nose offes spicey lifted nose, redolent in red plums and star anise. The body of the wine is medium with super fine-grained tannins and subtle French oak the palate unfolds into a myriad of blood plums and mulberry fruit flavours."
Julian Langworthy (Google him - doing big things in Australia right now!)
FOOD MATCH
Teams well with antipasto, red meats and Thursdays
JC SCORE 8.5/10
This is a wine worth taking seriously. The name, the label, the winemaker are all about having fun, and that is something we support, but don't let that cloud your judgement, this is a high-quality Franklin River MSG.
View full product details$270.00
David and Anne are true small batch producers - a husband and wife team doing amazing things and making a big impact!
The Mazza vineyard has ten acres of carefully managed vines that receive a lot of attention. Everything is done by hand - pruning, shoot thinning, fruit thinning, leaf plucking and fruit picking. The vines receive minimal irrigation through summer when necessary. David and Anne live in their vineyard and swim in their dam, so you can believe them when they say they manage their vines so that sprays are used very sparingly.
They have six Iberian red grape varieties - Bastardo, Graciano, Tempranillo, Tinta Cão, Touriga Nacional, and Sousão. From these, they produce five straight varietal wines, a Tempranillo Graciano blend and a blend of five varieties called Cinque. What a cracking combination!
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"The different varieties used in the Cinque ripen at different times and are picked over a three to four week harvest season. Picking takes approximately 1 - 3 hours per variety. Grapes are immediately sent to the wine maker for crushing and are made as a separate single variety wines. The Cinque blend is then created the following year by David and Anne Mazza with the winemaker, then bottled and stored to age.
The wine looks a deep, dense red/purple colour. The deep colour comes from the Sousão which is a very dark inky purple. On the nose it offers a fragrant berry and spice aromas. The pallet offers a medium bodied wine but with a certain depth from the many layers of flavour from the different varieties used. Savoury, very more-ish finish."
David Mazza
FOOD MATCH
Great with beef or lamb – roasted, grilled or slow cooked.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
Really interesting wine. Those with a bit of euro blood in them will appreciate the way this wine presents itself.
View full product details$280.00
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"This exciting Langhorne Creek Cabernet has good fruit weight upfront of blackberry and earthy notes, with firm chewy tannins, red berry and dark chocolate lingers.
Harvested grapes were crushed straight into open fermenters. During peak fermentation the juice was pumped over four times daily to increase the extraction of colour, flavour, tannins and aromas from the solids, as well as aerating the fermenting wine. After spending 14 days on skins intensify the characteristics, the wine was firstly settled then racked into oak for 12 months."
FOOD MATCH
Enjoy with a roasted lamb shoulder and spring vegetables or a rich lamb ragu with gnocchi.
JC SCORE 8.5/10
Langhorne Creek can be a forgotten sibling in the family of South Australian wine growing regions. This wine is a good example of why it shouldn't be!
View full product details$280.00
FROM THE WINEMAKER
Grapes for this Shiraz are sourced from our growers in the Barossa Valley. The well ripened grapes are carefully de-stemmed and crushed to fermenters where they are macerated in a way to minimise extraction of hard tannins. All providing a rich and generous nose and mouthfeel. This is achieved with less vigorous maceration and lower fermentation temperatures."
FOOD MATCH
The easy option is a classic - Steak. Enjoy with a thick rib-eye steak and roasted veggies.
JC SCORE 9/10
Barossa Shiraz. Hard to loose. Alluring dark chocolate and mocha a real winner.
View full product details$320.00
STORY
Elusive and fiercely independent Black Sheep wines that will not be pinned down. The Dark Arts is a range of wines from varieties that are not meant to go together, but work! They refuse to be part of the status quo; they are wine as art. Made off the grid in an unconventional style that is all about varietals in quirky combos. “Whilst at the winery I was introduced to Agent Provocateur. She enticed me. I’m one to push boundaries, but never have I done this before. “Who is she?” You ask. Agent Provocateur is a rare blend. She has a very distinct character, a truly unique beauty.”
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Our third Provocateur sees us with an established style of wine, but still without any preconceptions of which varieties must make it. We spent months working out who the contenders might be and meshed them together until the style was right. Truly every component in this blend performs a specific task.
BOUQUET AND PALATE
Cola and Turkish Delight jockey with star anise, raspberry, and rose oil in an estery bouquet that leaps from the glass, provided by the Grenache and Gewürztraminer. The Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier complete a textural profile that lends weight without sweetness. The supple textures of the white varieties form a perfect counterpoint to the grippier tannins of the reds.
BLEND
79% Grenache 6% Gewürztraminer 5% Shiraz 5% Sauvignon Blanc 5% Viognier
COLOUR Clear red-violet
DRINK Now through 2 years
FOOD MATCH
Take her to Chinatown for Peking duck pancakes or across town for pulled pork sliders. If you’re looking for vego options have her with deep fried tofu tossed in five spice.
HARVEST DATE 17th Februrary - 3rd March 2017
BOTTLING DATE 5th December 2017
View full product detailsSold Out
STORY
Elusive and fiercely independent Black Sheep wines that will not be pinned down. The Dark Arts is a range of wines from varieties that are not meant to go together, but work! They refuse to be part of the status quo; they are wine as art. Made off the grid in an unconventional style that is all about varietals in quirky combos.
In a Three Card Monte, as hard as the mark tries to choose a winning card from three, the dealer always wins. We have turned this on its head by using only winning cards, so that the real trick is not which but how well all three go together. A neat trick where everyone is a winner.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Australia has always excelled in creating red blends – merging classic European varieties in un-thought of ways to create unthinkably good new combinations. Cabernet and Shiraz are one such classic collision; Bordeaux meets the Rhone. It’s only Australian to add a slab of Abruzzo too.
BOUQUET AND PALATE
A meaty/spicy mix of Christmas cake and charcuterie. A collision of violets, cranberries, baking spices, and mulberry. A clean acid line keeps everything together; complex, crunchy, and deliciously alive in the glass.
BLEND 44% Shiraz 41% Cabernet 15% Montepulciano
COLOUR Vibrant purplish hues
DRINK Now to 10 years.
FOOD MATCH Go big and meaty. An Argentinian barbeque perhaps...
HARVEST DATE 15th February - 4th March 2016
BOTTLING DATE 5th December 2017
Sold Out
I love what Aphelion Wine Co. is all about. Small parcels of locally sourced fruit, a husband-wife couple and a passion for making exceptional wine. As a team, they have been well awarded by the wine critics (if I was into ratings I would say JH gave this a 94 points). As an individual Rob Mack has taken out the Young Gun of Wine award. They are going gangbusters.
Really limited production, Rob has told (warned) us we cannot get any more stock until Feb 2019!
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"A blend of whole berry (60%), whole bunch (20%), and extended maceration (3 months) (20%) ferments. Majority free run juice with a small percentage of light pressings. Aged in neutral French oak puncheons for nine months before blending and bottling. Unfined & unfiltered. On the nose, vibrant purple with crimson, spicy cherries and dusty herbs. The palate is juicy with vibrant acidity that gives the wine a good length of flavour. Complex red berry flavours mix with soft spice and savoury complexity thanks to the whole bunch and extended maceration ferments that form part of this blend. Light to medium bodied with soft tannins."
Rob Mack
FOOD MATCH
Pan seared duck matches the spice and body of the wine well.
JC SCORE 9/10
Woweee. This is Grenache. This is what it is meant to be like. Juicy profile, heaps of complexity - deep thinking wine!
View full product detailsSold Out
I love what Aphelion Wine Co. is all about. Small parcels of locally sourced fruit, a husband-wife couple and a passion for making exceptional wine. As a team, they have been well awarded by the wine critics (if I was into ratings I would say JH gave this a 94 points). As an individual Rob Mack has taken out the Young Gun of Wine award. They are going gangbusters.
Really limited production, Rob has told (warned) us we cannot get any more stock until Feb 2019!
FROM THE WINEMAKER
"All nine parcels that make up this wine were fermented and aged separately before blending.The Grenache components come from 3 separate Blewitt Springs vineyards. Whole bunch, whole berry and 3 months extended macerations were used. The Mataro parcels are from 3 separate vineyards, with some whole bunch, some four-day pre-ferment cold soak and some 3 months extended maceration used. The two Shiraz components are from 2 separate but very close by vineyards – one higher in elevation and picked earlier, the other picked later and then kept on skins for one month. The wine was then matured for 9 months in neutral French hogsheads prior to bottling in December 2017. Unfined & unfiltered.
A deep crimson with a purple hue with the nose offering dark cherry, spice and savoury herb. The pallet is medium bodied with powdery and ripe tannins, this wine shows a complex structure with a very long flavour length. Plush red and blue fruits mingle with sage and aniseed."
Rob Mack
FOOD MATCH
Matches well to lighter red meat dishes such as venison or rare lamb, but is equally well suited to a vegetarian lasagne. Versatility is a key component of this wine.
JC SCORE 9/10
A-Grade McLaren Vale GMS. Super juicy with light tannins. The power of the Grenache is evident and comes together seamlessly with the Mataro and Shiraz.
View full product details$450.00
SHIRAZ 93% VIOGNIER 7%
If you are a wine geek, you know of ‘co-fermentation’; a process in which two varieties (in this case, red Shiraz and white Viognier) are picked on the same day and blended at the crusher. This produces a result quite different to blending ‘finished’ red and white wines. The tannin and fragrance of the small amount of Viognier are amplified by the process, and the resultant wine is more fragrant and shows greater depth and even-ness of tannin structure than we’d otherwise see. (We swiped the idea from the French.)
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Our most plush Shiraz-based wine, with extra perfume from co-fermentation of the Viognier with the Cellar Shiraz wines. Varietal Viognier whites are delicately fragrant: apricots, white owers, stone fruits and gingery notes. Its in uence in this case – as a blender with Shiraz – is greater on the palate than the nose, however. Here its tannins o er a note of gritty complexity, and fruitiness a gentle spicy depth, that make the blend genuinely fascinating.
BOUQUET & PALATE
Heady and lush, without losing varietal de nition. The Shiraz is supported and enriched by the Viognier. Roses, violets and thyme. The ne French oak li is a perfect frame for this pretty picture. Aromatics play through the palate. So as a rose petal and as pungent as the ower. It combines an evocative mix of leather, light char, and cherry that persists for a very long time.
COLOUR Deep purple-red.
DRINK
Some people will love the youthful perfume; others appreciate the complexity gathered with age. We are lucky enough to see the wine age and will enjoy both facets... and expect to be able to do so over a decade or so.
FOOD MATCH
A classic dish of the Rhone region (where this blend hails from) is Chevreau a l’Ail et Herbes Sauvages. Otherwise known as baby goat with garlic and wild herbs. The English version doesn’t sound as fancy, but we’re sure it’s just as delicious!
HARVEST DATE 20th February 2015
HARVEST METHOD Machine
BOTTLING DATE 21st September 2016
$460.00
FROM THE WINEMAKER
FOOD MATCH
Enjoy with a thick chargrilled eye fillet or roasted vegetable moussaka and watch the flavours sing.
JC SCORE 9/10
Special, special wine. Put this one in the wine fridge - bring it out for occasions that are befitting of something this unique. Will improve with age and make those big name, expensive reds in your collection little a less appealing.
View full product details$550.00
Background
McLaren Vale has some of the most variable, ancient and weathered soils on the planet. 19 different soil types have been identified in one of the most detailed soil studies carried out in any wine region. It is for this reason we called this wine ‘Ancient Earth’. It is a single-vineyard Shiraz from the beautiful sweep of vines immediately to the south of our Cellar Door. We call this our ‘Cellar Block’.
Our other vineyards have different soil types but we selected this part of our vineyard to carry the Ancient Earth mantle as it makes the quintessential McLaren Vale style of Shiraz. So what’s special about the earth? The earth is known locally as ‘Biscay soil’. It is also referred to as ‘self-mulching black cracking clay’ and these soils have unique properties. Slow to wet, they can tightly hold a large volumes of water. Unfortunately the soil is not so generous in giving the vines access to this moisture so in heatwave conditions the vines can stress quite quickly. The fruit therefore needs to be watched and managed very carefully as it ripens. On the other hand, correctly managed, the resulting wine can be quite magnificent. Shiraz thrives here and can produce fruit with great fragrance and power, but a structure which guarantees ageing potential.
Winemaker’s Notes
Since the Cellar Block is our signature vineyard we have worked hard over several years now to ensure the consistency of this block. With careful management of the cover crop on the soil, adjustments to the irrigation regime, and correctly managed pruning to even out the distribution of shoots and fruit, we now have the vineyard working at its optimum for quality.
We want the ancient earth of the Cellar Block doing the talking so we do not intervene much in the winemaking process. Simple de- stemming leads to a gentle, whole berry, warm fermentation. Running to barrel follows within a few days of pressing. We give ‘Ancient Earth’ time in some of our best barrels.
Colour Drink
Deep, deep, purple-red This wine has a track record of rewarding cellaring for at least 10 years.
Bouquet & Palate
In this young wine we see the powerful fragrance and flavour of the site, the terroir: liquorice, fruit-cake, blackberries, and dark chocolate. It is quintessentially varietal and regional. Its savoury tannic structure and lively acidity offer longevity. It is fair to call it robust – even slightly rustic - but showing great harmony or balance - just that it has a distinctive structure and mouth-feel, something that we see year in, year out.
Ancient Earth is made in extremely small quantities each year, only 3,240 bottles in 2012, and is consistently one of our super premium offerings.