Tomfoolery Young Blood Grenache
Domaine la Réméjeanne Côtes du Rhône Un Air de Réméjeanne
From vines grown at around 250 metres above sea level, the 2018 is a wonderfully aromatic, supple and juicy Côtes du Rhône, that's medium-bodied and filled with plenty of blackberry and dark cherry fruit as well as hints of lavender and thyme, and some anise as well. Although there's some pulpy fruit, the finish is crisp and mouthwatering. "Domaine la Réméjeanne takes some tracking down. Yet its one of those places that is worth a special journey, as the Michelin Guide would put it. We made the pilgrimage to Sabran a couple of years ago to revisit this wonderful producer, one that we had worked with in the distant past. We wont bore you with the tales of wrong turns and rural misadventures. Suffice to say, the north western hills of the Côtes du Rhône appellation is striking country the Rhône valley in your rear-view mirror and the foothills of the Cevennes ahead. Scenery aside, time spent with main man Rémy Klein, a look at the vineyards and a tasting of the Réméjeanne wines told us that this was a producer we needed to start working with again. These are wines that proudly speak of their place high up in the hills with soils comprised of sand and limestone. This highly distinctive terroir results in a range of fresh, highly refined Côtes du Rhônes brimming with fruit and character. They are far cooler and purer than many of the Côtes du Rhônes produced at lower altitudes and on alluvial soils and this stylistic difference suits us right down to the ground." Bibendum
Château Cres Ricards Oenothera
This Estate was created in 1960, at the place known as Crès Ricards, in the village of Ceyras. In 2010 Jean-Claude Mas acquired the 27 ha (69 acres) belonging to the Château, extending the estate to 42 ha in 2013. He was fascinated by the fantastic terroir of the Terrasses du Larzac, which produces silky wines with intense flavors. At the foot of Mont Baudile, 35 km to the west of Montpellier, this vineyard offers a unique geography. Yields are low because of the strict grape selection and carbonic maceration is used to produce generous wines. Made from 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache and matured in new and older French oak for 10 months. The wine is at once full bodied and fresh, with notes of intense black currant, black cherry and mocha gliding to a silky, rich finish.
Mystery Barossa Shiraz Deal No. 6379
The volume of fruit here is excellent, as is the smoothness of the texture, as is the fine grain of the tannin. Every nuance here has been beautifully ordered, delivered and arranged. It tastes of rich plum, sweet blackberry, hay, cedarwood and choc-orange, the latter infused deliciously throughout. This wine is as substantial as it is delicious
Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz
Grant Burge reds are always distinctively Barossa and this one is no exception. Vibrant colour earthy nose with blackberries and a touch of pepper and a richly flavoured palate with robust tannins.
Grant Burge Hillcot Merlot
At last an affordable Merlot with some real varietal character! Grant Burge Hillcot range has soft ripe red berry and raspberry aromas on the nose. Followed by ripe plum and cherry flavours enhanced by well-integrated oak.
Grant Burge Cameron Vale Cabernet Sauvignon
Produced from 30 year old vines situated in the southern end of the Barossa Valley the Cameron Vale Cabernet shows pronounced mint and blackcurrant flavours. Cellar for 3 - 5 years.
Yangarra GSM
Bright and perfumed with chewy earth and spice characters, this is a fine example of what an evenly spread palate tastes like. A wine with a backbone of old bush vine Grenache planted in the 1940s. This wine will continue to evolve with cellaring, but can also be enjoyed in its youth alongside barbequed meats. The grapes from each block were hand-picked, de-stemmed and mechanically sorted. Whole berries were then transferred to open-top fermenters. We cold soaked the fermentation tanks for 5 days until the onset of wild fermentation, utilising the yeasts that naturally come in with the grapes from the vineyard. The open fermenters underwent a careful regime of plunging and drain and returns. The 2016 growing season was marked by a dry spring and was headed for a very early and compressed season. We had some mild summer rains which slowed the sugar ripening of the vines down, and helped give brightness and fleshiness to vintage. Peter Fraser The Yangarra philosophy centers around producing wines solely from our single-vineyard estate, where our bush-vine Grenache is the keystone variety. With our feet firm in history, and our eyes on the horizon, Yangarra Estate now exists to deliver the essence of this beautiful place to your glass. McLaren Vale folks like to think that their region on the Gulf St Vincent, patron of viticulturers, has the best Mediterranean climate on Earth. With this foremost in mind, Yangarra Estate is devoted solely to producing wines from the best grape varieties of the southern Rhone, which lies on the north-west Mediterranean coast. Yangarras combination of rare geologies, moderate altitude, abundant sunshine and cool evening breezes make it perfect for growing varieties that thrive in these moderate maritime environments. Our respect of this special piece of country is evident in the wines we make from its grapes - every Yangarra Estate wine is a confident reflection of the nature of this land.
Chaffey Bros Synonymous Shiraz
Deep crimson/purple in colour with a nose of cedar, spice and plum hinting at the mix of dark fruits and chocolate lurking on the rich structured palate. The wine shows powerful depth of flavour with plush lingering mouthfeel. A careful selection of established low yielding vineyards stretching from the North Barossa townships of Ebenezer and Light Pass through to Lyndoch in Southern Barossa. Matured in new and seasoned French and American oak allowing the vibrant mid-palate of dark and light fruit to come to the fore. Brothers-in-law Daniel Chaffey Hartwig and Theo Engela are the latest generation of the Chaffey family to ply their vinous trade in Australia.Their hand-made, minimal intervention wines come from small parcels of low yielding vineyards spread throughout the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Drawing on true old vines and complex soils they see themselves as part parfumer - discovering delicate aromatics; part historian - preserving the purity of pristine fruit and part mad scientist - reveling in the art of small batch blending.
Aphelion The Confluence Grenache
Crunchy strawberry and Campari aromatics lead to a juicy palate full of ripe cranberries and a herbal edge thanks to the whole bunch component of this wine. A long length of flavour is provided by a beautiful line of acidity and a pure crystalline core of red berry fruit. A rasp of tannin on the finish ensures versatility. Grenache from Blewitt Springs sub region of McLaren Vale. A blend of whole berry (75%) and whole bunch (25%)ferments. Majority free run juice with a small percentage of light pressings. Aged in neutral French oak puncheons and foudre for nine months before blending and bottling. Unfined & unfiltered. Straight out of the blocks, this new wine label established in 2014 by husband and wife Rob and Louise Mack has already gained a strong reputation for quality and value. Pedigreed winemaker Rob Mack concentrates on grape varieties that thrive in the Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale, producing stylish Grenache as well as other regionally emerging varieties, such as Mataro and Sagrantino. They craft their wines to match the foods they love to eat - Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian. It starts with the sun and the earth. Aphelion Wine Co.s growers are passionate about producing premium, hand tended grapes from only the most select, unique parcels of land. *2018 Young Gun Winemaker of the Year Award Winner*