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RIPOSTE BY TIM KNAPPSTEIN The Katana Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

Shaw & Smith is a benchmark Sauvignon Blanc. This release shows ripe tropical characters with restrained grassy notes and crisp dry acidity. Delightfully fresh lively and flavoursome. Always a classic and always quick to disappear off the shelves.

A Shoemaker, also known as a Cordwainer, once lived at a creek. When he passed on, the place was then named after his most important tool, Snob, the small anvil used to shape the toe end of a boot. A balanced wine, The Cordwainer is a beautifully crafted Chardonnay with bright summer fruits of melon and intense stone fruit aromas on the nose. Combine with lees contact during barrel fermentation, the acidity is well integrated with the French oak, creating a seductive delicious finish.

Riesling has a strong affinity for the cooler climes of the World, and it is therefore no surprise that it would produce wines of great character in the Adelaide Hills. Whilst we made the hard decision to graft some of our Riesling vines over to Pinot Noir some years back, we have retained only the most promising clones to produce our Riesling as its perhaps the top white pick amongst staff and remains a labour of love. The Riesling crop, whilst minuscule, showed hallmark varietal characters and fine acidity nurtured by the cool nights and warm sunny days. Careful sampling in the vineyard, paying particular attention to flavour development and acid levels, meant the fruit was harvested on the 14th of March when the ideal balance was reached. Lifted floral aromas and the lively citrus fruit intensity are finely balanced by the tight structure and crisp natural acidity.

Very pale with pristine clarity and flashes of green. Nose of passionfruit, gooseberry and freshly squeezed citrus dominate, followed by more subtle grassy, leafy notes and a touch of kafir lime. Wonderfully fresh and showing precise varietal fruits: tangy passionfruit, grapefruit and lemongrass. Long and punchy with great purity, line and a mouth-watering, lime-juice acidity. VineyardsSourced from Jeff Gowers Lenswood Vineyards, the sauvignon blanc plantings on gravelly clay loam over red clay subsoil date back to 1999. Vinification Handpicked grapes were destemmed, crushed and cooled to five degrees Celsius while being transferred to the airbag press. The juice was then pressed into stainless steel tank, keeping the free run and pressings separate. Juice was cold settled for a week at around two degrees and then racked from gross juice lees. The free-run juice parcel was warmed and inoculated with yeast to begin fermentation. Fermentation temperature was kept low to maintain delicate aromatics. Once fermentation was dry the wine was then chilled and stabilised prior to filtration and bottling Wirra Wirra was originally established in 1894 and though abandoned after several decades of production was revived by the late Greg Trott in 1969. The winery produces exceptional value, fruit driven wine styles that dont shy away from ripeness, intensity and oak usage. Wirra Wirra is located approximately four kilometres outside of the township of McLaren Vale in the McLaren Vale wine growing region of South Australia. Wirra Wirra source fruit from estate and selected grower vineyards. Wirra Wirra is the core range but the wines are delineated by tiers including Flagship wines, RGT collection, Church Block, Mrs Wrigley range and the entry level Scrubby Rise wines. The production of these wines is overseen by Chief Winemaker Paul Smith, with able assistance from Tom Ravech and Kelly Wellington. The winery employs modern technology and new world technique to produce expressive wines of intensity, bold flavour and McLaren Vale profile.

Dandelion Vineyards are proven plantings that have stood the test of time. The wish is to nurture the unique character of these vineyards and express their terroir in the wines. “When I see a weed I see the Devil” is an old grower’s mantra, but Dandelion Vineyards encourage the humble Dandelion amongst the vines as they suppress winter weeds, provide mulch in summer, and their Wishing Clocks to blow off in Spring.

Bright Pale Straw with lifted fresh green apple and white stone fruits.Notes of apple and white peach with a clean fresh finish onthe palate. Enjoy with canapes and entrees.