Brokenwood and the Hunter Valley region is experience somewhat of a renaissance of late. Quality wines for a great prices just like this nice Hunter Shiraz. Typical earthy notes with hints of leather and spice all wrapped around dark brooding plum and cherry fruit. Quality oak imparts a subtle cedar character and fine grained tannins complete the wine that finishes long and smooth.

De Iuliis (De - uli - iss) wines are known for their trademark regionality and commitment to showcasing the very best the Hunter Valley has to offer. Their Shiraz is a fine balance between power and subtlety. Spice driven aromas with mild hints of the berry fruit to come on the palate. Blackberry, raspberry and dark cherry come to the fore and are in harmony with the round, soft tannins.

This Shiraz Pinot red blend from the Hunter Valley was made from hand harvested grapes, and then whole berry fermented without stalks. The fruit flavours have been enhanced by gentle winemaking techniques. Aged for just 3 months in old French oak, this results in a medium bodied wine with flavours of mulberries, plums and cherries, and soft sweet tannins.

The Johannes family have recently purchased the Onikul Vineyard and renamed it the JohannesBurg Vineyard. This is a sentimental name as the family is of German heritage who were living in South Africa and have moved to Australia. Johannes - Family name;Burg - German for fortress/castleJohannesburg - City in South AfricaJohannesBurg - Family fortress to keep the family safe in Australia. The 2018 vintage was hot and dry and resulted in an early harvest with relatively low yields. The fruit for this Shiraz came from the eastern block on the southern side of the JohannesBurg Vineyard. It was machine harvested on the night of the 7th February from about 8 pm. This was the first vintage for the Johannes family and they worked through the night with Neil Stevens and Graeme Lewis to pick the fruit. The fruit was taken back to the winery on Wilderness Road and placed in the capable hands of the winemaker, Ashley Horner, and his two trusty sidekicks Michael and Callan. The fruit sat overnight before being cold soaked and crushed into open air fermenters. The fruit was extremely concentrated and had beautiful, vibrant colour. The ferment was closely monitored and was pumped over for 15-20 minutes morning and night. Once fermented, the wine was pressed off into two new French Oak Puncheons with the remaining going into 6 x older Saury French Oak barriques. The wine sat on oak for approximately 11 months and was bottled on 27 February, 2019.This Shiraz is very approachable now with cherries and raspberry flavours dominant on the nose and palate. It is quite an elegant wine with plenty of fresh fruit flavours balanced nicely with toasty oak.Limited Release of 260 Dozen.

In the glass: Pale and bright.On the nose: Fragrant citrus and tropical fruit lift.On the palate: Ripe and juicy, strongly varietal with tropical pineapple and ginger spice notes. Shows a sweet fruit core but remains clean and dry with fresh yet soft acidity. Classic Hunter Verdelho.

Great Hunter Semillon should be a must on any oenophiles agenda, especially when it's produced by one of our finest producers, home to some of Australia's most awarded wines. This newly released single vineyard Semillon has already been awarded two gold medals and 96 points rating from James Halliday (2013 Edition). It's vibrant and youthful in style and glistens with a seamless exhibition of bright citrus, gentle stone fruit and honeyed nuances.

Aroma/Palate: Made from the classic Hunter white varieties semillon (70%) and chardonnay (30%). The semillon provides great freshness with its citrus acidity, while the chardonnay lends this wine a wonderful balance and fullness on the palate. Serving Suggestion: Superb as an aperitif or cocktail. Also the perfect accompaniment to fine seafood and oysters. Why else would we call it Neptune? Cheers!