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June Mixed Dozen 2023 - Winter Warmers
DOZEN: $3,912.00 or $326.00 each
Well, here we are! It's officially, officially cold. It's time for big bowls of soup, slow-cooked stews, hot chocolates, warm socks and long-johns. But really there is only one thing to do here to help combat the winter blues and that is start drinking some big juicy reds, textural, plush whites, and a bunch of vino perfectly matched your streaming service of choice.
Lots of great options for this year's pack and some real treats and fun surprises in there that we think you are going to love. We've featured a few whites this year that are slippery, packed full of flavour, and have plenty of texture. They all have a little extra kick and richness you need but will satisfy even the most die-hard red fans.
As far as reds we have got warming and spicy blends from the Rhone, the obligatory juicy shiraz and cabernet, some super tasty Spanish gear, beautiful red blends, and of course a plush and lush malbec from Argentina that is sure to please. These wines will stand up to whatever winter fair you throw at them and are going to look just as good on their own in front of the fire with friends.
I hope you enjoy drinking this as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
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| Siblings Roberto and Teresa Bruno property is 20 hectares of vineyards planted to a range of classic regional varietals. The vineyards sit at elevations of 400 - 650 meters and are scattered amongst the towns of Arpaise, Lapio, Candida, Chianche and Altavilla Irpinia. Roberto has been the driving force behind the estate and has been in charge of the winemaking since its inception. These are wonderfully classic expressions of the region that embrace a modern approach to winemaking which at its heart respects the long traditions and history of Campania. |
| Tahbilk Marsanne 2022 |  |
| This is a reserved release and that, you’d have to argue, is a good thing. It has all the right components but it needs time for it to flesh out. Blossomy citrus and slate characters come with whispers of fennel and musk. The mouthfeel, dry riverstone-like, is very good, as is the general flow of it. At this early stage this looks to be in a very good/excellent place. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front A true Australian classic that has been gracing the shelves for decades. If you have never had this wine than you must have been hiding under a rock. Its a perfect cool-weather wine with lovely textural elements and a plush mouthfeel that makes it super versatile with food. |
| Yangarra Blanc 2021 |  |
| The renamed Yangarra Estate Vineyard is the estate base for the operation and has moved to certified biodynamic status with its vineyards. Peter Fraser has taken Yangarra Estate to another level altogether with his innovative winemaking and desire to explore all the possibilities of the Rhône Valley red and white styles. Thus you will find grenache, shiraz, mourvèdre, cinsault, carignan and tempranillo and plantings of picpoul noir and muscardin around the corner. The white varieties are roussanne and grenache blanc, bourboulenc and picpoul blanc. Then you see ceramic eggs being used in parallel with conventional fermenters. Peter was named Winemaker of the Year in the Wine Companion 2016. -JAMES HALLIDAY Yeah, this gear is good! A classic Rhone blend that is sure to please and from one of the country's greats. Its crisp and crunchy as well as slippery with a gentle grip. Pure and fleshy the combo of orchard fruits sprinkled with spice and white pepper are ever appealing. A mid-weight white that is full of energy and verve that just zips along the palate beautifully. Cracking little white. |
| Denton SHED Chardonnay 2022 |  |
| Sourced from the bottom section of the North Eastern slope of the Denton View Hill and made by local legend Luke Lambert. Whole bunch pressed and wild fermented and matured in a mix of stainless steel tank and old French oak. Wild malo-lactic fermentation (100%). Left on full lees with occasional stirring for 6 months. Bottled without fining or filtration. This shows the best combo of modern Australian winemaking and know-how with incredible quality fruit sourced from a single vineyard in the Yarra. Lemon pith, apple, nashi pear, and white nectarine are framed by gentle spicy oak that presents beautifully against the pure fruits. It's a subtle and elegant nose that has a pretty little floral lilt to it. The palate is at once easy and open yet tight and coiled somehow. It has presence but it doesn't feel big or plump with the sweet, new-season orchard fruit to the fore. A lovely interplay between winemaking and a hands-off approach that gives plenty of detail and subtle complexity. This really over-delivers in every way. |
| Schmolzer and Brown Pret a Rouge 2021 |  |
| This is a meaty, spicy, grown-up release. It’s a blend of shiraz and pinot noir from various parts of the Beechworth region, both up the hill and down. It offers sweet, toasty spice notes, a rub of smoked meat, black cherry flavours and peppercorn. It flirts with reduction without really needing to go there. The word savouriness doesn’t just hover; it lands. Think herbs, think a clear line of acidity, think fine fingers of tannin. In a nutshell it’s seamless, complex and elegant. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front |
| Ravensworth Barbera Nebbiolo 2022 |  |
| Blend of 85/15% barbera/nebbiolo and 15% nebbiolo, left about 5 weeks on skins and aged in old barriques for 8 months. Delightfully fragrant with roses and exotic spices; flavours of dark cherries and star anise at first, plus a distinct wintergreen/bitter herbs character. It offers plenty of savouriness and tangy acidity to seal the deal. Nice one. JANE FAULKNER, James Halliday |
| Heathcote Estate Primal Shiraz 2022 |  |
| The colour of this. The vibrance of youth is on full display here, all purple, dark and glowing, and it sets the tone for the wine to come. Woodsy spice, sweet plums, a bit of crunch, a lot of fresh fruit. More-ish plus plus. Sandalwood notes here too. Clove-like inflections. A positive dryness to the finish. But all the while, eager fruit. One sip and you just want to keep on drinking this. It’s lovely. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front |
| Dominique Portet Fontaine Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 |  |
| With 12% merlot and the all-important 2% malbec and 1% cabernet franc! Matured in French barrels for 14 months (20% new). A medium crimson. Lifted and attractive nose redolent of boysenberries and other briary fruits. A simply delicious and approachable medium-bodied wine with fresh fruit, supple tannins and moreish acidity. Great value. PHILIP RICH, James Halliday |
| Monteguelfo Chianti DOCG 2021 |  |
| Wow! This was such a wonderful surprise and terrific value Chianti from the estates of Andrea Cecchi. Made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino, the wine does not see any oak and has a tradiotional leaning and plenty of character, particularly for a wine at this price. The Cecchi family has 125 years of winemaking history and have some excellent vineyards at their disposal. This years version still has that vibrant & fresh expression of sangiovese but looks a touch more broody with some darker shades of fruit slinking around in the background. fleshy and soft fruits throughout with a pillowy texture that is cut with those crunchy sangiovese tannins. Hints of black cherry and wild forest fruits with a touch of leather and some savoury dried herbs. |
| Lopez de Haro Crianza Rioja 2019 |  |
| An ethos that blends attention to detail with the high quality old vineyards to create authentic contemporary classics. Based in the historic town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, in the heart of DOCa Rioja surrounded to the north by the Sierra Cantabria and to the south by the Ebro river. The microclimate of the area and its clay-calcareous soils generate the perfect conditions for the vineyard, especially for Tempranillo. A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano from a selection of vineyards with low yielding fruit settled on poor soils of Ebro's terraces in the area of the Sonsierra. Manual harvest and spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts and small amounts of sulfur are added. Aging: 18 months in French, Eastern European and American oak barrels. 10% of new barrels and 90% of used barrels from 2 to 6 uses. A heady mix of aromas cocoa and vanilla that envelopes smashed black ripe fruits. Lots of tempranillo liquorice aromas with a spicy lift that leads into an elegant flavour profile matched with juicy black fruit backed by typical tempranillo structure. It finished soft and velvety with a black cherry and delicate cola lift. |
| Rive Droite Rive Gauche Cotes du Rhone 2020 |  |
This is a lovely fresh and crunchy styled Rhone from our friends at Rive Droite. There is touch of thyme and bay over red spiced fruits, layered with a little bit of red liquorice. This is a medium bodied rendition with a pure core of raspberry, wild strawberry and splash of black berry fruit in the mix. Its lithe with a lovely fresh cut to the sweet fruits that makes this look wonderfully elegant and damn easy to like.
| Rutini Trumpeter Malbec 2020 |  |
| Rutini Wines was a pioneer of the Argentinian wine industry with an eye to produce top wines that lead with quality at their core. Today it continues to maintain this essential component of their identity, thanks to the terroirs, state of the art installations, winemaker expertise, and most of all their dedication to consistently create superb quality wines. Love that nose! Deep, plum and boysenberry with blue fruits, a lick of vanilla and a wild herbaceousness flecked throughout. It delivers its dark fruit and sweet spice cake straight up on the palate but follows up with hints of fresh earth and that same wild herb note that cleans out the back end. All the lovely lush fruit you could want but it all sits up nicely, fresh and bright with a weave of slinky tannins that take this a cut above most that are offered at this price-point. |