Champagne, Mornington
Mornington
Located in the Port Phillip Zone an hour's drive north of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula has a short, yet remarkable history of fine wine production. While there were a smattering of vineyards in the nineteenth century, modern viticulture on the Peninsula began when Ballieu Myer established a vineyard in 1972. This began an explosion of vineyards over the next thirty years with Main Ridge (1975) Stonier Wines (1978) Dromana Estate (1982) Moorooduc Estate (1983) Paringa Estate (1985) Port Phillip Estate (1987) Kooyong Estate (1996) Yabby Lake (1998), Ten Minutes by Tractor (1999) amongst those to become established during this time. Mornington Peninsula’s proximity to Melbourne and its underlying historical status as a holiday destination has strongly influenced the region's structure, influencing land prices resulting in a patchwork of small vineyards and producers spread across the area triangulated between popular weekend destination of Somerville, Flinders on Bass Straight and Rosebud on Port Phillip Bay. The result is a number of particularly accessible cellar door facilities and restaurants catering to tourists over weekends.
A maritime climate, the influence of Mornington’s proximity to the ocean, Bass Straight, and Port Philip Bay is the single most significant climatic factor affecting vineyards, followed by the diverse typography of terrain. Overall the climate is cool, the pervasive winds limiting issues with humidity and frost. The typography soil profile is diverse, impacting on viticulture, with the significantly cooler, elevated area surrounding Red Hill and Arthurs Seat (Main Ridge, Port Philip Estate) on fertile red volcanic soils, differing from the warmer low-lying areas of Moorooduc and Tuerong (Yabby Lake) which have well-draining sandy soils.
Mornington Peninsula is renowned for the production of high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which are the most planted varieties, alongside Shiraz, Pinot Gris and very small quantities of Sauvignon Blanc. Mornington Pinot Noir is diverse, with many single vineyard bottlings ranging from light delicate expressions to more powerful styles with wines displaying flavours of bright cherry, strawberry and nuances of earth to powerful expressions with darker fruits and firmer tannins. Outstanding producers include Kooyong, Hurley Vineyards, Port Philip Estate, Ten Minutes by Tractor, Moorooduc Estate and Yabby Lake. Quality conscious producers follow the same model with Chardonnay bottling premium wines from site specific vineyards. On the whole these display delicate aromas of melon, citrus, with warmer sites display fig notes. Depending on winemaking styles they also may show notes of nutty characters of cashew and toasty oak or butter. Outstanding producers include Main Ridge, Kooyong, Yabby Lake, Moorooduc and Ten Minutes by Tractor.
While only planted in small quantities Shiraz from the Mornington Peninsula displays the classic cool climate characters including spice, black and white pepper, smoked meats and liquorice. Outstanding producers are limited, though the variety is starting to gain ground with both Paringa Estate and Foxy’s Hangout winning awards at major Australian wine shows in the last three years.
Pinot Gris is produced in small quantities and occasionally labelled as Pinot Grigio to indicate a dryer Italian style expression of the variety with T'Gallant and Quealy having had success with this variety.
Sources:
James Halliday’s Wine Atlas of Australian, James Halliday
Victorian Department of Primary Industries
Wine Australia
Champagne
The chalky soils of Champagne combined with its frigid growing environment create wines that are electric and salivating. But it’s the creation of bubbles that makes these wines stand out.
The bubbles are formed during a secondary fermentation in bottle, known as Méthode Traditionelle. The longer they age, the more nougat and brioche flavours develop and the finer the bead (bubble) becomes.
In terms of who invented Champagne, the English make a strong case as they worked out the formula for purposely making the fizz happen and their stronger coal-fired glass bottles - resulting from the Industrial Revolution - could hold the pressure. Whereas the French were still bottling in wood-fired glass which wasn’t strong enough and they hadn’t cracked the technique of creating bubbles on purpose.
Grapes
White: Chardonnay
Red: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Styles
Nowhere in the world can emulate the fineness and electric detail of these wines. Non-vintage Champagnes should be enjoyed earlier in their lives, while vintage wines have more structure and can age beautifully. House styles differ too. Blanc des Blancs (100% Chardonnay) offer a more elegant and fragile expression while Blanc des Noirs (100% Pinot and or Meunier) are darker fruited with more obvious structure and power.
Favourite Producers
Pierre Peters, Louis Roederer, Vilmart, Andre Clouet, Taittinger, Larmandier, Egly-Ouriet, Jacques Selosse
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Red Claw by Yabby Lake Pinot Noir 2023 375mlMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$21.00 As low as $18.90 -
Kooyong Pinot Noir 2023 375mlMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023Pinot noirAustralia441$24.00 As low as $21.60 -
Handpicked Regional Selection Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2023Founded on the idea of crafting outstanding wines from the world's best regions, Handpicked Wines carefully owns or partners with vineyards across Australia and beyond - from the cool reaches of Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania to iconic international regions like Barolo and Marlborough.
Their winemaking philosophy is all about site expression, sustainable farming, and detailed winemaking that best expresses the character of each of their wines origins. With a portfolio that spans everyday drinking wines to rare, single vineyard bottlings. This wine falls into their regional range and is a selection of declassified fruit off their single vineyard expressions, contract growers and managed sites.
It's a stellar little drop leaning into the autumnal and filigree nature of Yarra pinot but with a little more cushion and flesh that makes it so appealing. Red currant, a touch of wild strawberry and some forest fruit mix leap out of the glass with white pepper spice and touch of clove warmly greet you. Its mid-weight in style with some lovely, superfine tannins that etch the surface of the glossy fruit. There is just a kiss light toasty oak but you could barely tell while it subtly frames the pure fruits. Another pinot where you have to ask how do they make it for the money?
2023Pinot noirAustralia441$24.00 As low as $21.60 -
Vino Intrepido 'Grey Matter' Pinot Grigio 2023Enlists all of grigio's strongest varietal trademarks from the gentle blush colour and scents of pear, honeysuckle and apple to the savoury nod on the palate, crisp acid flow and touch of salty almond to close. All in all, a quality grigio that is mighty darn drinkable. JENI PORT, Halliday Wine Companion
Made by sommelier-come-Italian wine rep-come Italian wine tragic, James Scaresbrook, his renditions of Italian varietals are some of the most convincing you will find. That's not to say I like them because they're mimicking the Italians. Nup, not at all, and in fact the fruit spectrum generally shows it's antipodean origin. Through intelligent winemaking techniques (often observed in his own travel in Italy) he brings texture and aromatic complexity to these varieties. It's a recognition of how these varieties work with food and transports them from dry white and red wines to something with altogether more interest.A recent appointment trying through his range only highlighted what good things James is doing. His wines are all on point with thougtful winemaking inspired their homes in Italy but not dogmatically so. James is happy to changed tact here or there if he sees something not working or vice versa if a wine is expressing itself in a way he likes but moves away from his original idea hes is not afraid to let it do its thing.
2021Pinot GrigioAustralia441$31.00 As low as $27.90 -
Moorooduc Estate Devil Bend Creek Pinot Noir 2024I know we have said it before but honestly, how do the McIntyres do this wine for this kind of money? It always impresses and considering this is all hand-harvested, wild yeast fermented, and spends time in top-notch French oak you just have to smile with a glass in front of you.
There is always a generosity here and 2024 has embraced that vibe but added a little sappy detail to elevate the stakes a little more.. A touch of wild cherry and raspberry fruit, that amaro and citrus twang you often see and a sprinkle of sweet spice and whole black pepper that entices you in. It's plump through the middle with succulent fruit that zips along a fine line of tannins that bind all the fruit together beautifully.
It's soft and supple with plenty of Joie-de-vie while delivering a serious edge that most producers in the Mornigton must be pretty jealous about.2024Pinot noirAustralia441$31.00 As low as $27.90 -
Paradigm Hill Shiraz Cols Block 2019 375mlMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019shirazAustralia441$34.00 As low as $30.60 -
Quealy 'Pobblebonk' 2024Quite possibly the most delicious Pobblebonk to date. Riesling, friulano, pinot grigio and ribolla gialla are the friends, each fermented wild in used French oak, on full solids and later blended. It’s heady with meadow flowers, lemon blossom and hints of lemon verbena, really spicy with nutty, leesy aromas, and the palate is both textural and alive with fine acidity. Neat phenolics add to the pleasure of drinking this. (95) JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion
Light to mid straw colour in the glass, the bouquet savoury with some nutty notes possibly from barrel ferment, adding layers to the floral and spicy fruit aromas. Deliciously intense fruit on palate with a touch more dimension than the Quealy pinot grigios. It's truly more than the sum of its parts. A lovely drink, intense, long and harmonious, the finish lip-smackingly dry and appetising. (95), HUON HOOKE, The Real Review
How do you make a melange of fruity, bitter and salty so perfectly? So easygoing, delivering the goods, not stingy on flavour, not pushy with perfume. Just right. Lightly honeyed, with pink rock salt to balance, crunch of pears and cashews, with a cooling aniseed to finish. Textural but smooth. Simply yum. Nailed it. (94), KASIA SOBIESIAK Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front2024Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Riesling, White BlendAustralia441$35.00 As low as $31.50 -
Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 375mlVibrant ruby-red colour. Red cherry and Serrano ham aromatics. An enveloping palate, dark cherry, smoky and cured meat notes all glide with a suppleness that belies its intensity and power. Acid gently lifts it and tannins are so well integrated you have to go looking, but they definitely bring a focus and tension to the finish. (95) STUART KNOX, The Real Review2022Pinot noirAustralia441$38.00 As low as $34.20 -
Quealy Turbul Moscato Giallo 2022Given this producer’s love of Italian white varieties, it was only a matter of time before this dry moscato giallo made it as a single varietal. Previously blended into Lina Lool and the zero sulphur/zero sugar Secco Splendido. This inaugural release is so good. A rose gold, copper-orange hue with lovely clarity and the aromas – just heady. Musk, Turkish delight, rosewater, lemon verbena, lychees and turmeric. It is dry and fresh, with stretchy phenolics adding some grip and give, yet there’s a mouth-watering lemon salt character and the acidity keeps this seemingly light on its feet. Alas, a mere 280 bottles produced. (95) JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion
The perfume is just wow. Detailed, tightly packed notes and a tantalising deep golden colour. Scents of grape juice, lychee and roses. It’s honeyed blossoms, golden kiwi, quince and Mirabelles. It flows with a smooth, slightly textural, lightly creamy feel and, most importantly, the balancing sweet aromas bitter phenolic grip of green and yellow citrus in the finale. Pungent but lovely. So much power. Sugar and spice and everything nice. (93) KASIA SOBIEIAK, The Wine Front2024Pinot GrisAustralia441$38.00 As low as $34.20 -
Allies Assemblage Pinot Noir 2024More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2024Pinot noirAustralia441$38.00 As low as $34.20 -
Red Claw by Yabby Lake Pinot Noir 2023More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$39.00 As low as $35.10 -
Quealy Feri Maris Pinot Grigio 2024Bright, light yellow colour; fainty nutty toasty aroma overlying honey, talc and pot-pourri. The wine is light and crisp in the mouth, vibrant and refreshing, with lively acidity and lots of energy cutting through the variety's innate richness. A spot-on grigio style. (93) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review2024Pinot GrisAustralia441$40.00 As low as $36.00 -
Merricks Estate Chardonnay 2024More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2024chardonnayAustralia441 -
Onannon Mornington Chardonnay 2024A blend of five vineyards, from the sub-regions of Tuerong, Main Ridge, Shoreham, Merricks and Flinders
Samphire, ripe grapefruit, apple crumble, some spice. Juicy, savoury too with an umami quality of white mushrooms and white miso, Scotch Finger biscuit, flinty with it, saline and savoury on a long lime-laced finish. Complex and individual. Such a great thing to drink. GARY WALSH2023chardonnayAustralia441$42.00 As low as $37.80 -
Quealy Musk Creek Chardonnay 2023There’s so much flavour, detail and complexity within, and yet it feels ethereal and feathery light – a bit of a yin and yang wine in a way. Stone fruit and citrus, especially grapefruit, doused in ginger spice with a refreshing ginger lemon tea, even quinine flavour à la tonic water. Flutters of flinty sulphides, harmonious with exceptional texture via creamy lees, a slip of spicy oak and a finish that stretches to the horizon. (95) JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion
It starts quietly. With crunchy quince, umami notes of button mushrooms, oat biscuits and gingerbread, and then other aromas start to spill out – lemon curd, lemon tart with meringue, apples, honey coted nuts. Palate delivers texture and juicy acidity with a pink grapefruit and brown lime finish. It’s full of generous fruit with a mist of citrus essential oils, all in place with a good drive showing an interesting personality. Delicious drinking. (94) KASIA SOBIESIAK, The Wine Front
Bright medium yellow colour with a smoky note on the initial aroma, with nougat, toasted nuts and beeswax, and on the palate, intense lemon/citrus and a hint of honey emerging. It is well concentrated and deep, with brilliant acidity underlining the focused and penetrating fruit flavours. Wonderful chardonnay. (From Main Ridge). (96) Huon Hooke, The Real Review
2023chardonnayAustralia441$43.00 As low as $38.70 -
Moorooduc Estate Pinot Gris on Skins 2023STAFF PICKS 2024 - ALLICIA RAE
Pinot Gris, but not as you know it!
I've been obsessed with this skinsy gris since its inception, but this is my favourite vintage yet. I even took it along to this year's Australia Women in Wine Symposium in Hobart. Fruity, floral, and savoury with a bit of grip, this gris pairs well with sunshine and friends. Serve slightly chilled with charcuterie or BBQ prawns. ALLICIA
2023Pinot GrisAustralia441$44.00 As low as $39.60 -
Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noir 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$44.00 As low as $39.60 -
Quealy Tussie Mussie Pinot Noir 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021Pinot noirAustralia441$47.00 As low as $42.30 -
Stonier Pinot Noir 2023More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023Pinot noirAustralia441$48.00 As low as $43.20 -
Paradigm Hill Pinot Noir L'Ami Sage 2020 375mlGeorge is winding back his production at Paradigm Hill and that is a real shame but with no new generation to take the lead he will keep at it all-be-it with a reduced output. His 2020's are some of the best in recent years and the Lamis Sage is always the more structured and tightly wound of the two single vineyards so being a half bottle and with a few years under its belt this one is a ripper!
Intense, enticing darker red fruit aromas followed by the expected savoury, toasty, fleshy and earthy character of this wine For L’ami sage, there is also a generosity together with a long complex and balanced fresh finish. Super fine tannins melt away easily into the gossamer fruit. Lovely drop!2020Pinot noirAustralia441$49.00 As low as $44.10 -
Symons Chardonnay 2023
More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023chardonnayAustralia441$51.00 As low as $45.90 -
Symons Pinot Noir 2023
More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023Pinot noirAustralia441$51.00 As low as $45.90 -
Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Cuvee Nina Sparkling 2018Traditional method, 47/44% chardonnay/pinot noir with 9% reserve wine from ’12. Three years on lees, dosage 4g/L and disgorged January ‘21. It has the perfect amount of complexity – think brioche with lemon curd with a touch of aldehydes – to the brightness of apple and stone fruit within. While it comes across with a richness of flavour, it’s crisp and refreshingly dry. JANE FAULKNER, James Halliday2018chardonnayAustralia441$55.00 As low as $49.50 -
Avani Issan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
From Gippsland and, by the label, Issan Vineyard, a site winemaker Shashi Singh is into for its high density planting and organic farming. Avani is one of those very important Victorian wineries, from where I sit, making beautiful wines (by beautiful people). Always a treat to revisit. Avani is based in Mornington Peninsula, of course.
This is a cool and restrained pinot noir, lithe and shapely, fine boned, a web of lacy, silty tannin lends structure and the wine sits comfortable in its dark cherry, black olive, faintly game meat-meets-rosemary savouriness with a little sweet. smoky earth character in the mix for good measure. Understated and elegant but with plenty going on. A little spread in texture gives the wine a moreish feel. It feels fancy too, in that distinct way that great wines of the world hold themselves. Very beautiful, is the message. (96) MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Front
Avani Wines is a small, highly respected producer based in the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, Australia. Founded by Shashi and Devendra Singh, Avani (meaning Earth in Sanskrit) is dedicated to crafting natural, site-driven wines that reflect their deep respect for the land and the traditions of minimal-intervention winemaking.At the heart of Avani’s philosophy is a commitment to organic farming (certified) and natural winemaking. The estate vineyard is meticulously tended without synthetic chemicals, and the wines are made using wild yeasts, with no additions apart from a touch of sulphur at bottling — and even that is minimal or sometimes absent.
2021shirazAustralia441$62.00 As low as $55.80 -
Crittenden The Zumma Pinot Noir 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021Pinot noirAustralia441$63.00 As low as $56.70 -
Paradigm Hill Shiraz Cols Block 2019More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019shirazAustralia441$63.00 As low as $56.70 -
Dexter Pinot Noir 2023
There’s a fruit party going on here with loads of wild strawberries, red cherries and cranberries, spicy, too with snips of fresh basil and menthol plus heady florals mainly roses. The palate is mid-weighted, and a fruit succulence comes through so, too, layers of tannins with the sweet oak adding a hint of bitter green walnut on the finish. In its youth, there’s a prettiness as complexity will come with age. (95) JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion
I pretty much never drink any samples, because it’s not a good habit to get into, though maybe a few swallows might make a summer while I’m actually tasting, but hey, that’s what I call the FCE (Full Consumer Experience). Anyway, I had a few glasses of this last night while watching the documentary about Ennio Morricone – “Ennio” – which is currently streaming on Stan. Very good too, and this, in a way, while not Italian, seemed a suitable style of wine for that show. I cooked my children some duck breast for tea, with jasmine rice, steamed greens and plum sauce, but I didn’t eat any of that, though this wine would have been most excellent with it. I had a piece of bread with some Laughing Cow cheese on it. Economies must be made.Fine, kind of stony, perfumed, cherry and red fruit, gentle spiced oak, something a little earthy/autumnal too. It’s light to medium-bodied, pleasantly sappy, with a good crunch to acidity, really pleasing pumice stone tannin, and a offers a juicy/savoury finish of excellent length, with a little blood orange bite. Very nice. (94) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front
Pretty and lifted aromas of cherry, briar, sap, Asian spice, redcurrant, underbrush and a woodsy earthiness. Structured, fine, delicate, long and layered. There’s a supple drive of pure red fruits, subtle oak and textured tannins. Precise and pretty pinot. AARON BRASHER, The Real Review2023Pinot noirAustralia441$65.00 As low as $58.50 -
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve NV 375mlANDRE CLOUET (9/10)
Bouzy and Ambonnay are the epicentre of pinot noir in Champagne, and the Clouet family is the priviledged custodian of eight hectares of estate vines in the best middle slopes of both villages. These are rich and concentrated expressions of pinot noir, wines of deep complexity, multi faceted interest and engaging character, yet with remarkable restraint and sense of control. Recent tastings confirm my impression that this small and relatively unknown grower ranks high among Champagne's finest practitioners of pinot noir - and expresses one of the best value of all.
100% Bouzy and Ambonnay pinot noir. 6g/L dosage
Release after release, year after year, I have always marvelled at the lemon blossom freshness that Clouet manages to capture in pinot noir from two of Champagne's most powerful terroirs. Here it is again, in a captivating interplay of fleshy mirabelle plums, white peaches, crunchy golden delicious apples, and even a hint of pepper. Wild honey and mixed spice join the maelstrom along the way, gliding obediently into a well defined finish of soft minerality and integrated dosage. TYSON STELZER, The Champagne Guide 2014-2015
(100% Pinot Noir)The NV Brut Grande Reserve offers up layers of mineral-infused red fruits on a silky, mid-weight frame, with gorgeous length and a refined, subtle mousse. This impeccable, elegant wine shows terrific overall balance as well as complexity. I loved it. Andre Clouet is based in Bouzy, a village where Pinot Noir speaks with great eloquence, as is evident in these superb, pedigreed Champagnes. ANTONIO GALLONI, Robert ParkerNVChampagneFrance376$66.00 As low as $59.40 -
Allies Cinq a Sept Vermouth 700mlCinq a Sept is French vernacular for the aperitif time of day. For the uninitiated, Vermouth is a wine based fortified aperitif typically having elements of herb, spice, citrus and bitterness. Most often the wine plays second fiddle to the recipe but with Cinq a Sept it shares equal billing. Expect fresh raspberry fruit laced with refreshing herbs, exotic spice and mild bitterness. Great on ice with a slice of orange or grapefruit, longer with a dash of soda or as a bit player in cocktails like Negroni. ALLIES
I am totally in love with this product! Why? Because its flippin delicious! Pinot Based vermouth from the man behind Allies David 'Chappy' Chappman. He has just nailed it with this bright, bitter, summery drink. The subtle sweetness is beautifully balanced against the bitter citrus notes and the whole thing just sings. Of course, it's begging for a Negroni but this is so good I would just splash it on some ice with a citrus twist of your choice and a dash of soda. Enough said. MYLES, PWSVermouthAustralia441$68.00 -
Onannon Main Ridge Tudibaring Chardonnay 2022Owner Gary McGibbon and family planted 16 acres to both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on an incredible wild site looking out across the ocean around 10 years ago. 95 clone. Pressed straight to older puncheons and one new barrique, final blend was 10 months in new oak. 100 MLF. Left on gross lees without sulphur until just prior to bottling. Three barrels produced. This is so complex and engaging. WILL BYRON, Onannon2022chardonnayAustralia441$70.00 As low as $63.00 -
Onannon Tuerong Robinson Chardonnay 2022Plenty of struck match, ginger snap biscuits, cardamom, curry leaf, aniseed, so much spice, pink grapefruit and stonefruit, lots of flinty texture, a buttery white mint chocolate richness, and a very long grippy finish. This is so complex and engaging. Caramel with citrus bite. So lovely. (95) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front
Fruit off the 35-year-old Robinson vineyard, hand picked and pressed to barrel, 30% new French oak plus a portion to 1000L stainless steel eggs; 50% undergoes mlf. Expect stone fruit and invigorating lemon flavours, lots of blossom and ginger spice, flint, and the funky sulphides entice immensely. The fuller-bodied palate gives way to creamed honey and lemon curd with the oak neatly integrated adding shape and spicy flavours, too. This turns out moreish and savoury. Another glass please. (95) JANE FAULKNER Wine Companion
2022chardonnayAustralia441$70.00 As low as $63.00 -
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Bollinger Special Cuvee NV 375ml
More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVChampagneFrance376$73.00 As low as $65.70 -
Onannon Tuerong Robinson Pinot Noir 2022A savoury and brooding wine with dark red fruits wrapped in woodsy, herbal spice. It's earthy in that forest floor after rain type of way with plenty of wholebunch giving sinew to it's frame and a distinctive savoury injection. There's a little, press of powdery tannin on the finish. It's a little wild and inward but if you like your pinots like this it's going to be right up your alley. ALEX DOBSON, PWS
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$74.00 As low as $66.60 -
Onannon Main Ridge Tudibaring Pinot Noir 2022So pretty and appealing thanks to its up-front red cherries and spice flavours. At first quite fruit-sweet, then other elements come into play: tangy, tart, pomegranate-like acidity, a touch of menthol. The oak is oh-so-subtle, adding some background nuances to the lighter-framed palate with lacy tannins. This is lovely. All fruit is destemmed, cold soaked for seven days in a carbonic environment and spends six weeks on skins, then pressed straight to oak, 15% new. (95) JANE FAULKNER Wine Companion
Red fruit, pimento, cinnamon and spice, poached strawberry and rhubarb, a little cedar oak. It’s all red fruit, some pomegranate and tamarind tang, light dusty and peppery tannin, a quiet sappy succulence, with a bright and zesty finish of excellent length. Very good. (94) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$74.00 As low as $66.60 -
Onannon Red Hill Harrisons Road Pinot Noir 2022There’s plenty of whole bunch character, though the fruit here is up to the task. Dark raspberry, cherry, peppery and spicy, cardamom pod perfume, with a little toasty oak. Good flavour, density and weight, a dry grip to tannin with the graphite character of whole bunch as a positive, and the finish is long and firm. Nicely done. Very good wine. (95) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front2022Pinot noirAustralia441$74.00 As low as $66.60 -
Moorooduc Estate Robinson Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$76.00 As low as $68.40 -
Symons Georgica Pinot Noir 2023
More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023Pinot noirAustralia441$78.00 As low as $70.20 -
Quealy Seventeen Rows Pinot Noir 2021The most structured offering in the Quealy stable – the tannins are textural with seemingly more fruit weight. It still has the vivacity of the ’21 vintage, yet incorporates hints of sweet and tart rhubarb, dark cherries, mocha and dried herbs plus cedar oak flavour. The palate doesn’t quite flesh out, even if it is medium bodied, as the acidity is keeping everything reined in, bar the slightly bitter, charred radicchio character on the finish, which adds to the mouthfeel and pleasure of drinking.
(95) JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion
Strong release. Both woodsy spice and oak notes aplenty but with the fruit to support it. Back cherries, strawberries, toast and coffee grounds, with cedar and dried herb notes over the top. Both inherently complex and inherently bold, even at 12.6% alc. Savoury to the point of bitter, but not. Firm-ish. It’s not for drinking now; it’s built to be matured. (93+) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front
Complex foresty, earthy, leaf-litter aromas and flavours. Peppery and Campari-like wholebunch touches. There’s an individualism and singular character in this wine. Very enjoyable."
(93) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review
2021Pinot noirAustralia441$78.00 As low as $70.20 -
Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023Medium red with a tinge of purple and a complex foresty bouquet of sour cherry, undergrowth and leaf-litter, with a hint of five spice. Palate is intense, bright and lively with fleshy richness and very fine, supple tannins in perfect balance with the flavour. Delicious pinot noir. HUON HOOKE, Real Review
2022Pinot noirAustralia441$79.00 As low as $71.10 -
Apollonis Authentic Meunier Blanc de Noir Brut NVBased in the Marne Valley, this producer has a predominance of Pinot Meunier in many of its Champagnes. Winemaker Marie Petit Loriot plays the tanks music as the wine ferments. This fruity wine is vibrant, densely textured and at the dry end of Brut. WINE ENTHUSIASTNVChampagneFrance376$85.00 As low as $76.50 -
Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut NVMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
ChampagneFrance376$86.00 As low as $77.40 -
Brimoncourt Regence NVA lightly toasty and flavorful Champagne with notes of praline, candied walnut, lemon peel and grilled orange. Fine bubbles. Pretty balance of toasty nut and zesty citrus. Dry feel. JAMES SUCKLINGNVChampagneFrance376$87.00 As low as $78.30 -
Brocard Pierre Champagne 'Tradition' NVBrocard Pierre's entry-level and only blended-grape expression of Champagne, Cuvée Tradition Brut, spends three years on the lees in bottle before release, which in our opinion, makes it one of the best quality-for-value wine of Champagne.
The Tradition is made of Pinot Noir (80%), Chardonnay (10%) and Pinot Blanc (10%) grapes from vineyards planted on clay-calcareous soil near Celles-sur-Ource. 2018 vintage reserve wine makes up the dominant base, while 30% comes from different réserve vintages. The juice was fermented in oak (15%) and stainless steel (85%) at controlled temperature. The wine then spent 4 months in stainless steel, and it was aged on lees for 2.5 years. It has 6g/l of dosage.
A flattering nose dominated by the Pinot Noir. Good harmony in the mouth, strength associated with freshness but not heavy accompanied by a slightly mentholated finish. Ripe citrus. Unctuous mousse. Chalky, mineral and saline and mouth coating. Generous autolitic notes.
NVChampagneFrance376$89.00 As low as $80.10 -
Thierry Fournier Blanc de Blanc NVJulien explains that the Marne Valley vines sit in clay limestone soils, often giving richer Chardonnay notes than fruit from the Cote de Blancs. That said this is still very, very precise and fine with a rich mid palate for sure but then a precise, linear finish. To describe the flavour profile as ‘Chablis with bubbles’ would be perhaps to over-simplify things but this certainly makes for a sleek yet flavourful NV. Importer CellarHandNVChampagneFrance376$90.00 As low as $81.00 -
Vilmart Ratafia de Champagne 500mlSTAFF PICKS 2024 - KAYLEEN REYNOLDS
Easily the best Ratafia I have ever tasted. Yes, the sample size is not large but it comes as no surprise knowing Vilmart's track record of making fine wines. Ratafia de Champenois AKA Champagne's vin de liqueur.
100% chardonnay from premier cru sites in village Rilly-la-Montagne of Montagne de Reims. Fermentation is stopped before completion by adding young grape spirit resulting in a sweet, full-flavoured wine that is delicate and oh so elegant. A must have for the festive season alongside Nan's pavlova or a stinky wash rind cheese. (serve chilled)
Candied apricots, lemon curd and cashew nut, instantly we know we are onto a great thing here! On tasting, we see wild honey on buttered toast with orange peel and white nectarine, all laced around stoney minerality. The impeccable balance of flavour intensity, residual sugar and grape spirit is remarkable. Persistent length is matched with refreshment. Finesse through and through. KAYLEEN REYNOLDS, pws
The 2013 Ratafia (Chardonnay) is laced with hints of dried fruit, almond, dried flowers and chamomile. It offers gorgeous complexity, along with notable energy and freshness. It is a very fine, elegant Ratafia. ANTONIO GALLONI
NVchardonnayFrance376$90.00 As low as $81.00 -
Veuve Fourny Grand Terroirs 1er Cru Brut NVA blend of 80% chardonnay (grand cru) and 20% pinot noir (premier cru) mostly from Vertus. Small oak and 40% reserve wines included. 3 consecutive vintages make up the blend. Brut style with 6 grams dosage.NVChampagneFrance376$91.00 As low as $81.90 -
Maison Gamet Champagne 'Rive Gauche" NVA blend of fruit from several Mardeuil terroirs. 33% Pinot Meunier, 33% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay. It’s vinified entirely in stainless steel. The wine spends 35 to 40 months on lees before disgorgement.NVChampagneFrance376$92.00 As low as $82.80