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A vigorous diction of new world Chardonnay, framed within a tasteful veneer of judicious oak, crafted by an artisanal winery that's claimed best white and best red wine trophies, as judged amongst peers at the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association. Willow Creek offers a stylishly proportioned palate, finishing as crisp as the maritime winds which enthuse the Peninsula. Willow Creek» |
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Don Lewis spent thirty five years crafting the nation's most memorable vintages while at Mitchelton. Nowadays he travels to Spain each year where he makes wine for Merum Priorati, returning to Australia just in time for vintage. Tar Roses» |
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Howard Park is internationally feted as one of the new world's great Riesling wines, achieving superstar status after claiming highly coveted gold medal at the prestigious London International. Riesling was Howard Park's first vintage, it remains the Australian west's most enduring white after over three decades of superlative editions. Howard Park» |
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When Johann Gramp planted his vines along the banks of Jacob's Creek in 1847, he was less preoccupied with the making of history but more concerned with the selection of rootstock and fruit, his choice was Shiraz. Jacobs Creek still retain access to some of the oldest vines in Australia and can call on harvests of the finest Barossa Shiraz every year. Jacobs Creek» |
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The five most most exclusive parcels of old vine Shiraz, a secret component of the Barossa's most memorable vintages, hand picked off the De Fazio and Hillview vineyards at Belvidere and Moppa. Batches are crushed into traditional open top fermenters for a week of pumpovers, gently pressed into an extravagantly high proportion of new French oak hogsheads for two years maturation, followed by the final assemblage, unfiltered and unfined. Pirathon» |
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An exciting innovation in a Methode traditionnelle, enriched by strawberry. A component of Pinot Noir is treated to extended time on skins for perfect uptake of charming rose colour, to be blended back with Chardonnay after primary ferments. Lindauer» |
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From parcels of Pinot Noir, planted to the foot of tailings, left behind by waves of prospectors who pursued their fortune amongst the open pits and mines on Adelaide Hills during the gold rush of the 1850s. Crushed and destemmed straight into the press with minimal time on skins to extract the perfect pink, its blushing lipstick hues presage a cornucopia of lifted strawberry and cherry blossom characters, ruby grapefruit and luscious jube over a length of tasty, toothsome tannins, the perfect Rosé for lazy afternoons or late night soirées. Bird In Hand» |
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The marvelous S1 block is a sheltered, relatively warm site within the splendid vistas of Seaview Vineyard, on a north facing plateau at 160m above sea level, refreshed by maritime winds that blow in from the Cludy Bay coast. Fruit is crushed and destemmed, chilled and gently pressed, the clearest juices are racked off for a long, cool ferment to capture the full opulence of S1 vineyard grapes on the vine. Yealands Estate» |
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From two blocks of superior vines grown to the McLaren Flat estate, hand planted by the Scarpantoni brothers in the early 1970s. Brothers Block claimed Australia's most illustrious award, the highly coveted Jimmy Watson trophy in 2007. Scarpantoni» |
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Enthused by a consuming desire to make great wine, Andrew Nugent honed his craft as viticulturalist and winemaker amongst the vines of McLaren Vale before returning to the Adelaide Hills, where he established his very own wineworks at Woodside. Hand crafted from fruit grown to mineral rich soils above the historic Bird in Hand gold mine, a pure Pinot Noir with superb effervescence, dominated by red berry characters, adorned by a lift of stonefruits and floral.. Bird In Hand» |
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Whole bunches and oak barrel ferments, the costly extravagance of three years tirage on sedimentery yeast lees, each bottle individually riddled by hand, disgorged and sent to cellar for the ultimate indulgence of extra age before release, Pamela is the zenith of the sparkling winemaker's art. Her luxurious effervescence exudes brioche, tarte tatin and French boulangere, her creamy textural mousse unravelling ribbons of rich yeasty autolysis, crème caramel and baked fruits. Wicks» |
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After twenty years of the most distinguished winemaking, having amassed over sixty trophies and three hundred gold, including a Jimmy Watson and twice International Red Wine Maker of Year, David O'Leary and Nick Walker came home to Valley Clare. Two heart surgeons from Adelaide own the Doctors Vineyard at Polish Hill River. OLeary Walker» |
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Coldstream Hills
About Coldstream Hills - the Winery
Coldstream Hills
Since its first vintage in 1985, Coldstream Hills has grown to be one of the Australia’s leading small wineries, with a reputation for producing an outstanding range of wines
Coldstream Hills was established in 1985 by James and Suzanne Halliday. As a winemaker for over 30 years, James Halliday expressed his passion through involvements with other winemakers, devoting his time to crafting some of Australia's most memorable labels. From its initial vintage of 450 cases, Coldstream Hills has grown to become one of Australia's leading small wineries, its wines sold in some 16 countries and a reputation out of all proportion to its size. Coldstream Hills maintains its small winery essence with most of the wine literally being hand made. Situated in the cool and beautiful Yarra Valley, about one hour's drive east of Melbourne, its steep, close-planted vineyards have become a signature of the region. So too have its wines (most notably Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs) which reflect a climate cooler than Bordeaux and a little warmer than Burgundy.
France also provides all the oak barriques (1500, but increasing year by year) and no small amount of inspiration for the winemaking team. To create the specialties of the Coldstream Hills winery each year outstanding parcels of grapes are earmarked for special attention during making, using new French barriques.
The emphasis at Coldstream Hills is on the varietal fruit and length of flavour which the Yarra Valley bestows on each grape variety. The varietal wines are designed to be enjoyed upon release - attractive when young, but will certainly reward careful cellaring. The wines are quite literally, hand made, mainly using small open fermenters (of three to four tonnes capacity) for the red wines, while the white wines are barrel fermented.
These techniques are directed to making wines which are characterised by elegance and finesse, by silky supple texture, length of flavour, subtle oak and the ability to develop extra dimensions of complexity with bottle age. These are not weighty, extractive, tannic or alcoholic styles, however impressive well-made examples of these may be.
When the resulting wine is regarded as outstanding it forms the strictly limited quantity of wine bearing the Reserve label. While the fruit remains the driving force, there is more focus on structure and complexity. The Reserve wines are designed to improve for at least five years, and live for a decade or more.
Coldstream's founder James Halliday, is one of Australia's most distinguished wine journalists, consultants and judges. With two other Sydney lawyers, he founded Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley in 1970. After moving to Melbourne for his law firm in 1983, he and his wife established Coldstream Hills in 1985. He worked as a hands-on winemaker at Brokenwood, at Coldstream Hills, and several stints in France, before increasing age persuaded him that jumping in and out of open vats could be a terminal health hazard. As a journalist he has written over 45 books and several thousand newspaper and magazine articles, winning a number of major wine writing awards in Australia and the United States. He was also awarded Australia's most prestigious wine award - the Maurice O'Shea Award - for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Wine Industry in 1995.
Not withstanding the glory and success, there has been and will be no significant change in the winemaking techniques or philosophies inherent to Coldstream Hills. The fruit is hand pruned and partially hand picked; the wine is made mainly using small open fermenters (of three to four tonnes capacity for the red wines, while the whites are principally barrel fermented). Winemaking techniques and philosophies haven’t changed with the growth in production either; all designed to produce elegant wines with a long finish.
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