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In commemoration of the year Samual McWilliams planted his first vines, 1877 is a national flagship, crafted from the best fruit of vintage. The choicest parcels of estate grown Shiraz are sourced from superior mature vines on the original McWilliams plantings at Barwang among the Hilltops. McWilliams»
Coriole is one of McLaren Vale's most eminent, artisanal estates. Consecutive vintages of Coriole Shiraz have claimed a remarkable back to back San Francisco Double Gold. Coriole»
Originally released in 1976, the Koonunga Hill range has established a sound reputation for quality and consistency, while availing red wine enthusiasts of the opportunity to approach the enduring Penfolds style. The inaugural 1976 vintage of Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet was a legendary wine, still drinking well at Penfolds red wine recorking clinics. Penfolds»
Galli Estate produce a variety of quality wines from fruit grown on their vineyards at Sunbury and Heathcote. Galli Estate have been very well received by reviewers, and have been recognised for quality at competitions, already receiving Gold for their Pinot Grigio, a varietal that the winemaking team find very exciting. Galli Estate»
Sourced from Neil Steven's Glenoak property at Pokolbin, a scenically undulating site that's planted to a combination of light sand and red clay soils, widely regarded as one of the finest white wine vineyards in Hunter Valley. The oldest block was established circa 1911, the youngest plantings date back to 1965. Tyrrells»
Positioned half way between Avoca and Ballarat, the modestly sized Amherst have only ten acres under vine. The small yields translate into extraordinarily structured, powerfully intense wines, brimming with fine aromatics and lined with silky tannins. Amherst»
Only the best vintages are selected for the Premium Rare Old Muscat, all releases win significant awards at major international competitions. In blending, a range of vintages are used, the older wines giving intensely concentrated luscious flavours and aged complexity and the younger wines imparting the fresh fruit character. Morris»
What fine Riesling Clare Valley does make, internationally recognized for wines of immaculate fruit character and delicate pastoral charm. Reillys manage many of Clare Valley's most exquisite vineyards, they bring a range of the most satisfying and approachable wines to enthusiasts with every vintage. Reillys»
Vintaged from a single block of magnificent old vines on the cooler climes of Eden Valley high. Heirloom are all about identifying and rejuvenating superior parcels, a patient and painstaking approach to the resurrection of venerable elder plantings, for the realization of profoundly structured, powerful yet elegant wines. Heirloom»
The seemingly countless, memorable vintages of Delatite have claimed a litany of trophies, accolades and rave reviews throughout the world of wine. Her first vines were planted in 1968 on a picturesque rise overlooking the vistas of Mt Buller. Delatite»
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»
By one of the most consequential winemakers in the greater Canberra GUI, crafted from Shiraz grown to mature vines at Kyeema, on an elevated granite saddle near Murrumbateman. Reserve Shiraz has enjoyed a series of compelling national trophy wins, including Best Red Sydney Royal Wine Show. Collector»
Virgin Hills
Virgin Hills Cabernet Shiraz Merlot $329.94/Case of 6
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Currently out of stock
Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot Malbec by Virgin Hills of Macedon. Red and black berry fruit flavours on the palate, layered over aged mocha and tobacco characters. Established 1968 by the legendary Melbourne restaurateur Tom Lazar, Virgin Hills is the gem of the Macedon Ranges, one of Australia's iconic vineyards. The Virgin Hills property suffers from frosts and occasional snow at both ends of the season, budburst and harvest time. A long lived wine, remarkably approachable on release.
FromVirgin Hills
VarietalCabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot Malbec
RegionMacedon / Victoria

Virgin Hills

http://www.virginhills.com.au/ - Virgin Hills - Tasting Notes On Australian & New Zealand wines
It is a wonder that Virgin Hills exists at all. It certainly should never have become what some of Australia's most respected wine critics have nominated as their desert island wine

Virgin Hills was the creation of eccentric Hungarian Australian sculptor restaurateur Tom Lazar. Arriving from Paris in the mid 1960s, he found a new country with a food and wine industry, very different to the one we know today. Lazar was determined to change all that. He established the renowned Little Reata restaurant in Melbourne. Then in 1968, came his grand vision of Virgin Hills. Inspired, he bought 300 acres of rugged bushland high in the Macedon Ranges. Lazar saw an opportunity to expose Australian palates to something very different; black cherries. After laborious clearing, the soil revealed itself to be quite poor for the purpose. Swiftly, Lazar had another grand vision.

http://www.virginhills.com.au/ - Virgin Hills - Tasting Notes On Australian & New Zealand wines

Decades before the term cool climate styles of wine became popular, he abandoned the idea of a cherry orchard, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec, Merlot and Pinot Noir instead. He planned an Australian rival to the great Bordeaux wines he had grown to love in Paris. Lazar was prone to grand visions. Of course, we scarcely need mention that Lazar had no grape growing or winemaking experience whatsoever. After spending a vintage in the Coonawarra under the instruction of Owen Redman, Lazar produced the first Virgin Hills vintage. A blend of all the varieties in the vineyard, it stood out among Australian wines as being uncharacteristically subtle.

Tom had great success with his early vintages, 1974 claimed Gold at the UK International Wine & Spirit Competition in 1981. This catapulted Virgin Hills into the spotlight. As Lazar refined Virgin Hills further, it rapidly won international acclaim and numerous awards. Judges worldwide rated it as a worthy competitor to the Bordeaux wines that inspired it. A marked contrast to the standard oaky Australian red, Virgin Hills won a devoted following, particularly in Victoria.

Virgin Hills Estate is at Lauriston, 15km west of Kyneton in Victoria's Macedon Ranges. The altitude of the vineyard is 600 metres above sea level, making it one of Australia's most elevated sites. The vineyard is carved out of dense eucalyptus bushland. The soils classic profile is that of friable red/brown topsoil overlying medium red clay soil, which holds moisture in from winter rains. To this day, it bears the viticultural classification of marginal vineyard.

http://www.virginhills.com.au/ - Virgin Hills - Tasting Notes On Australian & New Zealand wines

Underneath all those layers of soil are decomposed silty sandstone, which allows for good through drainage, essential for premium fruit. The soil has well balanced structure allowing for deep root penetration, which the old unirrigated vines thrive on. The vines are all dry grown. Winter rainfall fills the soil with water for the dry summer months. The land suffers from frosts and occasional snow at both ends of the season (budburst and harvest time).

By far the most challenging aspect of the high altitude vineyard is frost control. Frosts commonly appear in the vineyard in spring and even summer. For this reason Virgin Hills was planted with a northerly aspect, on steep sloping hillside, providing maximum air drainage. Virgin Hills has always had a low grape yield (0.5 to 1.5 tonnes per acre), this is largely due to the tough climactic conditions and the dry grown grapes. Only one wine has ever been produced under the Virgin Hills label. From the beginning, the blends have varied subtly from year to year, adding to its mystique. In 1979 Marcel Gilbert bought Virgin Hills. During 18 years of ownership, his commitment to the integrity of the wine was legendary. Tom Lazar remained as winemaker until 1983, when the reins were handed over to Mark Sheppard.

In 1998, Virgin Hills was briefly acquired by a publicly listed company. It is now back under family ownership following its purchase by Michael Hope, a pharmacist turned vigneron. Michael has been successfully producing premium wine in the Hunter Valley since 1997. He leads a talented team of people who cherish Virgin Hills' spirit of individualism. The future is bright for a wine that has achieved greatness against the predictions of many. Proof, more than three decades on, of the power of a grand vision.

http://www.virginhills.com.au/ - Virgin Hills - Tasting Notes On Australian & New Zealand wines

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