CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE
TIGHT TEXTURAL CRANBERRIES
LEFT OF CENTRE / ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / 750ML

Intentionally flat, this is a unique still red wine made from 95% Pinot Noir & 5% Chardonnay with only 240 bottles made. Vincent Charlot is one of those thrilling producers, proud of the life in his soil, and in his wines. In addition to making Champagne with bubbles, he focuses on a number of wines that are not refermented in bottle. These are dry and elegant wines with tension. They're incredibly interesting wines that shed a unique light on a region that focuses on purity and terrior. There is something curious about the wines and are of course age worthy and have a place on the table with food, like their bubbly siblings. Lets all try to drink more Champagne, bubbly or not, toute la journée - all day every day!

From the distributor: “When I drink wine, I want to taste its terroir – this is what I’m in it for. I want to see the personality of the place where it was born, I want to be moved, to create emotion,” Vincent Charlot explains with so much passion that you suddenly feel the need to get your hands on a bottle of good grower Champagne and drink it, NOW. A passion that’s easy to fall for, especially once you discover the natural richness that he’s the shepherd of: the Charlot estate consists of no less than 39 different plots with extremely diverse soils and expositions. “The heavier clayey soils give wines of exotic, vinous generosity; silex translates into tangy gunpowder notes. And my chalk-borne cuvées, such as the L’Or des Basses Ronces, can transport you to the beach at low tide, so strong is their iodine grip and mineral energy,” Charlot poetically praises the virtues of his variegated vineyards.

His dedication to this mosaic leads him to vinify each parcel separately and release up to 27 (!) different cuvées each year, with quantities ranging from one single barrel (~300 bottles) to 5,000 bottles per wine. In a region where the grandes marques count their nonvintage bottles in millions, Vincent firmly stands on the geeky grower side, releasing only vintage wines. He is the breed of Champenois that reminds you that, although sparkling, Champagne is wine above all–and we love that.

An essential step on this terroir-showcase route is farming: Charlot proudly calls himself “the peasant of terroir” instead of winemaker and all of his plots are cultivated organic and biodynamic. (Only 2% of the Champagne vineyard are farmed biodynamically, btw.) Vincent has grown into this approach gradually, with foundations laid during his apprentice years in Alsace (he was in school with the local natural trailblazer Christian Binner that we also import). There, many vineyards were already organic and covered with grass back then in the early 1990s; when Charlot returned to Champagne and took the domaine (selling grapes to the local co-op back then) over from his parents at the turn of the new millennium, he was looking for ways to harmonize his new finds with the family heritage.

“I have never tilled the soil since then–mixing the layers destroys biodiversity, in my opinion,” he asserts. His trust in a natural balance is so strong that he even avoids seeding the plants himself, save for an occasional lavender or rosemary to “keep the bees happy in summer if there are too few flowers otherwise”. Convinced that the plants are there for a reason, and they allow the grower to read the soil, Charlot prefers to guide his farming by observation and the natural mycorrhiza happening under his vines.

Charlot wasn’t sold on biodynamics right away, though, he admits; he had multiple training sessions with Pierre Masson, one of the French pioneers of the philosophy, but only fully adhered to it when he saw the results live in his own vines. “I just felt great in my vineyards, witnessing the incredible biodiversity,” Vincent recalls what led him to apply for the Demeter and Ecocert certification in 2010. After some initial disputes with his neighbors over their use of helicopter spraying (not allowed in organics, of course), he succeeded in obtaining the seals and has been enjoying the resplendent ecosystem of some 90 different species ever since: “There’s lamb lettuce, wild mint, forest strawberries, mushrooms, pheasants breeding…” he muses and a vivid image mixing Rousseau’s canvas, an all-seasons farmer’s market and David Attenborough’s documentaries arises in our heads; a late spring / early summer view of Vincent’s vineyard fully backs this fantasy.

Given his precious natural material, the cellar work is kept to a minimum in order to showcase it: the grapes are harvested manually at optimum ripeness, and then spontaneously fermented, since Vincent believes that the yeast is like a “little mushroom selected by the terroir to express it”. Very often, the wines decide not to go through malolactic: “I don’t know why, to be honest, my cellar isn’t that cold,” Vincent laughs, “but I leave that to the wine and the results are beautiful, with balanced alcohol and pronounced acidity.” The vins clairs spend usually about 9 months on lees in seasoned barrels from Bordeaux and Burgundy: “I always use 3- or 5-year-old barrels, since I’m not interested in getting tannins from the wood. I already have these, perfectly ripe, from my skins and seeds,” Vincent describes.

Once the wines are bottled, the secondary fermentation is started with grape must concentrated by evaporation, mixed with 5 neutral organic yeasts, never sugar. The wines then spend several years on lees – some around four, some up to eight, and after disgorgement, they are topped up with the same champagne and dosed with no more than 4 grams per liter, i.e. falling under the Extra Brut category. Some of the wines are released as “Charlot-Tanneux”, a family label that Vincent uses for wines coming from smaller parcels that aren’t officially certified due to their small size (and proximity to conventionally farmed vineyards of his neighbors) but enjoy the same biodynamic care and minimal winemaking as the Vincent Charlot wines.

The resulting wines in both cases are sensual, serious, and sensitive, all at the same time. Terroir notes, fruit, elegance, energy, acidity, body, creaminess… all the elements necessary for an outstanding wine experience are in poised balance here, and the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts: opening a bottle of Charlot is a highly recommended ritual to enjoy in a big enough glass, with or without food. And preferably with some like-minded friends who will be equally happy spending the night discovering layer after layer after layer of these incredible terroir bijoux, courtesy of Monsieur Charlot.

http://www.jennyandfrancois.com/wines-2/france/vincent-charlot/

BURGUNDY, FRANCE
LIVELY TIGHT FUN
CLASSIC / ORGANIC / 750ML

A complex rose made from multiple sites throughout Burgundy. Mon Plaisir, is about as complex as a rose can get. Brimming with vibrant fruit, acidity and unadulterated pleasure.   

From the Producer: In 2010, Pierre-Henri was granted creative agency at Domaine Rougeot, and oversaw wholesale improvements in the winemaking processes that are reflected in the quality we know today. Like his inspiration, Lalou Bize-Leroy, Pierre-Henri is passionate about working with a high percentage of whole bunches for reds and very little sulphur to champion and fully express the fruit. He buys grapes from well located plots with sustainable soil management practices, producing lower but healthier yields. The vineyards of his choosing all engage in organic or low footprint farming methods and his wines are made without oenological ingredients, preserving their regional voice.Pierre-Henri prefers to press both his white and red grapes using a modern version of an ancient vertical grape press. Although made with the latest technology, this unconventional press differs from the pneumatic, horizontal press preferred by most producers and produces higher acid extraction and greater clarity of must. The result is dynamic, complex and elegant wines.

Both reds and whites are matured in supremely balanced, artisan oak barrels where indigenous yeasts within the oak are allowed to work their magic. The superior barrels give grace and richness to the wines without overbearing oaky notes.

LANGUEDOC + LOIRE, FRANCE
BRIGHT CLEAN PRETTY
CLASSIC / HVE3 / 750ML

A clean-cut Pinot Noir from two very different regions in France, the Languedoc and the Loire Valley. The differences in climate and site build a robust ripe Pinot Noir that highlight variety rather than place. Strawberries, ripening plums and wet straw.   

Sourced from the Paris wine company: The fruit that goes into the Deux Moulins cuvée is a blend of Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley and the Languedoc. The Loire Valley component comes from sand and gravel vineyards in Chateaumeillant and adds elegance and finesse. The Languedoc fruit adds a fruity richness. Together, they create an exceptionally delicious French Pinot Noir.

https://pariswinecompany.com/product/vin-de-france-pinot-noir/

WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND
PURE PLACE LINE
CLASSIC / 750ML

The most beautiful vineyard I have been to. Perfectly managed vines that spend all day staring out across Lake Wanaka to the imposing mountains beyond. Careful canopy management leads to sexy fruit with present acid and ripened phenols. The wine offers campari, rhubarb, careful oak and subtle yet long tannins. Absolute pearler.

From the Producer: The farm voice of a distinct parcel of land: Rippon. On the western board of Roy’s Bay, Lake Wanaka, Rippon’s north-facing escarpment forms the meeting point of terminal moraines and coarse gravels, all based in schist, on which some of the region’s earliest vines were planted. Rippon is a Wine issued from all of the fully developed Pinot Noir vines growing in this land.

Rippon’s vines are planted in two main zones of differing soil types, both inherent to the way each wine tastes and feels. These two soil types are both borne of decomposing schist rock, but have arrived on the site by different means and at different times. A thin layer (5-15cms) of wind blown loess covers the property.

The Lakeside: A relatively new ejection cone of gravel debris from “waterfall creek”, the stream that cascades down Mt Roy, the 1800 metre peak beside us. This has formed many complex layers of Schist gravels and singles of varying grades (coarseness).

The Hillside: Terminal Moraine deposits of the last glacial advance. Fine deposits of glacial meal are mixed with more coarse material and large blocks of schist rock to form a 50 metre high slope.

Expression: With its high content of Silica, Quartz and Mica, Rippon’s schist based soils produce, as the texture of the rock itself would suggest, wines which are luminous, layered and complex; lift rather than weight, precision rather than opulence, finesse rather than fullness.

The Southern Hemisphere’s predominant airflow, the “roaring forties”, passes over the South Island in a westerly fashion. When it hits the Southern Alps, most of its moisture precipitates on the Western side, forming an important rain shadow to the east. Up to five metres (5000mm) of rain can fall each year on the Western Ranges, whereas at Rippon, only fifty kilometres away, our annual rainfall is around 600mm. Most of this falls in the springtime. The summers are hot and dry with a heat summation range of 700-1250HDD. An extended late-summer to autumn season, with a large a large diurnal temperature range (up to 25°C), allows the fruit to ripen slowly with tight, locked-in flavours. Winters are cold, but not extreme. Whilst the winter snow level sits about one third of the way down our surrounding mountains (roughly 500 metres above us), it only falls on the vineyard once or twice a year and melts quickly the next day.
Microclimate

Whilst Rippon is part of Central Otago, it has several important local meteorological attributes which are unique to its site.
Proximity to the Main Divide

From Rippon we can see clearly the heavily glaciated ridgeline between Mount Avalanche and Rob Roy Peak. On the other side of this divide, water flows down the valleys to the west and out to the Tasman Sea. On our side, water makes its way down the Matukituki River, into the Lake and inevitably down the Clutha River to the Pacific Ocean. During the many weak westerly fronts which buffet the West Coast during the summer, heavy cloud systems will bank up on this ridgeline. Depending on the strength of the system, wet clouds will eventually break away from this bank and make their way east, all the time slowly breaking apart and drying up. The Wanaka basin is the first to receive these clouds and more often than not they do not make it much further. This means that although Central Otago is the hottest, coldest and driest region in New Zealand, Wanaka is slightly more temperate than further down the valley towards Lowburn, Bannockburn and Alexandra.
Proximity to the Lake

The risk of frost in Central Otago is a very real one at both ends of the growing season. This is truly a marginal grape-growing area. The core temperature of Lake Wanaka only changes two or three degrees from summer to winter. The presence of this large body of water next to the vines acts like a big hot water bottle on such cold mornings where frost is a risk. We estimate that it may equate to as much as a four-degree difference from hilltop to lakefront.
Waterfall Creek

Perpetual airflow is created by a water cascade, which falls down Mount Roy (the 1800 metre mountain that the vineyard backs onto). Air is drawn down the mountain, across the north facing slope of the vineyard and out on to the lake. This is also thought to be beneficial on mornings of frost risk. No protection, natural or mechanical, will ever be fool proof. Understanding and managing this risk has always been an essential part of living here.
Ruby Island

A small, but important island of hard rock, sits out in front of the site where the vines are planted. This “Roche-Moutonee” has been left by the ancient glacier and is not only the centrepiece of Rippon’s view, but also a buffer against the harsh, prevailing Nor-West winds. These powerful winds, having dumped all their moisture on the West Coast, can be extremely dry and are able to cause heavy stress to both the vine and vigneron alike. Even in periods of severe wind where the lake may be white with froth, the bay in front of the vineyard is relatively calm. Ruby Island, although it doesn’t stop the wind, spoils it, throwing it up, causing it to roll over the property rather than hitting it full-force.

CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE
FOCUSED PURE TYPICITY
CLASSIC / BIODYNAMIC / 750ML

The Parcelles is a stunning representation of Bouzy. Each release is made up of roughly 80% of the vintage written in Roman Numerals on the front label, the rest is a cross-section of previous vintages. The Paillard wines are a focused insight into minerality - chalky textures with crushed apple, chamomile and subtle lees 'cream'. The most exciting Champagne we've been introduced to this year!

From the Distributor: Domaine Pierre Paillard is eleven hectares of vineyard situated on the south side of the Montagne de Reims in the village of Bouzy. The vineyards are grown organically, and they use biodynamic practices to invigorate the vines. Extraordinarily, the entire vineyard of Domaine Paillard has the highest Champagne classification of Grand Cru.

The Paillard family owns 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay grapes, blending Pinot Noir oriented Champagnes. The Paillards only use these ‘noble grape’ varieties and their entire production comes exclusively from their own vineyards.
Over the course of 200 years, the Paillards identified and procured 30 prime plots of vineyard in Bouzy, resulting in outstanding Champagne. Diverse topographical distribution, differently aged vines and this remarkable patch of terrain, produce complexity, richness, power, fruit and minerality.

The village of Bouzy is well known for producing grapes with good maturity, richness and generosity. Bouzy grapes are sought after and used in the top cuvées by the best known brands of Champagne.

For 20 years at Domaine Paillard, the vineyards have been treated without chemicals. The family has worked hard to breed and develop robust vines with natural disease resilience, avoiding chemical intervention. This is a key reason for the Paillard’s consistently high quality of Champagne.

Interestingly, the Paillards have a different timeframe compared to other producers in order to achieve the balance in their Champagne. They employ a patient and prolonged cellar maturation to create their trademark elegance, finesse and complexity.

CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE
FOCUSED PURE TYPICITY
CLASSIC / BIODYNAMIC / 1500ML

The Parcelles is a stunning representation of Bouzy. Each release is made up of roughly 80% of the vintage written in Roman Numerals on the front label, the rest is a cross-section of previous vintages. The Paillard wines are a focused insight into minerality - chalky textures with crushed apple, chamomile and subtle lees 'cream'. The most exciting Champagne we've been introduced to this year!

From the Distributor: Domaine Pierre Paillard is eleven hectares of vineyard situated on the south side of the Montagne de Reims in the village of Bouzy. The vineyards are grown organically, and they use biodynamic practices to invigorate the vines. Extraordinarily, the entire vineyard of Domaine Paillard has the highest Champagne classification of Grand Cru.

The Paillard family owns 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay grapes, blending Pinot Noir oriented Champagnes. The Paillards only use these ‘noble grape’ varieties and their entire production comes exclusively from their own vineyards.
Over the course of 200 years, the Paillards identified and procured 30 prime plots of vineyard in Bouzy, resulting in outstanding Champagne. Diverse topographical distribution, differently aged vines and this remarkable patch of terrain, produce complexity, richness, power, fruit and minerality.

The village of Bouzy is well known for producing grapes with good maturity, richness and generosity. Bouzy grapes are sought after and used in the top cuvées by the best known brands of Champagne.

For 20 years at Domaine Paillard, the vineyards have been treated without chemicals. The family has worked hard to breed and develop robust vines with natural disease resilience, avoiding chemical intervention. This is a key reason for the Paillard’s consistently high quality of Champagne.

Interestingly, the Paillards have a different timeframe compared to other producers in order to achieve the balance in their Champagne. They employ a patient and prolonged cellar maturation to create their trademark elegance, finesse and complexity.

ADELAIDE HILLS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
EARTHY LIFTED CHERRY
LEFT OF CENTRE / ORGANIC BIODYNAMIC / 750ML

A beautiful example of raw but controlled Pinot Noir. Grown at roughly 350masl at there Summit vineyard, Ngeringa has allowed their carbonic macerated Pinot to blossom by remaining relatively hands-off. The wine is pressed to quality oak and left for 11 months without any filtration or fining. Fruit forward with a subtle earthy/ferrous element and ripe stem spice. 

From the Producer: A ruby red Pinot Noir that is medium bodied with vibrant, lifted red fruit aromas, along with fine herbal spice and earthy aromas derived largely from carbonic maceration. Fruit flavors include red plums and sour cherries. Texture is crunchy and fresh.

Grown in our east-facing Summit Vineyard, which collects more of the morning sunlight and less of the intense, direct afternoon heat. Altitude ranges between 330m and 360m above sea level and the soil consists of sandy loam over red-orange clay, sandstone and ironstone. Fruit for this wine comes predominantly from the upper and lower sections of the Summit Vineyard, while the middle section goes to our Single Vineyard Pinot. The entire farm is certified biodynamic and is farmed with the rhythms of nature, tending towards a self-sustaining system without the use of synthetic chemical inputs.

Our vineyards are located in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, South Australia, a region reputed for producing some of Australia’s most elegant cool climate wines.

Winemaker, Erinn Klein and co-founder, Janet Klein create Ngeringa wines, oil and vegetables on their farm which they have nurtured with great care. Originally part of the world-renowned Jurlique herb farm, their land has been certified biodynamic for more than 20 years. Ngeringa is one of Australia’s original biodynamic winegrowing pioneers.

GISBORNE, NEW ZEALAND
JUNIPER EARTH MANUKA
CLASSIC / ORGANIC BIODYNAMIC / 750ML

A unique Pinot Noir grown on the banks of the Te Arai River. A heavier style, flowing down a savoury path. Aromas of undergrowth, manuka flower and juniper. 

From the Producer: A bright fruited, expressive nose, with notes of dark cherry, juniper berry and an intriguing hint of fennel and manuka flower. There is a savoury taste with firm tannins and ripe fruit finishing with a lively mineral edge to balance. Unfined. Unfiltered. Enjoy, with friends, lamb and other fine grilled pieces.

In 1984 James and Annie Millton established The Millton Vineyard on the banks of the Te Arai River near
Manutuke, where the early settlers first planted grapevines in 1871. This region is situated on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand in the wine appellation of Gisborne.

Originally Annie’s father, Mr John Clark, had developed vineyards on his estate at ‘Opou’ in Manutuke during the late 1960's. James and Annie returned to Gisborne after experience gained in the famous wine regions of France and Germany including Champagne Bollinger, Maison Sichel in Bordeaux and Weingut Kurstner in Rheinhessen. By 1983 they had extensively researched and replanted major parts of the families’ grape growing business, before establishing The Millton Vineyard in 1984.

WAIPARA, NEW ZEALAND
CRIMSON JUICY SPICE
CLASSIC / 750ML

Macerated on skins for a month before heading to oak for 10 months this Dijon clone heavy Pinot is light with heady floral notes. A simple yet classic Pinot Noir that is fit for any occasion, especially if it involves duck.

From the Producer: Nestled in the lee of the Teviotdale Hills in the Waipara Valley and sheltered from the cool ocean breezes, the Muddy Water estate is an ideal spot for cool climate viticulture. Our 12 hectare estate is flatter across its front section, then steep up the back as it goes up the north-facing hillslopes. The blocks are interspersed with a small olive grove and a naturally renewing spring winding its way through the property. All our wine is made and bottled on-site in our hand-built straw bale winery just a few hundred metres from the vines.

Our name Muddy Water is a literal translation of 'Waipara' - and, like our wines, is a direct reflection of the environment around us.

GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA
SAVOURY NUANCE CRANBERRY
CLASSIC / 750ML

A.R.C is based on a small balanced farm in Gippsland. While their recently planted vineyard matures they're sourcing fruit from carefully selected and managed vineyards in Victoria. The Tilly is a Pinot Noir grown in Dromana. It is a bright Pinot Noir offering notes of fresh cranberries, campari and simmered rhubarb.  

From the Producer: Pinot Noir from Dromana in the Mornington Peninsula. Made predominantly from the Champagne clone our 2020 vintage brings the classic notes of cranberry and the sea together with spice and nuances of oak. Our last “Tilly” Pinot holds a special place in our hearts. Drinking well from now until 2030.

A.R.C or A Random Collection was founded in 2017 after musings and dreams from a previous life working restaurant floors. The vision of working the land, being in touch with nature and living within our means came to life a few years ago after we made the leap from our lives in Sydney and ended up with our very own permaculture farm in West Gippsland Victoria.

As A.R.C started we sourced our fruit from a selection of vineyards predominantly in the nearby Mornington Peninsula allowing us to learn our craft, experiment and further establish our vision for the brand. We firmly believe in ethical farming practices and in early 2020 we were thrilled to be presented with an opportunity to lease 3ha of established biodynamic vines just outside the town of Warragul. This amazing site is perched between the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and Mount Baw Baw to the north. Its rich red volcanic soils produce wines of elegance, poise and character. We are delighted to see A.R.C evolve as we continue to understand and learn from this magical site. Our work in the cellar is hands off, preferring not to manipulate the wines and rather let them express their fruit and journey. All wines are wild ferment, not filtered or fined and vegan friendly.

KEILOR, VICTORIA
BERRIES MOUNTAIN HERBS
LEFT OF CENTRE / 750ML

Handpicked and wild fermented as always. Whole berry Macedon Pinot Noir fermented with some whole bunches. Pressed and aged in barrel for 10 months. Racked by gravity and bottled with no additions except for a whisper of sulphur. Unfiltered and unfined as always. 50 dozen made. Tastes like wild berries + fresh mountain herbs. Chill me down in warmer weather.

From the producer: le timbre is made in a small shed surrounded by an acre of vines in Keilor, Melbourne, Australia. The wines are made with minimal additions, emphasizing purity of fruit, lively acidity and bright, ripe texture achieved by the use of oxygen and lees contact. Movements are made by gravity and everything is wild fermented, unfiltered and unfined. le timbre currently works with growers who practice a variety of farming methods. Everything else is done on-site by hand with the help of friends and family. The dream is to have a regenerative, mixed farm with a small vineyard from which all fruit is sourced and vinified.

BURGUNDY, FRANCE
STRUCTURE PRECISION LENGTH
CLASSIC / 750ML

A rare gem, in 2019 the Clerget Family managed to purchase a small amount of fruit from the fabled slopes of Corton. The wine was the last to be picked and 40% remained whole bunch throughout the fermentation period. Only four barrels were produced. The wine has considerable power, with a fine oak and stem tannin. The wine will only improve as it uncoils. 

From the Producer: At the Clergets, going down to the cellar means going back in time. Go on a journey through 7 centuries and discover the secrets of a family that has lived in Burgundy since 1268. The family’s love for the Burgundian terroir is expressed in each of their vintages. A story woven from father to son over 28 generations.

BURGUNDY, FRANCE
GRIP CHERRY LENGTH
EDGY / BIODYNAMIC / 750ML

The vineyard is south facing sitting at 200masl. The wine is 100% whole bunch Pinot Noir. Once fermentation has commenced it is foot stomped and left on skins for two weeks. The wine offers dark cherries and a broad tannin profile that rides the fruit spectrum all the way to the end. 

From the distributor: Humble, sensitive, generous, honest.... there are so many adjectives that could describe Isabelle and Pierre Vantley, owners and vignerons of Domaine des Rouges Queues. I have met them and tasted their wines a few times on my journey and I have always liked the energy in what they produce. 

Located in the town of Sampigny-lès-Maranges, this lovely couple farm six hectares of certified organic/biodynamic principal vineyards in Maranges, Santenay, and the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. These wines are an excellent representation of good farming in Burgundy and they have worked the vines without chemicals since 1998, date where they started the domaine. Showcasing unique, expressive character of the terroir that is sometimes lost in the bigger estates. These are pure, alive and raw wines crafted with loved by this avant-garde couple that do almost everything themselves.

Situated at the southernmost end of the Côte d'Or, they are relatively more affordable than any other famous appellations of Burgundy.

GREAT SOUTHERN, WEST AUSTRALIA
JUICE SPICE BERRY
CLASSIC / 750ML

Awash with every red coloured fruit you can think of. Light, bright and playful. Drink anywhere, anytime with anything.

From the Distributor: YeYe Rouge (Pinot Noir, Syrah + Tempranillo) ​Low yielding clonal Pinot Noir from Denmark makes up the heart of the blend, bringing lifted red fruits, musk and herbal notes, with Syrah contributing spice and structure. Plenty of stalks, whole berries and carbonic in here, all wild fermented, then pressed to oak to complete malolactic fermentation. The Syrah comes from an ironstone gravelly loam site west of Mt Barker; mid-weight, juicy, spicy. A splash of Meunier brings dark-fruited aromatics and a different angle on the palate. Six months in oak and early to bottle keeps the style where I like it - bright, layered, juicy, with some savoury scratch. Unfined. Sulphur dioxide added just before bottling.

From the Producer: La Violetta began producing small quantities of wine at Denmark, on Western Australia’s south coast, in 2008. Grapes are sourced from a handful of trusted growers with exceptional vineyards, some amongst the oldest in the state. The idea is to keep production at a small scale so that each wine is crafted with care.

Before being lured west by the quality of Great Southern grapes, winemaker Andrew Hoadley worked all over Australia’s cool and hot zones and in Piedmont, Abruzzo and Washington State. He now lives on Mt Shadforth, just out of Denmark town, and makes the wines in a small facility in the countryside.

The name ‘La Violetta’ derives from an old Piedmontese song celebrating intoxication.

MACEDON, VICTORIA
DESTEMMED GENTLE HARMONIOUS
CLASSIC / 750ML

An impeccable vineyard, maintained by the owner-operator, Michael Dhillon. Organic practices are implemented but the vineyard isn't certified. The Pinot Noir is fully destemmed and gently fermented in small open-top vats. Bright fruit, balanced acid, a gentle seasoning of oak and a touch of blue suede shoes. 

From the Producer: The Bindi Dixon Pinot Noir is based upon declassified grapes from the Original Vineyard planted in 1988 and grapes from the new Block K, planted in 2001. The idea of this wine is to produce a delicious, perfumed, spicy harmonious, textured wine that is not as intense, complex nor age worthy as our individual vineyard wines. Even when the outstanding Block K vines are older we will continue to declassify sections or barrels from each vineyard and produce this wine.

The wine is fermented the same way as our other Pinot Noirs in that it is ostensibly 100% de-stemmed and gently worked in small open vats. The wine spends 11 months in French barrels, of which about 10-15% is new.

‘Bindi’, 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, is the family property of the Dhillon family. Originally purchased in the 1950s as part of the larger grazing farm ‘Bundaleer’, ‘Bindi’ is a 170 hectare farm of which 7 hectares are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Fifteen hectares are dedicated to managed plantation eucalypts for high grade furniture timber whilst the remainder of the land is maintained as remnant bush land and important indigenous grasslands.

The Bindi vineyard is the fundamental focus of our endeavors. Our vineyard and winemaking philosophy is to seek balance and purity in the expression of our various individual vineyard sites and this philosophy is applied to farming and conservation at ‘Bindi’; the preservation of the natural harmony.

Vineyard elevation 500 meters above sea level. Soils predominantly shattered quartz over siltstone, sandstone and clay (Ordovician period sub soils-480 million years old) with some eroded volcanic top soil over clay (Approximately four millions years old). Generally infertile.

Typical hand management regimes of fastidious small vineyard philosophies are maintained encompassing hand pruning, frequent passes (at least ten passes each vine) though the growing season managing the vertical shoot positioned canopy and hand harvesting

Since 2005 we have been implementing organic procedures and inputs where the focus is on promoting soil life and balance leading to excellent vine health. This involves compost, undervine cultivation and aerating the soil (opening up the soil for air, moisture and soil applications).

BELLARINE PENINSULA, VICTORIA
NOUGAT RICH BEAD
UNFILTERED / ORGANIC / 750ML

A fleshy fizz that showcases varietal express, welcoming unfiltered and fined phenolic friction and a tidy bead. The fruit spectrum is ripe but still has enough acid to maintain balance.

From the Producer: All the fruit is handpicked and fermented wild. Manually basket pressed and gravity fed into bottle. Unfined. Unfiltered and without additives or preservatives. An ode to the Matriarchs (The Babches) in our families who made wine this way, by hand and unadulterated. Our wines do not aim to meet a style, rather one that expresses time and place to produce a living, ever-evolving wine. Babche is at the beginning of planting a small vineyard and permaculture farm in Timboon, Victoria. The site is certified Organic and situated along a south-facing escarpment of clay and limestone. We are in constant consideration of its topography and interaction with the elements in preparation for planting and beyond. Our goal is to create a resilient ecosystem where our vines thrive amongst a food forest of supportive plant and animal species.

COAL RIVER, TASMANIA
SPICE FRAGRANT DELICATE
CLASSIC / 750ML

A cool-climate predominately destemmed Pinot Noir grown in Tasmania. The Wine spends over three weeks on skins to gently extract as much out of the skins as possible. A beautiful wine, with high notes of red licorice and cherry fading into gentle stem spice and rosemary. 

From the Producer: Cooinda Vale Vineyard was established in 1985 by Pooley’s founders, Margaret and Dennis Pooley. Sitting between 80-100m above sea level, the vineyard is tucked away in a nook of hills North of Campania making it much more protected from prevailing weather conditions. Being more continental it also experiences greater extremes in temperatures bringing more frequent frosts, snow and heat waves. The iron lacking grey brown sandy loam over clay subsoils at this site tend to bring a moderate level of struggle to the vines by restricting deep root growth and water accessibility but in turn creates a wine that is more delicate and finer.

The fruit was hand-harvested then destemmed with the inclusion of 15% whole clusters. Fermentation was for 14 days with a further 10 days of ‘infusion’ (post ferment soak with vessel sealed).A vibrant array of fragrance, both sweet and spiced. Delicate notes of earth, dark cherry and dried herbs on the nose with raspberry liquorice, rosemary and wild strawberries on the palate. True to Cooinda Vale form, this wine exhibits seamlessly integrated tannin and lovely tension.

KEILOR, VICTORIA
JUICY RASPBERRY CAROB
LEFT OF CENTRE / 750ML

Handpicked and wild fermented as always. A juicy blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah from Macedon. Fermented and aged in old French oak for 10 months. Racked by gravity and bottled in Feb 2021 with no additions except for a whisper of sulphur. Unfiltered and unfined as always. 60 dozen made. Chill me down in warmer weather.

From the producer: le timbre is made in a small shed surrounded by an acre of vines in Keilor, Melbourne, Australia. The wines are made with minimal additions, emphasizing purity of fruit, lively acidity and bright, ripe texture achieved by the use of oxygen and lees contact. Movements are made by gravity and everything is wild fermented, unfiltered and unfined. le timbre currently works with growers who practice a variety of farming methods. Everything else is done on-site by hand with the help of friends and family. The dream is to have a regenerative, mixed farm with a small vineyard from which all fruit is sourced and vinified.

WHITLANDS PLATEAU VICTORIA
SOLERA NUT ALTITUDE
CLASSIC / 11.5% / 750ML

A brilliantly off-kilter example of high country fizz. The uber-brut utilises a solera system to add structure and dimension to an already exciting chardonnay base wine. Zero dosage sharpens the palette and keeps the wine en pointe

From the producer: In 2OO7, I started making sparkling base from pinot noir fruit from the Holly’s Garden vineyard. At that stage, I had no idea how I’d get it to bottle, but believed the vineyard might produce extraordinary sparkling base – and it does. I strongly believe we make fabulous, distinctive sparkling wine from the same fruit every vintage. These days the free run juice is allowed to oxidise and is fermented mostly in large old oak, with a small proportion in tank and inoculated with approximately 5 per cent of the recommended dose of QA23 (a vinho Verde isolate, which produces a delightful tang). The low dose is used so that we get a long slow fermentation with a large number of generations of yeast. In this way, the yeast begins to find the ethanol toxic and produces mucyl polyproteins and gucyl polyglycerides.

SAINT-POURCAIN FRANCE
SIP BERRIES SLURP
CLASSIC / 13.0% ALC / 750ML

An absolute pleasure to drink, suitable for any occasion. Light notes of strawberries, rhubarb pepper grind and rosehip tea.

From the producer: A blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir, this fresh and fruity wine gives it a beautiful, fairly sustained cherry colour. Its nose is powerful, very fruity (raspberry), slightly spicy and peppery. The palate is tasty but also balanced and fleshy, is very fruity with an interesting length allowing it to pass the next summer happily. A convivial Auvergne wine par excellence which can be enjoyed as an aperitif, obviously with cold cuts and grilled meats, but also with Mediterranean cuisine. To drink chilled 14 ° C, during the year.

CENTRAL OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND
GENTLE INTERGRATED FEEL
CLASSIC / ORGANIC - BIOGRO / 750ML

Softly handled, fully destemmed Central Otago fruit offers a gentler expression of the region. Baked spices, cherry and sheer tannins. Wafts of sexy oak meld into this multiclonal Pinot Noir seamlessly.   

From the Producer: Concentrated and elegant with red and dark fruit, spectacular baking spices combined with smoky oak and the signature integrated tannin structure, this seamless wine with its velvety texture will leave you wanting more.

The foundation of this wine is our focus on delivering low-yielding concentrated fruit that expresses our vineyard. In the winery, we employ traditional old world techniques; the grapes are handled gently and the wines are fermented using only the indigenous yeast from the vineyard.

The wines are aged in barrel for 15-18 months before being bottled unfiltered, and are cellared before release. Since the first release in 2005, the Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir has consistently been one of the best-reviewed Pinot Noirs in New Zealand. Since the first release in 2005, this wine has been sourced exclusively from our small Home Vineyard site up in the hills of Bendigo sub-region, Central Otago.

The vineyard sits on a high elevation (320 – 390m), steep glacial terrace high above the valley floor. The site features some of the oldest vineyard soils in the valley with the formation of the terrace occurring approximately 650K years ago. The soil age and dry Central Otago climate have combined to create the unusual clay and pedogenic lime soil structure. Beneath layers of clay at a depth of 50-80cm sits a thick layer of chalk. The 7.5ha site was prepared and planted between 1999-2001 and features 7 clones of Pinot Noir and 0.5ha of Pinot Gris. Full organic certification (Biogro) was completed prior to the 2018 vintage. A strong focus on viticulture is the foundation of the winemaking approach. Yields are consistently managed to 30-35hl/ha or approximately 4ton/ha.

The handpicked fruit is destemmed and fermented using only indigenous ‘wild’ yeast. A key feature of our vinification is extremely low extraction, all our small open top tanks are only hand-plunged once during fermentation. The wine then spends 17 months in barrel (35% new) and undergoes indigenous malolactic fermentation. The wine is bottled unfiltered under Diam cork.

MORNINGTON, VICTORIA
PETALS VELCRO ROOIBOS
LEFT OF CENTRE / MINIMAL / 750ML

Shashi + Devendra make wines rich in personality, complexity and love. The Pinot Noir sees some whole bunch and a 12-month stint in oak. A beautiful tannic synergy is present, stem, oak and skins. The wine has a grip that softens quickly to rose petals, rooibos and pickled peach. The wine is full of good vibes and is always a pleasure to drink.     

KILMORE, VICTORIA
RHUBARB JUICY BRIGHT
CLASSIC / 12.5% ALC / 750ML

The first release of many from a small producer based in Mt Macedon. All made on-site, pressed by hand in a tiny basket press. The wine is aged in old oak offering a welcoming savoury edge to a pretty drop.  

YARRA VALLEY, VICTORIA
STRAW CRANBERRY SANDY
CLASSIC / 750ML

A fresh Pinot Noir from the iconic Willowlake vineyard. Produced by Oscar Hermann, a man of many talents - partakes in every aspect of the wine game. He co-managers a vineyard, producers his own wine and sells it at his own venues. With so much up in the air at any given time, he still manages to seamlessly orchestrate the whole show. The wine is lively, fresh and full of ripe berries. Gentle sandy tannins float around in the back with a good string of acid. 

VALLE D'AOSTA ITALY
ZIPPY MOUNTAIN FRESH
ROSE / ORGANIC / 12.5%

Pinot Noir fermented on skins for 5 days in the awe worthy mountains of Aosta. A fleshed out rosato offering savoury herbs and trademark Pinot aromatics. A quenching drink.

From the producer: The vinification is traditional with a spontaneous fermentation and a maceration of 5 days on the skins. The wine then ages for 8 months in steel tanks. During the maturation, some decanting is carried out. The wine is bottled without clarification or filtration and rests in the bottle for at least 4 months. Our small winery is located in Gressan, on the outskirts of Aosta.

Founded in 2009, the winery rests its foundations on the family's agricultural business, managed first by my grandfather then by my father and precisely until 2009 aimed essentially at self-consumption.With a few thousand bottles produced, we apply an agriculture that respects the environment and the ecosystem as much as possible, so the rows do not know the use of herbicides or pesticides, but are treated exclusively with copper and sulfur, on average for four or five times per season. In the cellar, the philosophy is aligned with the choices made in the vineyard: the use of sulphites is reduced to a minimum, the winemaking does not require the use of additional chemical agents.

Fermentations are spontaneous or at most aided by a self-produced pied de cuve. We do not carry out clarifications or filtrations. Our goal is to return the Terrior Valdostano and the peculiarities of each of our single vineyards to the glass. We pay great attention to maintaining biodiversity, which is why many of our vineyards are over 50 years old and some are even centenarians. Behind our project there is a scrupulous work of research and field tests.Our wines want to be natural in substance.The vines we grow are: Petit rouge, Vien de nus, Fumin and Vuillermin the autochthonous ones; Pinot noir, Moscato, and Gewurztraminer the internationals. Our bottles are the fruit of unconditional love and passion for our land and our origins.

AVIZE CHAMPAGNE FRANCE
CHAMOMILE COILED EXCITING
CLASSIC / BIODYNAMIC / 750ML 

Agrapart composes their champagne from 70 vineyards across 7 villages; Avize, Cramant, Oger, Oiry, Avenay Val d’Or, Bergères-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. The ‘7 crus’ is a combination from all 7 villages, it is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir. The 7 crus, goes through full malolactic fermentation and spends 3 years on lees. A stunning example of a richer grower champagne.  

From the distributor: The Agrapart range begins with a non-vintage Blanc de Blancs called Les 7 Crus, referring to the seven Côte des Blancs villages from which it is sourced; Avize (younger vines, 20-40 years), Cramant, Oger, Oiry, Avenay Val d'Or, Bergères-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. Crafted from estate-owned vineyards, Les 7 Crus is typically blended from two different years, with half of the older vintage raised in neutral 600 oak casks. This release is a blend of 2013 and 2012. 90% Chardonnay 10% Pinot Noir; full malolactic fermentation; aged 3 years on lees; 7g/l dosage."A blend of Chardonnay with a touch of Pinot Noir, is vibrant and lively, with fresh notes of apple and citrus. It's an outstanding non-vintage brut, showing an uncommon complexity and finesse, and it finishes with long aromas and an elegant minerality." Peter Liem, champagneguide.net".The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru 7 Crus is a lovely, introductory-level Champagne from Agrapart. Bright and focused, but also with more than enough mid-palate richness to be accessible upon release, the 7 Crus is super-expressive today. The inclusion of 10% Pinot Noir a few years back has changed the 7 Crus in a meaningful way in making the wine more accessible in its youth. The creamy, spiced finish is hugely appealing, but there is a lot to like here, including the wine's overall balance." 91 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com

BURGUNDY, FRANCE
PURE DELICATE BRIGHT
CLASSIC / 750ML

I first tried these wines at a small Restaurant in France called Pot D'Etain. The bottle was to this day the great red Burgundy (Les Malconsorts) I've had in my life. The Clos Vougeot is a delicate example of the vineyard with at least 80% of the fruit being destemmed. It spends roughly two weeks on skins before being pressed to oak (60-100% new oak) for a minimum of 16 months. I still get giddy thinking about that wine.

From the Distributor: The rapid, Lazarus-like rebirth of this Domaine seems to have caught some quarters of the French cognoscenti by complete surprise. In fact it has been the English speaking commentators like Allen Meadows, Jasper Morris, Jancis Robinson and Clive Coates that have been the first to pick up the scent. This is a tale of Domaine François Lamarche, an Estate that has, without doubt, one of the finest collections of vineyards in the entire Côte or, more specifically, Vosne Romanée/Echézeaux. After a long period of underperformance, the Domaine has managed to turn its fortunes around and is today producing wines that honour the lofty expectations of their holdings. To be specific about these holdings, Domaine François Lamarche are sole owners of La Grande Rue - one of the four, legendary Grand Cru monopoles of Vosne-Romanée - as well as holding choice parcels of Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux, Clos de Vougeot, Suchots, Chaumes and Malconsorts! Terroir was never a problem here!

The upturn in quality has been the result of a gradual series of key changes, most significant of which has been the emergence and ensuing influence of the Domaine's 6th generation, Nicole and Nathalie Lamarche, who now control every aspect of Domaine François Lamarche’s operations. Since 2007 Nicole Lamarche has been solely in charge of the vineyards and winemaking while her cousin, Nathalie Lamarche, has had the role of régisseur, or general manager. Since taking the reins of this jewel of an estate, these ladies have seriously reduced yields, converted the vineyards to organic viticulture (certified from 2010), implemented procedures to handle their grapes more gently and have stopped fining or filtering. The barrel suppliers have also been changed and there is less new wood used. In short they have pulled out all stops to produce the highest possible quality from their remarkable patrimony of vineyards. These changes, combined with a new, gravity-fed cuverie and a much needed upgrade of equipment and new cooling apparatus (that had already occurred in 2010), has resulted in a rapid improvement in quality that continues to improve each year.

AY CHAMPAGNE FRANCE
MOOD MOUSSE GENEROUS
CLASSIC / BRUT DOSAGE 7g L / 750ML

A Pinot Noir predominant (80%) Champagne, Aÿ Grand Cru 100%, aged ‘en latte’, laying horizontally for 2 years to maximise lease contact. A generous wine offering ripe strawberry, toasted notes, and a dry clinical finish.

From the producer: Like all of the blends, the Champagne GATINOIS Brut Tradition is a true reflection of the Aÿ terroir’s unique character. It is made from the “heart of the terroir” of the family Domaine. Predominantly Pinot Noir (80%) which brings richness, structure and a delicious character. The 20% of Chardonnay adds a feminine touch to the blend. There is also a significant proportion of reserve wines in the blend (30%). The champagne is aged “sur lattes” (horizontally on racks) in our cellars for a minimum of 2 years before the yeasts are disgorged. A deep golden hue with coppery reflections indicates the richness of this blend. The nose opens with fresh notes of pears and lime blossom which give way to more intense, complex aromas and a characteristic Pinot Noir vinosity. Our Brut Tradition is fresh on entry to the palate with a good balance between fruit and finesse, a nice round structure and ripe fruit aromas which evolve into toasty notes. With its discreet sugar dosage (7g/l), this Champagne is well-suited to aperitifs, accompanied by foie gras toasts or sushi. Try it with seafood or a sea scallop carpaccio.

DERWENT RIVER TASMANIA
BRULEE DRIVE BEAD
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / LATE DISGORGED

Weighty fizz showcasing the power of extended time on lees and meticulous viticulture and winemaking. A blend of Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%) further builds complexity. A brilliant example of how good an Australian traditional method sparkling can be.

From the Producer: Our Grande Vintage Bruts are produced in a manner that showcases the vintage they were grown in. Only made in exceptional vintages, they are drier, more refined and complex than our non-vintage brut. are Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard, and have been cultivating our vines using biodynamic methods since 2010. This means that our wines are free of all synthetic treatments, additives and pesticides. Instead, we travel the alternative path, stepping back in time and using cosmic rhythms to ensure soil regeneration as well as effective vine care through all phases of the year’s seasonal cycles. These methods enhance our attention to detail in the vineyard and winery, as we're more alert to the signals of Mother Nature and her messengers. Every season, we're becoming more attuned to the synergies between our varied soil types, their organisms, the local flora and fauna, and of course our vines.