Special six of the Best from Australia

Yering Station Chardonnay

Classic cool-climate Chardonnay, with lifted aromas of pear and grapefruit through to a refreshing palate full of white nectarine, citrus and subtle toasty vanilla notes.

Vintage
A wetter than usual start to the season resulted in lower yielding crops, which in some varieties were up to 50% lower than usual. However, the lower quantity meant the fruit quality was excellent, with vines producing intense flavour and fruit concentration.
Vineyard
Situated just 45 kilometres east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a large and diverse cool-climate wine region. Its elevation spectacularly ranges from lows of 50m to heights of 1,250m, due to the influence of the Great Dividing Range. The region is characterised by significant rainfall during winter and spring, which helps to nourish the vines throughout the dry, but cool summers. The estate Chardonnay vines are clones Mendoza, P58, I10V5, which vary in age from five to 22 years. They are cane pruned VSP trained, which suits the terroir made up of Duplex grey loam over yellow clay soils. Each vintage, the use of precision viticulture is used to map and isolate the finest parcels from the best blocks and even the best rows. Such practices include innovative soil and canopy mapping technology known as EM38; this enables the viticulture team to unearth microvariations within the parcels. The vineyard is machine and hand harvested.
Winemaking
The Chardonnay grapes were barrel fermented with a combination of wild and selected yeasts, lasting 10 to 14 days. The wine did not go through malolactic conversion. It was racked to 500-litre French oak puncheons, of which 20% were new, where it spent nine months maturing.
Tasting Note
Classic cool-climate Chardonnay, with lifted aromas of white blossom, pear and grapefruit, leading to an energetic palate full of white nectarine, citrus and subtle vanilla toasty notes, wrapped up in a tightly wound core of acidity.
Grape
Chardonnay 100%

For more information on the winery go to https://www.yering.com/

Yering Station has a rich history which began in 1838 when the Scottish Ryrie brothers established a property in the heart of the Yarra Valley naming it Yering, an Aboriginal name, and planted Victoria’s first vineyard. In the 1850’s Yering Station was acquired by Swiss-French migrant Paul de Castella. He greatly extended the vineyards, planting with cuttings imported from France, including some from Château Lafite. He is widely regarded as the father of the wine industry in the Yarra Valley. He built a house and a garden, planting 330 elm trees along the driveway, which still stand today and also built the winery, which is now the cellar door. Paul’s winemaking achievements were recognised in 1861, when Yering wines won the prized Argus Gold Cup and in 1889 when they won a Grand Prix at the Universal Exhibition in Paris – the sole award for a wine made in the southern hemisphere. This marked the beginning of global acclaim. Yering passed through other hands throughout the early 1900’s until it was purchased by the current owners: the Rathbone Family in 1996 (they also own Xanadu in Margaret River and Mount Langi Ghiran in the Grampians). Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon are cultivated on 112 hectares in five sites across the Yarra Glen and Coldstream subregions of the cool climate Yarra Valley, each with its own subtle changes in soil, aspect and elevation. Yering have an intimate understanding of their vineyards. They have invested in precision viticulture technology, which allows them to map the finest parcels from their best blocks – and even their best rows. In this way they are able to discover micro-variations that reveal immaculate parcels of wine – which is what happened with their sensational flagship wine Scarlett, a seductive and complex Pinot Noir pioneered by the late viticulturist Nathan Scarlett. This wine has been awarded a 99-point score by James Halliday. In the cellar tradition and innovation are seamlessly blended to highlight the distinctive hallmarks of their cool climate fruit. Native yeasts are utilised for fermentation; they employ hand-plunging and the wines are matured in French oak. The wines are meticulously crafted. They vinify each parcel of vines separately, and evaluate them in an annual allocation tasting, where each parcel is randomised and served blind to determine their final home. This 5-Star rated winery is a benchmark for cool climate wines across Australia. They bring the vineyard to the bottle in beautifully poised and elegant wines, which fully express the characteristics of this historic region.

To see our full range of Yering product go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/yering-station/

Yering Station Chardonnay

Tyrrell’s Old Hillside Shiraz

The Old Hillside vineyard on Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin was purchased by the Tyrrell family in December 2017. This vineyard contains the ‘Old Patch’. The Old Hillside Shiraz comes from the younger vines on the vineyard, which have an average age of 50 years. It is a steep, east-facing block that sits right underneath the Brokenback mountain range, which provides great protection. The block features darker, richer soils than those at our Ashmans property.

The Tyrrell’s estate, nestled in the foothills of the Brokenback Range in the Hunter Valley, is a unique patchwork of vineyards. Thriving in a diverse range of soils, from sandy loams lying on ancient creek beds to heavier red clays over limestone, these vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and refined wines in the world.

Winemaker’s Notes
The fruit was handpicked and sorted in the vineyard before fermentation took place in our open-top vats. After fermentation, the wine was matured for 14 months in mostly newer 2500L French oak casks.
Tasting Notes
A well-balanced, elegant style that shows good balance between vibrant fruit and savoury spice, along with classic Hunter Valley wet earth. The oak is only a minor component and the tannins provide structure and depth on the back palate

A well-balanced, elegant style that shows good balance between vibrant fruit and savoury spice, along with classic Hunter Valley wet earth. The oak is only a minor component and the tannins provide structure and depth on the back palate.

The fruit was handpicked and sorted in the vineyard before fermentation took place in our open-top vats. After fermentation, the wine was matured for 14 months in mostly newer 2500L French oak casks.

To find out more about the winery go to http://www.tyrrells.com.au

To see our full range of Tyrrell’s product go to http://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/tyrrells-wines/

Tyrrell’s Old Hillside Shiraz

Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon

A refined and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon of great class, with characteristic aromas of cassis, mulberry and blue fruits entwined with hints of mocha.

Tasting Notes
A refined and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon of great class, with ripe tannins and characteristic aromas of cassis, mulberry and blue fruits entwined with hints of mocha.
Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Malbec 6%, Petit Verdot 4%

Vintage
A great summer led up to the vintage, although a rain event about a week before the start of harvest resulted in unusually humid conditions which required careful fruit selection in some vineyards. 2021 ended up being a more challenging season than usual, however the extra work in the vineyard ultimately paid dividends with some wonderfully elegant wines being produced as a result.
Vineyard
The estate grapes come from the subregions of Wilyabrup and Wallcliffe from the renowned Houghton clone of Cabernet Sauvignon, which provides a balance of fruitdriven flavours, impeccable structure and fine tannins. The ancient granite soils have an abundance of ironstone gravel. These free-draining soils have low water and nutrient holding capacities, providing the optimum growing conditions to achieve balance between foliage and fruit, and deliver superb aroma and flavour intensity. The Indian and Southern Oceans meet here, engulfing the vineyards with fresh, sea breezes, promoting natural balance. The vineyard is managed sustainably with cover
crops, biodiversity promotion and weed management from sheep grazing.
Winemaking
The grapes were crushed and destemmed before mostly small batch fermentation took place at 24 to 26 °C in static and open fermenters, lasting seven to eight days. The cap was submerged using pumping over and regular hand plunging. Post fermentation, 20% underwent extended skin maceration, imparting colour, structure and flavour, before being gently pressed. Malolactic conversion took place in a combination of tank and barrel. The wine was matured for 14 months in French oak (40% new).

To find out more about the winery, click here to go to the website
Xanadu is a true pioneer of the Margaret River region producing fresh and vibrant coastal wines. The estate was established by Dr John Lagan, an Irishman, who arrived in Margaret River in 1968. Captivated by the pioneering spirit of the region, along with his wife Eithne, he planted his first vines in 1977. Inspired by the beauty of the setting, they named the property after the mysterious, idyllic paradise in Samuel Coleridge’s poem, Kubla Khan: Xanadu. True to its poetic namesake, Xanadu is in an idyllic setting, where 65 hectares of vines flourish on the original estate. Passionate and dedicated winemaker Glenn Goodall joined in 1999, combining intuitive winemaking, and a deep respect for the sustainably cultivated vineyard- which is a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia- he produces world-class wines of distinction. Glenn was awarded Halliday’s ‘Best Winemaker of the Year Australia 2023’ and in 2018 Xanadu won the Jimmy Watson memorial trophy.

To see our full range of Xanadu wines click here

Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon

Brokenwood Semillon – Semillon is the traditional premium white wine of the Hunter Valley. This is 100% Hunter Valley. Enjoyable as a young wine & will develop toasty aged characters over time.

An absolutely unique style of wine to Hunter Valley, north of Sydney; pure Semillon here from Brokenwood creates a beguiling, mouth-watering, lime cordial zing of a wine; though it has incredible ageing potential, the relatively low acidity means it can cope with chilli; try with langoustine.

Brokenwood Semillon

To see our full range of Brokenwood wines go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/brokenwood/

For more information on the winery go to https://www.brokenwood.com.au/

Established in 1970, Brokenwood Wines has evolved from a weekend venture for self-professed hobby winemakers into one of Australia’s most reputable wine labels.

Brokenwood was founded by a trio of Sydney-based solicitors, Tony Albert, John Beeston and James Halliday, who paid a then record price of $970 per acre for a 10-acre block in the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges. The original block was destined to be a cricket ground for the local community but was instead planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Similarly, Brokenwood purchased their neighbouring block, which was intended to be the local cemetery, and instead planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming their critically acclaimed flagship wine, the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz.

Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Iain Riggs joined Brokenwood in 1982 and introduced new winery equipment and facilities specifically for premium white wine production. Since 1983, white wine makes up a significant part of total production and their Semillon is widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. Iain has also been the driving force behind Brokenwood’s expansion into the McLaren Vale in South Australia, Beechworth in Victoria, Margaret River in Western Australia, and Orange in New South Wales. Despite their expansion, they have managed to remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir.

Mollydooker Scooter Merlot

Fragrant and silky smooth, the Mollydooker Scooter Merlot charms the senses with a nose full of cherries and forest fruits. Fresh plum and sweet berries delight on your first sip, before giving way to spices reminiscent of nutmeg and cinnamon. Finely poised and balanced, the Scooter’s delicate tannins allow complexity, making this Merlot an absolute treat. 

To see our full range of Mollydooker products go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/mollydooker/
To see more information on the winery go to https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/Home/tabid/56/Default.aspx

To get the best out of your Mollydooker wine you should apply the Mollydooker shake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCGFz3nnakE

From a new bottle of Mollydooker, pour some wine out into a glass and set it aside. Do the Mollydooker Shake on the rest of the wine in the bottle, and pour some into another glass. Then taste them side by side. The difference will amaze you!
The winemaker says “Pre-shaken the wines are intense, concentrated and still magnificent. However, after the shake the wine becomes more approachable, the aromatics are lifted and the fruit is smoother on the palate. An overall more enjoyable and total Mollydooker experience!”
Don’t worry, the first glass you poured isn’t wasted. After a short time, it loses nitrogen, so you can enjoy it soon after. We call it pourer’s perks!
The vineyards are situated on the magical Seaview Ridge, which with its ancient soils and Mediterranean climate, is home to some of the most iconic Australian wines. We have three separate vineyards – Long Gully Road, Coppermine Road and the Home Blocks, giving us a total of 114 acres of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. All of our grapes are grown sustainably

Mollydooker Scooter Merlot

We have two other websites selling further ranges of specialist wines. Visit www.auswinesonline.co.uk to see our range of Australian wines. Our full range of South African wines may be seen at www.southafricanwines.co.uk

Kooyung Beurrot Pinot Gris.

The Kooyong vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Tuerong, on Miocene sedimentary soils. Our wines are made from domain grown, handpicked grapes and aim to manifest terroir: the integration of our geology and soils with the macroclimate of our region, the mesoclimates of the various sites within our vineyard and the weather of the annual grape growing season. Our cultural operations in the vineyard and practices in the winery endeavour to articulate these unique characteristics diligently, respectfully and without artifice.
The grapes are gently whole-bunch pressed directly into all-used French oak barriques, where fermentation takes place without inoculation. After fermentation the wine is aged on lees (without battonage) for 10 months. It is bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.

Kooyong Beurrot Pinot Gris has a hint of bronze in the colour, the expressive nose shows classic Beurrot characteristics —- poached pear, vanilla and Meyer lemon. The unctuous palate, with flavours of orange blossom and quince, has a lush texture backed by tight acidity and a dry finish.

To see our full range of Kooyong product go to http://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/kooyong/

To find out more about the winery go to https://www.portphillipestate.com.au/

Kooyung Beurrot Pinot Gris.