Sophie’s Block Chardonnay 2024
Beechworth
Vintage Conditions
2024 was a cooler and wetter than average growing season with no extreme heat. The season was an excellent season for the whites with the final two critical ripening months drying out allowing the grapes to ripen disease free. This with consistently warm but not hot weather enabled the grapes to develop lovely full flavours cool climate flavours.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand picked on the 17th February. This wine was made using traditional Burgundian techniques and the grapes were destemmed and gently pressed. Wild fermentation occurred with the vineyard’s indigenous yeast in French oak barriques and hogsheads including 25% new oak, 25% of 1 year old oak and 25% of 2 year old oak. There was no malolactic fermentation and limited barrel stirring to maintain the acid drive and structure of the wine.
Tasting Notes
This elegant Chardonnay has attractive dried herbs, cashew, some tight citrus, grapefruit, minerals and a fine integrated oak. The palate is tight, lively and complex finishing with a fantastic length highlighting the pedigree of this wine.
13.4% alc, pH 3.27, TA 6.2 g/L
Drink now – 2032
Henry’s Block Shiraz 2022
Beechworth
Vintage Conditions
2022 was a cooler and wetter than average growing season with no extreme heat. The season was an strong season with the final two critical ripening months drying out allowing the grapes to ripen disease free. This with consistently warm but not hot weather enabled the grapes to develop lovely full cool climate flavours.
Winemaking
Our Shiraz blocks were handpicked on the 2nd April and the grapes were gently crushed, allowing a large percentage of whole berries to remain unbroken. 10% whole bunches were also added to the fermenter. The wine was traditionally fermented using the vineyard’s indigenous yeast in open vats. It was gently hand plunged four times per day and it remained on skins for two weeks. After pressing, the wine was matured for 18 months in French oak hogsheads and barriques (20% New, 20% 2 year old, and a mixture of older oak) before being prepared for bottling with minimal filtration.
Tasting Notes
This wine has classic cool climate pepper and spice, cherry, plums, and black olive whilst still showing some darker berry aromas. The palate has elegant red berries flavours, spice, richness and an integrated oak finish. The fine chalky tannins add structure to this elegant wine.
13.4 % alc, pH 3.68, TA 6.2 g/L
Drink now – 2032
Reserve Merlot 2019
Beechworth
(sold out)
Vintage Conditions
Vintage 2019 was an ideal vintage. Beechworth experienced a long, mild, dry summer, and an early autumn. These slow ripening conditions resulted in delicate varietal flavours and balanced natural acidity. The grapes and resultant wines from 2017 show large amounts of fruit flavour and character. Vintage 2017 will be one of those years that we will talk about as being a “normal” vintage, and we will be enjoying these wines well into the future.
Winemaking
The grapes were harvested in March from a premium vineyard at 320m on the Beechworth Wangaratta Road in close proximity to the Piano Piano Vineyard. Our friends vineyard is one of the premium Merlot vineyards in Australia. The grapes were gently crushed, allowing a large percentage of whole berries to remain unbroken. The wine was traditionally fermented using the grape’s indigenous yeast in open vats. It was gently hand plunged four times per day and it remained on skins for fourteen days. After pressing, the wine was matured for 20 months in French oak and hogsheads and barriques with 31% New before being prepared for bottling with minimal filtration.
Tasting Notes
This wine has integrated oak and spice with aromas of plum, cassis and red berries on the nose. The palate has elegant red berries flavours, spice, richness and an integrated oak finish. The fine chalky tannins add structure to this elegant wine.
14.2% alc, pH 3.47, TA 5.9 g/L
Premium Packs – Chardonnay and Shiraz
Tasting Notes
Our mixed premium packs feature our current release Chardonnay and Shiraz in either a six pack (three of each wine) or a dozen (six of each wine):
3 x Sophie’s Block Chardonnay
3 x Henry’s Block Shiraz
2024 Sangiovese
King Valley
Vintage Conditions
2024 was a cooler and wetter than average growing season with no extreme heat. The season was an excellent season for the whites with the final two critical ripening months drying out allowing the grapes to ripen disease free. It also made for some elegant reds with good varietal flavours. This with consistently warm but not hot weather enabled the grapes to develop lovely full flavours cool climate flavours.
Winemaking
The grapes were harvested on the 14th March from a premium vineyard grown on a cool East facing block in the King Valley at an altitude of 260m. . The grapes were gently crushed, allowing a large percentage of whole berries to remain unbroken. The wine was traditionally fermented using the grape’s indigenous yeast in open vats. It was gently hand plunged four times per day and it remained on skins for fourteen days. After pressing, the wine was matured for 20 months in French oak and hogsheads and barriques with 31% New before being prepared for bottling with minimal filtration.
Tasting Notes
Our first dry red Sangiovese has vibrant red colour with brick red hues. Aromas of red berries, cherries and spice, with nuances of dried herbs. This approachable Sangiovese has balanced red cherry and darker varietal characters, with a touch of supporting oak and finishing with chalky tannins.
13.2% alc, pH 3.51, TA 5.9 g/L
Drink now – 2030
Pinot Grigio 2025
Alpine Valleys Beechworth
Vintage Conditions
2025 was a warmer and dryer than average growing season but fortunately that was days of extreme heat, just extended periods of hot weather. The season was an excellent season for both the whites and reds with the final two critical ripening months drying out allowing the grapes to ripen disease free. This with consistently warm but not hot weather enabled the grapes to develop lovely full flavours cool climate flavours.
Winemaking The grapes were picked on the 13th February. The wine was made using traditional Italian wine making techniques. The grapes were destemmed, gently pressed and fermented at 14C in stainless steel to maximise the gentle Pinot Grigio flavours. . After fermentation was complete the yeast lees were mixed through wine fortnightly to add texture and flavour. The grapes were sourced from our two favourite growers in our area, The Corsini’s on an East facing slope in the King Valley and Indigo Vineyards in Beechworth, who we have worked with for over 20 years.
Tasting Notes This delicate Pinot Grigio has aromas of pears, almonds and citrus zest. The palate has texture and finesse with a tight citrus drive and refreshing dry finish. .
12.2 % alc, pH 3.41, TA 5.6 g/L
2024 Rosѐ Sangiovese
Vintage Conditions
2024 was a cooler and wetter than average growing season with no extreme heat. The season was an excellent season for the whites with the final two critical ripening months drying out allowing the grapes to ripen disease free. It also made for some elegant reds with good varietal flavours. This with consistently warm but not hot weather enabled the grapes to develop lovely full flavours cool climate flavours.
Winemaking
The grapes were machine harvested in the cool of the night. The grapes were destemmed only and gently pressed. 75% of the wine was fermented in a stainless steel tank and 25% was fermented in a selection of older French oak barriques and hogsheads. There was no malolactic fermentation and the wine was bottled early to keep the wine fresh. This Rose is made from Sangiovese grown on a cool East facing block in the King Valley. The Sangiovese was picked at the ideal ripeness to make a savoury European style Rose.
Tasting Notes
This savoury Rosѐ has aromas of cherries, a touch of spice and some confectionery notes. These flavours flow through to the palate and finish w textured dry finish.
12.8 % alc, pH 3.17, TA 6.0 g/L
Drink now – 2027
Red and White Packs Rose, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese
Tasting Notes
Our mixed red and white packs feature two each of our current release Rose, Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese in either a six pack (two of each wine) or a dozen (four of each wine): 2 x Rose
2 x Pinot Grigio
2 x Sangiovese
Mario’s Blend Tempranillo Touriga 2018
King Valley
(sold out)
Tasting Notes
Mario’s Blend brings together an exciting mix of two Iberian varieties, Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional. This traditional Portuguese blend displays cherries, red berries, spice and some floral aromas. These flavours follow through on the palate, finishing with some fine chalky tannins.
Drink now – 2023
