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Coonawarra graziers have access to the finest soils for viticulture. Doug Balnaves was born in the very heart of Coonawarra, quite near the sacred cricket pitch at Penola. An accomplished herdsman and shearer, Balnaves took up the challenge of planting vineyards in 1971. Working under the tutelage of legendary Coonawarra winemaker Bill Redman, Balnaves immersed himself in the culture of the vine, ultimately establishing a grande marque of Coonawarra and securing the inaugural presidency of the Coonawarra Vignerons Association. He remains a lifelong member of the Penola Pipe Band. For those who like their wines structured yet satin, powerful yet prettily perfumed, in the mouthfillingly muscular Coonawarra way, the Balnaves brand endures in the tradition of world class vintages grown to Terra Rosa soils, enriched by.. The old sheep shearer's shanty»
There were two scrub covered parcels of land, just outside Pokolbin village along McDonalds Road, that local council had long set aside for use as cricket ground and cemetery. Both were ultimately auctioned off to the highest bidders and sown to vine. A third undeveloped site became the subject of a long running feud among the new and old neighbours. Dodgy invoices between the rivals were exchanged and the division of firewood became a further cause of contention. A truce was eventually called by the two protagonists, Brokenwood and Hungerford Hill, for the sake of healthy viticulture. The nascent blocks achieved international renown as the eminent Cricket Pitch and the Langtons Listed Graveyard Vineyard, establishing Brokenwood as one of the most cherished marques in Hunter Valley wine... Sociable soils make for healthy vine»
Samuel Smith migrated from Dorset England to Angaston in the colony of South Australia circa 1847, he took up work as a gardener with George Fife Angas, the virtual founder of the colony. In 1849, Smith bought thirty acres and planted vines by moonlight, the first ever vintages of Yalumba. One of his most enduring legacies were some unique clones of Shiraz, which were ultimately sown to the illustrious Mount Edelstone vineyard in 1912. Angas's great grandchild Ron Angas acquired cuttings from the Edelstone site and migrated the precious plantings to his pastures at Hutton Vale. The land remains in family hands, a graze for flocks of some highly fortunate lamb. In between the paddocks, blocks of Sam Smith's experimental vines yield a harvest of the most spectacular Shiraz to be found in all Eden Valley... The return of rootstock to garden of eden»

Pirramimma White Label Old Bush Vine Grenache CONFIRM VINTAGE

Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia
The most exquisite bunches of McLaren Vale Grenache are selectively hand picked off dry grown vines planted to Pirramimma's oldest productive site, the famous Prisoner of War block planted in 1944. A further component, picked off Pirramimma's Katunga block, established 1968, contributes complexity, structure and depth. The assembled wine displays an elegantly perfumed nose of cherry, rose petal and chocolate spice, while the palate is laden with sweet spicy raspberry, fruit cake and black plum flavours, enhanced by savoury subtle oak.
Available in cartons of six
Case of 6
$179.50
Grenache has taken very well to the balmy Mediterranean climes of McLaren Vale. Hand picked grapes are crushed and treated to a traditional vinification in the Pirramimma property's original open concrete vats. Following a course of daily pumpovers to extract optimal flavours, colour and tannin, the completed ferments are drained and the must is passed through a tradional hand operated basket press, returned and moved to a selection of American oak barriques for an extended maturation of two to three years. A selection of older oak mellows and integrates the tannin and fruit character while maintaining the distinctive personality and charm of dry grown McLaren Vale Grenache.
A deep red velvet taffetta colour. Violets, black currant and black fruit perfumes, animate cedar characters and hints of strawberry behind pepper and raspberry notes. A palate of festive pudding, parched red berries and bramble, toffee apple and prunes over supportive hickory oak and gritty, old world tannins. A delicious drink for all enthusiasts of the Aussie Rhone style of red wine, showing fruit, oak and fine grain tannins in complete harmony.
Pirramimma
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Pirramimma
Pirramimma was founded by Alexander Campbell Johnston in 1892 and has been owned and operated by the Johnston family ever since

The Johnston family arrived in South Australia in 1839 and in 1892 Alexander, the tenth of thirteen children, purchased 97 hectares of rich farmland southeast of the then fledgling village of McLaren Vale. He named his land Pirramimma, an Aboriginal phrase meaning 'the moon and the stars'

Pirramimma

The Pirramimma Winery is located just a short distance south of the small township of McLaren Vale, about 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Tempered by the cooling breezes of the nearby Gulf St. Vincent, McLaren vale has a mild Mediterranean climate which, coupled with the complex rich soil structure, has attained international fame for its rich expressive red wines and elegant whites.

The vineyard soils vary from sandy, on the rise, to rich dark loam on the flat. Over 60% of the vineyards are planted to premium red wine varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot ( for Australia's first 100% Petit Verdot wine ), with Chardonnay the largest single white grape planting on the estate.

Winemaking at Pirramimma has been a family affair for well over 100 years. Now in the very capable hands of Alex and Geoff Johnston, grandsons of the winery's founder, Pirramimma has seen many significant changes, including the construction of a 3100 square metre naturally cooled rammed earth barrel storage facility, and the expansion of the land holdings from 97 hectares to 250 hectares, 180 of which are now planted to grapes.

Pirramimma

Geoff Johnston is a winemaker with a world perspective. He is graduate of the Charles Sturt University and studied in France where his strong interest in the classic Bordeaux grape variety, Petit Verdot, first developed. Geoff planted a small trial area of Petit Verdot in 1983 which has since expanded to over 10 hectares of mature vines. His Petit Verdot vintages are award winning, prompting the prestigious European wine magazine WeinWisser to ask.... "is there any better Petit Verdot in the world...?"

Pirramimma's dedication to fine wine making has seen the brand grow consistently over the years and has underpinned a successful expansion into export markets. Pirramimma's comerstone philosophy is to produce wines from grapes grown in its own family estate vineyards, thus ensuring that the highest possible quality standards are met, and that the wines showcase the unique regional characteristics of McLaren Vale.

"A long-established, family-owned company with outstanding vineyard resources. It is using those resources to full effect, with a series of intense old-vine varietals including Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, all fashioned without over-embellishment. There are two quality tiers, both offering excellent value, the packaging significantly upgraded." -James Halliday

All Pirramimma wines are processed and matured on-site under Geoff Johnston's personal supervision. As a result, Pirramimma produces premium quality wines at an affordable price - a philosophy seen as the key to a successful future.

Pirramimma