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Graeme Melton and a mate were travelling across South Australia in 1973, their EH Holden was in dire need of maintenance and Graeme took up casual work at a passing winery. The site supervisor was Peter Lehmann and young Graeme had his epiphany on the road to Barossa Valley. Lehmann suggested that Graeme change his name to Charlie and take the pilgrimmage to Vallee Rhone. Charlie became prepossessed with the culture of old vines Grenache, Shiraz and Mourverdre. He returned to the Barossa, at a time when old vineyard fruit was made into flagon Port and growers were destroying their historic sites in return for government grants. Charlie emabarked on a crusade to conserve and restore the ancient vines, establishing his cellars at Tanunda along Krondorf Road. He.. Melton makes a mean mourvedre»
Much of the prized harvests from the Hugo family property are destined for Australia's most esteemed brands, the best parcels however, are reserved and released under the Hugo label. Consistency of quality from vintage to vintage is the objective, making wine from the pick of estate grown fruit makes it a reality. A precious component of low cropped, dry grown old vines fruit, greatly enhances the depth of flavour and overall complexity. A Shiraz of opulence and finesse, opaque and textural, in the style of McLaren Vale's most outstanding vintages, Gold Medals Winner Royal Adelaide & Australian Small Winemakers Show, have your Hugo alongside standing rib, at a very value.. Headline harvests of hugo»
Dr Frederick Kiel would take the trek by paddle steamer from Melbourne every summer during the late 1800s to spend his summers at Sorrento. His children established a grazing station nearby, on a property acquired from the Baillieu family along Portsea Ocean Beach, ultimately planted to vineyards in 2000. These are the most extreme western longitudes of Mornington, the undulating paddocks and sweeping views of tempestuous Bass Strait are a magical place for growing Burgundesque styles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, well protected north facing parcels of propitious free draining limestone and calcareous sands. The windswept maritime vineyards of little Portsea Estate yield the quality of Mornington that have to be experienced... Mornington's westernmost vineyards»

Coldstream Hills Merlot CONFIRM VINTAGE

Merlot Yarra Valley Victoria
Coldstream Hills
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Coldstream Hills
Since its first vintage in 1985, Coldstream Hills has grown to be one of the Australia’s leading small wineries, with a reputation for producing an outstanding range of wines

Coldstream Hills was established in 1985 by James and Suzanne Halliday. As a winemaker for over 30 years, James Halliday expressed his passion through involvements with other winemakers, devoting his time to crafting some of Australia's most memorable labels. From its initial vintage of 450 cases, Coldstream Hills has grown to become one of Australia's leading small wineries, its wines sold in some 16 countries and a reputation out of all proportion to its size. Coldstream Hills maintains its small winery essence with most of the wine literally being hand made. Situated in the cool and beautiful Yarra Valley, about one hour's drive east of Melbourne, its steep, close-planted vineyards have become a signature of the region. So too have its wines (most notably Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs) which reflect a climate cooler than Bordeaux and a little warmer than Burgundy.

Coldstream Hills

France also provides all the oak barriques (1500, but increasing year by year) and no small amount of inspiration for the winemaking team. To create the specialties of the Coldstream Hills winery each year outstanding parcels of grapes are earmarked for special attention during making, using new French barriques.

The emphasis at Coldstream Hills is on the varietal fruit and length of flavour which the Yarra Valley bestows on each grape variety. The varietal wines are designed to be enjoyed upon release - attractive when young, but will certainly reward careful cellaring. The wines are quite literally, hand made, mainly using small open fermenters (of three to four tonnes capacity) for the red wines, while the white wines are barrel fermented.

These techniques are directed to making wines which are characterised by elegance and finesse, by silky supple texture, length of flavour, subtle oak and the ability to develop extra dimensions of complexity with bottle age. These are not weighty, extractive, tannic or alcoholic styles, however impressive well-made examples of these may be.

Coldstream Hills

When the resulting wine is regarded as outstanding it forms the strictly limited quantity of wine bearing the Reserve label. While the fruit remains the driving force, there is more focus on structure and complexity. The Reserve wines are designed to improve for at least five years, and live for a decade or more.

Coldstream's founder James Halliday, is one of Australia's most distinguished wine journalists, consultants and judges. With two other Sydney lawyers, he founded Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley in 1970. After moving to Melbourne for his law firm in 1983, he and his wife established Coldstream Hills in 1985. He worked as a hands-on winemaker at Brokenwood, at Coldstream Hills, and several stints in France, before increasing age persuaded him that jumping in and out of open vats could be a terminal health hazard. As a journalist he has written over 45 books and several thousand newspaper and magazine articles, winning a number of major wine writing awards in Australia and the United States. He was also awarded Australia's most prestigious wine award - the Maurice O'Shea Award - for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Wine Industry in 1995.

Not withstanding the glory and success, there has been and will be no significant change in the winemaking techniques or philosophies inherent to Coldstream Hills. The fruit is hand pruned and partially hand picked; the wine is made mainly using small open fermenters (of three to four tonnes capacity for the red wines, while the whites are principally barrel fermented). Winemaking techniques and philosophies haven’t changed with the growth in production either; all designed to produce elegant wines with a long finish.

Coldstream Hills