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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.. The old sheep shearer's shanty»
Halls Gap Vineyard was planted 1969, along the steep eastern slopes and parched rocky crags of Grampians Ranges, at the very beginning of a renaissance in Victorian viticulture. Since early establishment in the 1860s by the noble Houses of Seppelt and Bests, the region had earned the most elite peerage, a provenance of extraordinary red wines, bursting with bramble opulence and lined with limousin tannins. The Halls Gap property had long been respected as a venerable supplier to the nation's most illustrious brands. Seppelt and Penfolds called on harvests from Halls Gap for their finest vintages. Until 1996, when it was acquired by the late, great Trevor Mast, who was very pleased to bottle Hall Gap's fruit behind the exhalted label of Mt Langi Ghiran... Land of the fallen giants»
Legendary Penfold winemaker John Duval began his apprenticeship in 1974 under the tutelage of the late great Max Schubert. Duval's family had been supplying Penfolds with fruit and root stock for generations, many of South Australia's most prestigious vineyards were sown with cuttings from Duval's family property. Duval was awarded International Wine & Spirit Competition Winemaker of Year and twice London International Red Winemaker of Year. He now focuses on releasing painfully limited editions, assembled from precious parcels of elite Barossa vine, hand crafted by one of the world's most accomplished and peer respected winemakers... Ancient barossa hamlet vines»

Catalina Sounds Totara Pinot Noir CONFIRM VINTAGE

Pinot Noir New Zealand
The Totara tree is endowed with strength and durability, native to New Zealand, it has long been revered by the Maori, as well as early European settlers for its diverse qualities and usefulness. Totara's enthusiastic team are focused towards producing food friendly wines which express their regionality and are a textbook of varietal definition. Totara Pinot Noir is true to it's Rotorua origins, displaying a full bodied, earthy palate with layers of fruit and ripe tannins, just like the eponymous tree, solidly structured and built for longevity.
Case of 12
$299.00
Totara employ the most adroit vinification techniques to construct wines of profound varietal and regional expression. The chilling winds of Island South serve to reduce fruit set and limit yields, temperate summers provide ideal conditions for a slow and complete ripening. Small intensely flavoured berries translate into a wine of great colour and concentrated flavour. Grapes are hand harvested and cold soaked up to five days prior to fermentations. The batches are vinified in open vats for an average of seven days, initially treated to a course of daily cap plunges, gradually increasing to three per day at peak of ferment. The completed wines are matured under a mix of tank, oak staves and French oak barrels.
Deep ruby/ garnet colour. Dark cherry, wild thyme and spice with a hint of candle smoke to the bouquet. A rich and lively Otago wine with juicy acid and fine tannins. Dark cherry and spice characters are complimented by smoky French oak. Soft and approachable, before leading to a velvety, lingering finish. A gourmande's delight, will gladly accompany roast guinea fowl or seared and caramelized chicken liver bruschetta.
Catalina Sounds
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Catalina Sounds
Catalina Sounds exhibit finesse, offer beautiful fruit intensity, are well balanced and elegant

At Catalina Sounds, the fruit is the focus - sourcing the best possible from passionate growers in Marlborough is fundamental for all the varietals. The winemaking techniques are very non-interventionalist, the fruit must be allowed to express itself. The wines are meant to be food-friendly, and not over-the-top. Subtle, elegant wines are what Catalina Sounds strive to produce.

Catalina Sounds

Nina Stocker was born in Basel, Switzerland close to the famous Alsace wine region of France. Her father was very interested in viticulture and became involved in a tiny vineyard near the village. Family weekends and holidays were often spent in picturesque wine regions of France and Northern Italy. Following their return to Australia in 1987, the Stockers planted Cabernet Shiraz and Merlot on the rolling ironstone hillside near Tallarook in Central Victoria.

During Nina's Science /Arts degree at Monash University where she majored in microbiology, immunology, and history, she was fortunate to have an opportunity to do some work experience as a cellar hand for Don Lewis at Mitchelton, followed by a vintage at Wirra Wirra. Nina decided she wanted to further her studies in Oenology at Adelaide University.

She gained further experience through vintages in Barolo in Northern Italy, Bordeaux, the Northern Rhone and in Portugal. Nina worked as an assistant winemaker at Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley with Steve Flamsteed and Team for three years, fuelling her passion for cool climate wines, especially Pinot Noir.

Catalina Sounds

Marlborough has interested Nina since the days of working in a bar while at university. She was always being asked by customers for a Marlborough savvy. She developed a fascination for this popular style of wine, and discovered that a diversity of wine styles and varieties were also grown there. The unique cool climate, abundant sunshine and plethora of sub-regions in spectacular surroundings all conspired to convince Nina that this was where she wanted to live and make wine.

Catalina Sounds is a proud supporter of Pink Hope, looking after young women affected and at a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Catalina Sounds