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There are four tiny patches of vine at Scotchman's Hill, which have been mollycoddled by Robin Brockett, since the start of his tenure as chief winemaker in the 1980s. Excruciatingly limited after a strict pruning and rigorous sorting of fruit, they each yield a mere hundred cases of wine. Brockett has set aside the precious harvests of these superior blocks for his own label, a personal project to hand craft the finest of vintage, an exclusive range of the Bellarine's most elite single vineyard efforts. So besotted is Brockett by the spectacular quality of fruit from these four regal parcels, he has imported two 800 Litre Tuscan vinification Amphora from the Brunello commune of Montalcino. Whole bunches and wild ferments in the like of ancient clay urns, hand plunged in the old world way, appreciatively unfiltered for a tasteful measure of sauvage. Aficianados of small batch, limited release endeavours by Australian winemaking luminaries, are quietly advised to indulge their appetence and secure a case of Robin Brockett Pinot Noir, Syrah and/or Shiraz... Brockett begets the best of bellarine»

Smith Hooper Merlot CONFIRM VINTAGE

Merlot Wrattonbully South Australia
The term Terra rossa means red earth, a rich, free draining soil that is considered by many as the viticultural equivalent of discovering gold. Beneath the strata of red earth at Wrattonbully sits a layer of ancient limestone, a winegrower's dream as it allows free drainage of water, yet ensures vine roots stay close to the surface, putting natural stress on the vine and limiting its vigor and yield. An attractive wine upon release and destined to develop complexity, just perfect alongside crispy skinned pork belly. In sticky sauce of course.
Available in cartons of six
Case of 6
$125.50
The art of making wine from Merlot requires a careful avoidance of any over extractions of tannin from the fruit and seeds. Smith & Hooper choose to vinify in static fermenters while continually tasting the wine as it evolves. The skins are eventually pressed when the requisite structure and palate weight can be achieved without any distasteful tannin hardness. In pursuit of these soft tannins, Smith & Hooper are judicious in their barrel selection, maturing the finished wine for up to a year in a combination of new and older French oak hogsheads and barriques.
Bright scarlet colour. Eenchanting and full bouquet of red fruits and violet, berries and bay leaf notes to complement the central core of plum fuit. Medium bodied showing raspberry fruit and oak spice finishing with light silky tannins.
Smith Hooper
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Smith Hooper
Samuel Smith & Son is a well respected, family owned wine merchant established in 1923, with a portfolio of eminent blue chip wineries

Samuel Smith & Son's commitment to be recognised as the most respected purveyor of fine wines remains unequivocal and absolute. Smith & Hooper wines are sourced entirely from two Wrattonbully vineyards, adjacent vineyard blocks previously owned by the Smith and Hooper families. These are premium red wines from exceptional vineyard sites with Terra Rossa soil, a rich, free draining soil that is considered by many as the viticultural equivalent of discovering gold

Smith Hooper

"Like many SA companies, Yalumba had been buying grapes from Coonawarra and elsewhere in the Limestone Coast Zone long before it became a landowner there. In 1993 it purchased the 20-ha vineyard which had provided the grapes previously purchased, and a year later added a nearby 16-ha block. Together, these vineyards now have 22 ha of cabernet sauvignon and 4 ha each of merlot and shiraz. The next step was the establishment of 82 ha of vineyard in the Wrattonbully region, led by 34 ha of cabernet sauvignon, the remainder equally split between shiraz and merlot!" -Wine Companion.com.au

Smith Hooper

Smith Hooper