Cracka Wines

Saddle up for a taste of the Prancing Horse as this Pinot from the Mornington Peninsula is worth galloping after. It’s made by the sensational Sergio Carlei, a winemaker who is committed to the use of biodynamics in all of his wines. The fruit purity and expression is the first thing you notice in this seductively spicy wine. It’s rich in black cherry and forest floor aromas before delivering a palate that’s gossamer smooth thanks to well-integrated tannins. A wine worth savouring with a dish of duck ragu on fresh pasta.

Some of the wines we have tried from the 2010 vintage in the Yarra valley have had us blown away in terms of quality. The Sticks Pinot is a classic example of a wine that you’ll just want to go back to again and again. Admittedly it’s a cliché but it works really well with savoury mushroom dishes thanks to its dark fruit core of plum and spice. The palate continues the theme showing red fruits, soft tannins and spicy intensity.

The Squitchy Lane range shows the Yarra Valley at its best at a price that is affordable. This Pinot is a brilliant example of an everyday drinking style that is varietal and regional. We love this wine as it shows all the bright berry fruit we’ve come to expect from the Yarra, not to mention an attractive perfume and a hypnotic acid line. It’s spicy, sexy and sensory and pairs superbly with intensely savoury dishes such as wild mushroom ragu or game dishes.

This is a really special muscat that uses base stock dating back to the sixties! Only ten vintages have been made since then, and they all make an appearance in this fortified wine. These wines are rich, opulent and mouthcoating with lovely Christmas pudding fruit on the nose and palate, together with nicely balanced sweetness and a lingering finish. Try it with a mince pie or a mature aged cheese.

Although it is not produced every year, it is a mighty fine drop when it does appear. 2010 was a cracking vintage in the Yarra Valley, and this cheeky little merlot shows lots of black cherries and plums on the nose, together with generous sniffs of toasty oak. The palate is rich and sumptuous with tastes of Dundee cake and plum pudding, hits of more toastiness, talcy tannins, and a dry, long, mince pie-like finish. It's a bold wine that will benefit from time in the cellar.

Heathcote is a region to watch when it comes to Shiraz and we love the way the wines of the area are extremely expressive of the land. Its ancient soils are millions of years old and imbue the wines with a minerality that is unique and intriguing. This wine can be enjoyed while young but it reveals a structure and tannin weight that has given the region such a fine reputation. Cherries and oak mingle on the nose before delivering a medium weight palate that’s savoury yet full of bright fruit. For best results crank up the hot plate and pair this with a large cut of beef and horseradish mash.

Although it’s eight years old this Cabernet from Heathcote shows no sign of waning. Winemaker Adrian Munari respects the vineyard and allows the fruit to do the taking but is not afraid to embrace modern and ancient winemaking knowledge to forge exceptional wines. It smells of blackcurrant and tobacco with some elegant floral notes, these translate on to the medium bodied palate which is full of soft tannins. It works really well with spicy food like Lebanese or Thai.

One sip of the Red Claw and you’ll be bitten by the seductive aroma and texture of this cool climate Pinot Gris. The Mornington Peninsula is starting to produce some terrific examples of Gris that are fuller and more expressive styles, perfect with food, perhaps even with yabbies! This has bright fruit intensity with vital aromas of pear, honey and spice before a wonderfully rounded palate of clean fruit flavours balanced by fresh acids.

Topaque is the funky new name for Tokay, but the contents are as rich and luscious as ever! Now in the hands of Simon Killeen - Chris' son - It's a plush, honeyed style of wine that shows plenty of complex aromas and flavours of dried tea leaves, caramel, toffee and sherry-like smells on the nose. The palate is opulent and sweetly flavoured with more of those honey and nutty flavours, cleansing acidity, and a clean, malty finish. Try it with sticky date pudding.

A Merlot from Heathcote? Well, we’re game to give anything a try so we were pleasantly surprised to find this wine was a big mouthful of generous fruit and tannin begging to be served with a bowl of homemade meatballs or pizza. A rich and exotic nose of red and dark fruit characters with some subtle oak before a textured and spicy palate that is exceptionally long. Cherry and plum flavours combine before soft, supple tannins are harmonised by gentle acids.

Appearance: Garnet-red, with an important colouring intensity, dense, limpid and brilliant with young lights (bluish purple).Nose: Very aromatic on black fruit aromas, very ripe, complex (roasting notes and noble leather). The woody aromas are discreet and well-integrated (spices).Palate: The attack is ample and silky. The wine is powerful and concentrated presenting mild tannins. One notices aromas of ripe fruits, leather and roasting notes.60% of Carignan, 20% of Syrah, 20% of Grenache.Agly Brothers Reviews and Accolades“Agly Brothers – a twelve year old collaboration between Michel Chapoutier and Jasper Hill owner-vintner Ron Laughton of Victoria, Australia continues to feature Carignan and Syrah from north-facing gneiss in the upper Agly and Grenache from a schistic, south-facing site... Less

The cool climate of the Yarra Valley produces Pinot Noir fruit of consistently high quality. At Domaine Chandon we capture these pristine varietal characters and ensure our wines express regional integrity, great style and elegant sophistication. Delicate garnet in colour, this Pinot Noir shows red cherry and raspberry aromatics, with layers of sweet spices and red fruits. The palate reveals further dark cherry and kirsch flavours. Pure Pinot Noir characters are supported by complex cinnamon and nutmeg spice flavours. Oak is seamlessly woven into the wine, with hints of char and subtle vanillin building on the spice profile in the fruit. Fine, supple tannins support the delicate acidity giving the wine great length of flavour. Our Pinot Noir is an expression of Yarra Valley Pinot Noir in... Less

Top Gold at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show is some fairly good critical acclaim from the show judges and we have to agree that this wine really is something special if you are as nutty about Pinot Noir as we are. From 30-year-old vines this wine is all about delicacy and fragrance, subtlety and finesse. You’ll find lots of savoury and cherry aromas with earth before a vital palate of red fruits and soft tannins with a ridiculously long finish.

The Racers and the Rascals is a tribute wine from Killara Estate that honours those who rode in a vintage sport club across the winery’s property since the 1940s. This is a racy Pinot, drink too much and you’ll feel like a rascal but it’s so deliciously drinkable that you’ll find it hard to refuse a second glass. Cherries and violets on the nose before a refreshingly bright, fruit palate with good natural acids. Perfect with a simple pasta dish.

Victoria’s Heathcote region is blessed with rich, red Cambrian soils renowned for producing shiraz grapes with remarkable concentration of flavour. The resulting wines are intense and vibrant.This Heathcote Shiraz shows terrific regional characters. Primary fruit aromas of warm berries, damson plum and dark cherry aromas all lead into a nose complex with mixed spice. Shiraz from these ancient red soils has lively cinnamon, sandalwood and cardamom aromatics which lift the nose and add interesting complexity. This Shiraz has wonderful length of flavour and is spicy to the finish. Bright, youthful tannins build structure on the palate which will reward cellaring up to ten years.

Here’s a wine that marries two red varieties perfectly and reminds us that the Yarra Valley is a great source for Cabernet fruit. The Pimpernel Vineyards is a boutique operation turning out wines with regional aplomb as demonstrated by this killer blend. It’s a wine that you’d want to savour with a barbecued leg of lamb as there’s a fair bit of bottle age making it ready for a quick decant before serving. Prepare for a nose of cassis and subtle oak before a concentrated palate of black fruits and fine tannins.

The Tar and Roses label is quite a unique partnership between two passionate winemakers who had a vision to bring the best of Heathcote and other remote Victorian outposts. With over 30years experience Don Lewis is the driving force behind this boutique label who makes wine alongside Narelle King, a partnership that has produced the kind of wines that are both imbued with masculinity and femininity. This is so typical of the region showing red berry and anise aromas with a palate that’s broad and savoury with hints of chocolate. Lovely balance and full of fine tannins on the finish.

The Macedon Ranges may not have the kudos of the Yarra Valley for pinot noir, but it should never be underestimated. It's a top pinot noir region that is very much coming to the fore, and this little offering from Bress is biodynamically produced, and from a top vintage! It's an elegant lady in flowing chiffon, with beguiling aromas of red berries and cherries, with florals and spice, and a hint of toasted oak on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, with plummy, savoury-edged flavours, fine tannins, and a dry, poised finish.

Burgundy, Central Otago and Mornington Peninsula, all have one thing in common, they all craft amazing examples of Pinot Noir. Well you can now add one more to the list, Oregon. Yes it’s rare we see many American wines on these shores but we are glad we found this one, as it’s one of the best wines to come out of the Argyle Vineyards. This is the pinnacle of Pinot, with ripe cherry notes and enticing aromas of baking spices. It tastes of earth and forest berries while spicy oak and silky tannins add texture and interest. It’s persistent and elegant and will last well in the cellar but we can’t keep our hands off it.

Grown in the ancient Cambrian soils of the Heathcote region, this attractive shiraz is bright and quite full-bodied in style showing aromas of dark plums and berry fruits, with whiffs of earthy spice and toast. The palate is plush and compact, with sweetly-fruited flavours of ripe hedgerow berries, anise and cracked pepper spice, supple tannins, and a dry, fresh fruited finish. It will benefit from a few years in the cellar!

You’ll have red claws by the time you finish this addictive Pinot Noir as it will stain your hands with grapey goodness. Winemaker Tom Carson has created an enigmatic Pinot with bags of character and appeal. It’s crammed with cherry and berry flavours with hints of scintillating spice and a soft palate weight. It’s long and lingering with dark fruit, subtle oak and a supple mouthfeel. A perfect match for duck.

Tar & Roses have made a name for themselves with alternative varieties such as Tempranillo and Sangiovese. This Sangio has a real Italian feel – savoury, almost rustic fruit with significant weight and some chewy food friendly tannins. It positively demands food but is a lovely drink all on its own.

There’s something special about the soil in Heathcote, not only is it millions of years old but it also capable of imbuing the rich, red wines of the region with a unique character. Only the best parcels of fruit make the grade to go into this brooding beauty of a wine. There’s a core of black fruits with incredible intensity and flavour that build, layer upon layer with well-integrated tannins and acids. One for the long term.

The Yarra Valley’s very own opera diva, Dame Nellie Melba, enchantedthe world as Mimi in ‘La Boheme’. This range of wines pays tribute toMelba in one of her most well-known operas, based in the characterfulLatin Quarter of 1880’s Paris.Our first release of this cheeky light to medium red blend. Made from a blend of Syrah and Gamay Noir from the Northern end of the Yarra Valley. Fragrant, black cherry, cinnamon, dry herb and floral notes. A mixture of whole bunches and whole berries with a little bit of early stomping to create some juice to start the 'wild' ferment. Occasional foot stomping and the odd pump over. 15 days on skins then pressed and racked to 500 litre casks for 10 months. This delicious wine has a soft, textured palate, red and black fruits, spice, bitter chocolate and... Less

The brilliance of Balgownie bottled for you. That’s the promise with this Shiraz and we were equally bowled over by the mix of beautiful Bendigo, Yarra Valley and Victorian fruit. A small amount of Viognier was added to the blend to add an extra supple palate. It’s rich with blackberry and blueberries as well as pepper and spice and on the palate. Really it’s just a slurpable soft Shiraz with plenty of character. A wine to pair with some gourmet sausages to make a match made in heaven.

Want to be bewitched by cool climate Cabernet? Then take a look at Witchmount wines from the heart of Victoria. Winemaker Stephen Godwin earnt his stripes working in some of Victoria’s top wineries including Seppelt and Baileys of Glenrowan and these Cabernet grapes have been nurtured by loving hands. Varietal taste of sweet berry and some hints of oak before a palate of well defined tannins and an excellent length.

Grampians Shiraz is not hard to like really, the plum-essence rich style really rather addictive. Here we see it in a mid-weight form, the flavours not OTT, but thoroughly satisfying in their purple richness. It's hardly a tannic wine though, more of a generous one, which means we'd probably go lighter than a slab of beef. Maybe venison could be a real winner though...

What is the Little Yering, well it’s actually a wine for everyday drinking and comes from one of the Yarra Valley’s most established wineries. Pinot Noir is one of the main grapes that the Yarra does well and Yering are no stranger to the style. We think this is the perfect BYO red that would appeal to all and sundry. As with most Pinots you’ll find an attractive perfume of cherries and strawberries with a hint of oak. It’s got a soft, persistent palate with a good core of fruit and a long, savoury finish. It’s a duck-seeking missile.

A partnership between Rhone winemaker Michel Chapoutier and Heathcote's Jasper Hill, this intensely spicy red has a certain exotic wildness to it that it very impressive in both its concentration and its savoury deliciousness.

This Robert Oatley pinot noir represents great value when you consider the fruit comes from one of Australia's premium pinot noir regions. This wine is typically varietal showing cherry and red berries on the nose, together with a generous amount of mocha oak. The palate is soft, supple and sexy with savoury-edged tannins and a decent length. It's an easy drinking style that punches above its weight.