Dott 2017 Pavana

The rarest grape in the Chalmers collection, pavana caught Dr. Rod’s attention during a mid-1990s tenure at Udine University. Only a handful of pavana vineyards now remain in Italy, mostly in Valsugana which bridges Trentino and Veneto, but it was once widely planted in these areas when the region was part of Austria where much of the pavana wine was consumed. Being a pale, perfumed and herbal light red it wasn’t favoured by the Italian’s once the region passed to Italian rule so pavana became unviable and was removed from most vineyards.

Rich, powerful and wildly seductive - From a slightly milder vintage the 2017 maintains the wines opulent richness whilst being more structured and possesses an impressive blackpepper quality. Impenetrable inky black core with a deep black dark red hue. Wafting from the glass are expressive scents of liquorice, black cherry and dark plum which are complimented by subtly toasted vanillin oak, hints of dark chocolate and spicy pepper notes .

Montevecchio 2017 Rosso Field Blend

No family in Australia has done more for the continued emergence of Italian grape varieties than the Chalmers, and this wine is about as Italian as they get! Their entry level Montevecchio label is all about approachable, food friendly wines, inspired by the everyday drinking 'field blends' of Italy. The Rosso is just a brilliant example of what their approach is all about. It's a blend of Lagrein, Nero d’Avola, Sagrantino, Schioppettino and Refosco. With its savoury nature and minimal oak it really is the perfect pizza / pasta wine.

Le Sorelle 2014 Shiraz

When your main business is as left field as the eclectic and diverse work with Italian varieties at Chalmers, what do you do for a side project? Sisters Kim & Tennille decided to make a Heathcote Shiraz, but in the style of red that they enjoy.

Chalmers 2014 Sagrantino

The 2014 Sagrantino is from our Heathcote vineyard where the vines are growing in a special site close to the top of the ridge in complex, rocky Cambrian earth. The wine is deep and robust with aromas of dark fruits, bitter chocolate, spice and tobacco.

Silver Spoon Estate 2017 East Meets West Shiraz

A full-bodied vibrant shiraz style. There are hints of dried flowers and sour cherry on the nose, with dark spices and blood plums on the palate. The tannins are well integrated, and the finish is long and smooth on the palate. This wine will age gracefully for 10+ years.

Condie Estate 2018 Sangiovese

A wonderful expression of a Heathcote sangiovese. The fruit is from our Lewis Road Vineyard and the wine is made using traditional methods. Delightful confectionary aromas with sour cherry, raspberry fruit characters and herbal notes on the palate .

Chalmers 2016 Aglianico

A late ripening grape, it cruises through summer to ripen slowly in the cooler autumn months giving a lower alcohol yet complex and refined red wine capable of long ageing. Made in a chestnut botte and bottle aged before release, Chalmers Aglianico has earned its place at the top of the range showing all the hallmarks of a great red wine. Poise and structure, freshness and complexity, this wine has it all.

 

In the mid ninteenth century the Governor of Mendoza engaged a French Agronomist to bring a selection of new grapevine cultivars from France to Argentina, creating a training ground for teaching viticulture with the aim of improving the quality of local wines. One of those varietals was Malbec, now the signature variety of the nation. These vines were exported immediately before the great phylloxera epidemic, and the particular selection of Malbec which was shipped is now believed to be extinct in Europe. It has subsequently evolved over the last century and a half into a clone which is distinctly different from its French forebears. In the late twentieth century Arthur Bruce Chalmers imported a selection of grapevine cultivars from around the world to Australia in an effort to broaden vineyard diversity and improve wine quality by clonal selection. In that shipment were six clones of Malbec, selected from the best vineyards of Mendoza. Arturo Heathcote Malbec is made from those special clones, grown on the unique Cambrian terroir of the Mount Camel Range in Heathcote.

Chalmers 2018 Nero D’Avola

The combination of the lightness and charry/graphite notes of that site with the cherry/raspberry, tar and hard herb characters of Nero are a great match.Chill it off slightly for utmost enjoyment.

Probably the smoothest early release Progeny to date with mouth filling richness and softening tannin with just a hint of oak in the background, as all good Progeny's before it. Enjoy now as Progeny is designed, but as history shows most Sanguine shiraz can go the distance.

Almost extinct in the early 20th Century, schioppettino was lovingly revived in the 1970s and now flourishes mostly in Prepotto along the Judrio Valley close to the Slovenian border in the warm, temperate and rainy Colli Orientali del Friuli. The delicate variety is prized for its overt and distinctive white pepper and spice notes and firm but fine tannins.