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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 of world class vintages grown to Terra Rosa soils, enriched by.. The old sheep shearer's shanty»
Established just eleven years after the founding of South Australia, the ancient vines in the Hundred Of Moorooroo were planted circa 1836 by the Jacob brothers, after accompanying Colonel William Light on the Seven Special Surveys expedition to populate Adelaide's north. Moorooroo endures as the nation's cardinal parcel of vine, the mother rootstock for many of the Barossa's most distinguished sites. For over a century, these sacred vines contributed fruit to the Orlando company, where they formed the backbone of countless spectacular historical vintages. Decimated by the government sponsored vine pull schemes of the 1980s, only four rows of these priceless vines were saved by master Ed Schild from complete annihilation. One of the smallest yielding blocks in the land, Moorooroo endures as one of the world's most.. The fruit of vines established 1836»
Giovanni Tait mastered the family tradition of coopering wine barrels before migrating to Australia in 1957. He took up work in the Barossa and ultimately settled in for a lengthy engagement at B Seppelts and Sons, where he played a significant role in the vinification and maturation of some of the most memorable vintages in Australian viticulture. Tait's boys grew up to be winemakers, their attention to detail and close relationship with the Barossa's finest growers have earned the highest accolades from the international wine industry press. Generously proportioned yet exquisitely balanced, famously praised, perennially by savant Robert Parker as the most consistently outstanding quality, exceptional value wines from Barossa Valley... Bespoke parcels of old vineyard fruit»

Pirramimma Stocks Hill Cabernet Merlot CONFIRM VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot McLaren Vale South Australia
Winemaking at Pirramimma has been a family affair for well over a century, it now lies in the hands of the founder's grandchildren. This stylish assembly of Merlot and Cabernet is crafted from fruit grown to fully mature, estate grown vines over twenty years of age. Like all Pirramimma, Stocks Hill is completely vinified and matured on premises under patriarch Geoff Johnston's personal supervision. The highly approachable Stocks Hill is one of McLaren Vale's most agreeable Cabernet Merlot wines and has won numerous medals throughout the vintages.
Available by the dozen
Case of 12
$251.00
Geoff Johnston is a winemaker with a world perspective. He is a graduate of the Charles Sturt University and studied in France where his strong interest in the classic Bordeaux varieties flourished. The comerstone philosophy is to produce wines from grapes grown to family vineyards, thus ensuring that the highest possible quality standards are met, and that the wines showcase the unique regional characteristics of McLaren Vale. A combination of high cordon trellis, hand pruning and idyllic growing conditions have produced grapes with bountiful flavours, ripe tannins and good acid balance. An extended maturation of twenty four months in American oaks has softened the wine and enhanced complexity.
Bright scarlet colour with darker robes. Bouquet of violet, spiced blackberry and cedary oak. The palate delivers briars and blackcurrants, red cherries complemented by toasty oak, all integrated with hints of pepper and blueberry, balanced by subtle toasted oak. A rich, firmly structured wine with tannin, fruit and oak in complete harmony.
Pirramimma
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Pirramimma
Pirramimma was founded by Alexander Campbell Johnston in 1892 and has been owned and operated by the Johnston family ever since

The Johnston family arrived in South Australia in 1839 and in 1892 Alexander, the tenth of thirteen children, purchased 97 hectares of rich farmland southeast of the then fledgling village of McLaren Vale. He named his land Pirramimma, an Aboriginal phrase meaning 'the moon and the stars'

Pirramimma

The Pirramimma Winery is located just a short distance south of the small township of McLaren Vale, about 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Tempered by the cooling breezes of the nearby Gulf St. Vincent, McLaren vale has a mild Mediterranean climate which, coupled with the complex rich soil structure, has attained international fame for its rich expressive red wines and elegant whites.

The vineyard soils vary from sandy, on the rise, to rich dark loam on the flat. Over 60% of the vineyards are planted to premium red wine varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot ( for Australia's first 100% Petit Verdot wine ), with Chardonnay the largest single white grape planting on the estate.

Winemaking at Pirramimma has been a family affair for well over 100 years. Now in the very capable hands of Alex and Geoff Johnston, grandsons of the winery's founder, Pirramimma has seen many significant changes, including the construction of a 3100 square metre naturally cooled rammed earth barrel storage facility, and the expansion of the land holdings from 97 hectares to 250 hectares, 180 of which are now planted to grapes.

Pirramimma

Geoff Johnston is a winemaker with a world perspective. He is graduate of the Charles Sturt University and studied in France where his strong interest in the classic Bordeaux grape variety, Petit Verdot, first developed. Geoff planted a small trial area of Petit Verdot in 1983 which has since expanded to over 10 hectares of mature vines. His Petit Verdot vintages are award winning, prompting the prestigious European wine magazine WeinWisser to ask.... "is there any better Petit Verdot in the world...?"

Pirramimma's dedication to fine wine making has seen the brand grow consistently over the years and has underpinned a successful expansion into export markets. Pirramimma's comerstone philosophy is to produce wines from grapes grown in its own family estate vineyards, thus ensuring that the highest possible quality standards are met, and that the wines showcase the unique regional characteristics of McLaren Vale.

"A long-established, family-owned company with outstanding vineyard resources. It is using those resources to full effect, with a series of intense old-vine varietals including Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, all fashioned without over-embellishment. There are two quality tiers, both offering excellent value, the packaging significantly upgraded." -James Halliday

All Pirramimma wines are processed and matured on-site under Geoff Johnston's personal supervision. As a result, Pirramimma produces premium quality wines at an affordable price - a philosophy seen as the key to a successful future.

Pirramimma