The hidden gem in the Elderton portfolio, a perennial favourite on the national wine show circuit. It was postulated that by assembling the finest components of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz which Elderton could produce, a truly wonderful wine would be created. This is Ode to Lorraine, a rigorous selection is conducted each year to isolate the best barrels, much of which are earmarked for the estate flagships. An exceptionally well rounded claret style, born out of extensive sessions around the tasting bench.

$5399each $647DOZEN EACH DOZEN Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot are harvested off old or very old vines, some were established in 1914, rooted into deep alluvial soils, harvested at optimum maturity throughout the cool of night, to a schedule determined by vineyard sampling. Following the crush, vinification is carried out in a collection of old concrete open top fermenters for approximately a week, followed by transfer to a combination of seasoned and new French oak puncheons for two years maturation. Each parcel is kept separate until the final assemblage, whereupon the Elderton team adjust the proportion of components to determine the final Ode to Lorraine.

A very rich dark purple. Elegant aromas of chocolate, berries and licorice are well wrapped in lovely toasty oak. Full bodied with velvety, ripe, refined tannins before a long rich finish. Already exhibiting amazing harmony, power and grace, Ode to Lorraine is fashioned to achieve a velvety silkiness and elegance across the whole flavour profile. A brooding wine with dark flavours framed by refined tannins, finishing long and balanced with a presence of ample, ripe fruit.

A mostly old vines Grenache wine with a tenth of Carignan, planted by the Heldbig family on their Greenock farm in 1915. Parcels are hand picked and crushed into traditional open top, concrete fermenters for a long cool vinification and eight months of age in a selection of well seasoned French oak puncheons. A stunningly perfumed wine, marked by pretty cherry torte characters, strawberries and cream, berry punnet freshness and crisp raspberry notes. Its stealthy tannins and juicy bucolic savouryness resolve on a judiciously warming, fragrantly fruit filled finish.

$4799each $575DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Fire Block was excised from a large grazing property in 1923, out of concern that sparks from passing locomotives on the new Clare Valley railway could start bushfires. Situated on the western slope of the Valley, established to vines in 1926, the gnarled old veterans of Fire Block are grown to traditional dryland viticulture, with no systemic sprays or chemical fertilizers. From one of the most parched sites in Valley Clare, the vines sprout bunches of tiny shrivelled berries, yielding small volumes of intensely flavoured juices, to be vinified by the eminent O'Leary Walker winemaking team.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

From a small precious block, atop the wonderful Fire Block parcel of dry grown vines, planted way back in 1926, a salient example of old Clare Valley Shiraz. An unirrigated and hand pruned site, the vineyard practices, trellising methods and control of yields, are determined by only one criterion‚ to preserve the integrity of fruit each and every vintage. Concentration of elegant flavours, powerfully intense, yet exhibiting real elegance and charm. Pepper and plum, a touch of leather and spice, a lively palate expressing toasty berries, vinosity, spices and stalk supported by long gritty tannins.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The historic Fire Block vineyard was named for its dangerous proximity to the passing, flame powered railway engines of yesteryear, imperilled by the sparks of the locomotives that often ignited bushfires. Biodynamically grown Shiraz is vinified in the traditional old world way, fermented in four tonne batches, lovingly basket pressed, aged in a combination of French oak barriques and American oak hogsheads. Vibrant bouquet with plum, spice and currant characters, generously flavoured and richly proportioned, showing very well in its youth, a long, illustrious future is assured.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$2299each $275DOZEN EACH DOZEN

James Stanley Malpas, born of Willunga, served with the 27th Infantry Battalion AIF during World War I in Gallipoli and France, decorated with the distinguished Military Cross, he returned to McLaren Vale and cleared the land known as Fox Creek. Three quarters old vine Shiraz, a fifth of Cabernet and soupçon of Franc, JSM makes a wine of complexity, substance and panache, it's all luscious fruit, framed by long textural Cabernet tannins, fully integrated and balanced by the patience of nineteen months in the pick of well seasoned oak.

$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Deep red, purple hues. An enticing array of black cherries and blood plum, liquorice and smoky toasts, vanilla bean, notes of charcuterie and herbal spearmint lift. Black cardamom on the effusive palate, cinnamons and clove, the nutmeg oak of barrel ferments. Cabernet Sauvignon for ripe round tannins and length and the Cabernet Franc batches were selected for aromatic lift and fruit weight.

$2599each $311DOZEN EACH DOZEN

What to do with a humble harvest of the most splendid Riverland Grenache? Bunches of the choicest fruit are sent to fermenters for a short term of cold soak. The eye candy of its rakish pink hues presage a blossoming palate of violets, cherry and jube. Its understated elegance and affability belie sound structure, well defined fruit and genteel, leathery tannins, articulate of its pastoral Grenache provenance and alluring blush hued charm, just the ticket for pink fleshed fare, belly of tuna, salmon or duck.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$34099each $4091DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$15699each $1883DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$12299each $1475DOZEN EACH DOZEN