Bests distinguished old vineyards are surrounded by an endowment of small grower sites which date back to early settlement and yield softly spoken harvests of the most exquisite fruit. Kim Ludvigson was a close neighbour and highly respected vigneron, dearly loved by the tightly knit community of local growers, his harvests were an essential component of Great Western's most memorable vintages. A co ferment of Viognier and Shiraz, aromatic of apricot and plush with juicy plum, LSV unwinds flavours and complexity as it breathes, its line of succulent winegum tannins in support.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$12999each $1559DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Outstanding Langton's Classification. Thomson Family Shiraz is produced from Henry Best's original 1866 plantings, only ever made in exceptional years, on average about six times a decade. The vines are cropped at less than two tonnes per acre and are meticulously hand harvested, selected and sorted. Thomson Family Shiraz was first made in 1993, one hundred years after the Thomson family settled in the area. It is produced predominantly from the fifteen rows of vines planted by Henry Best, referred to as Hermitage by Henry in his daily journal.

$23999each $2879DOZEN EACH DOZEN This very special planting of Shiraz is referred to by the CSIRO as the Concongella clone, the mother of all subsequent Shiraz stock at Best's Great Western. The property, established 1866, takes its name from the picturesque creek which runs beside the vineyard. Climatically cold to very cold winters and frequently dry and cool summers, with occasional bursts of hot weather, are the norm. A little stress concentrates grape flavour, at Concongella it happens naturally. Despite these natural adversities, Concongella consistently produces high quality grapes of intense flavour. Hand harvested, hand plunged and vinified in small open fermenters, produced only in years when the quality is second to none.

Inky garnet, vermillion hues. A heady mixture of black fruits, bitter chocolate, dried flowers, white pepper and innumerable secondary aromas including leather, liquorice and tobacco. Very intense rich front to mid palate, lush and plush, ultra rich tightly structured liquored fruits, seductive, oak balance persists, supporting acid and tannins arrive late, long and detailed finish. Long, powerful, unsurpassably fine, elegant.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Blue Pyrenees were established through a no expense spared approach, by two of the wine world's most revered, accomplished and resourced estates. A superior standard of viticulture and exacting vinification techniques were the priority, they remain at the very core of the Blue Pyrenees raison d'etre. An assemblage of exclusively estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz, artfully crafted into a seamless style of vigorously perfumed fruit, finely polished tannins and fragrant, flattering oak.

$3799each $455DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Deep ruby red, purple hues. Fragrant red berries, forest floor complexity, classy cedar oak and Shiraz spice. A generous mouthful of mulberry fruit up front, complimented by forest flavours of mint leaves, mushroom and cedary oak, the rich yet seamless palate is framed by abundant, yet fully integrated fine grain tannins, all wrapped up in a traditional old world style, lingering on a length of fresh berry leaf notes.

The production of Methode traditionelle has been an essential part of the winemaking at Blue Pyrenees for many years, the original raison d'être. Established 1963 by the Champagne houses of Charles Heidsieck and Krug, an adherence to the transcendent French influence of the founders is central. In 1992, the Blue Pyrenees team decided to experiment with hand picking their fruit, under floodlights, in the middle of the night. The results were amazing, a most memorable vintage of outstanding quality, Midnight Cuvée was born.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN Although hand picked fruit is often most desirable for the production of premium quality juices, day time temperatures in Australia can mean that the grapes will often be quite warm when received into the press after a day's picking. Nowadays the Blue Pyrenees team select the best fruit parcels, whilst still on the vine, to be separated out from the rest and picked at night by hand to generate the juices which will become Midnight Cuvee. Although very laborious and time consuming, the rewards are evident in the glass. Midnight Cuvée is made entirely from estate grown fruit, predominantly Chardonnay for elegance and refinement, with a touch of Pinot Noir. Alcohol 12.5%

Brilliant pale straw hues, a fine gentle bead. The aroma is delicate and complex, yeast autolysis characters of freshly baked bread complimented by citrus fruits and hazelnut. The bright, green apple flavoured palate exhibits a fine acid backbone which enhances the fresh doughy yeast notes and fine refreshing effervescence. A wine of great elegance, balance and finesse, a long and clean, lingering finish.

$5299each $635DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Dalwhinnie is sited on the most magnificent Shiraz growing terrains. Eagle Shiraz is crafted to traditional Rhone winemaking techniques, foot crushing, whole bunch ferments, extended skin contact and maximum lees contact. The Eagle is a super concentration of unique aromas and flavours, which can only be achieved through some unconventional vinifications. Eagle Shiraz is treated to a traditional Italian basket press and eighteen months in small French oak barriques, Eagle Shiraz evolves sleek, fine tannins and superb integration.

$17999each $2159DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Purple black. Bouquet of dark small berries freshly picked from the vine, sandalwood, vanilla pod and black peppercorn. Exorbitant palate of marvelous vinosity which has to be experienced to appreciate just how powerful the Eagle really is, juicy blackberry flavours, anise and spice, the structure and are continuity are monumental, a finish that lingers, on and on.

Fashioned from harvests of Viognier grown to the cooler, slower ripening Forest Hut property at Moonambel. The climes are three to four degrees cooler than the Dalwhinnie estate vineyard all year round, so vintage arrives some three weeks later. Vines make the most of the extra time on offer, to ripen grapes fully and develop vibrant fruit characters, translating into a solid Viognier wine with stunning grilled nut perfumes and juicy apple orchard complexity.

$3099each $371DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Deep pale straw hues. Bouquet offers lovely pinenut and pear fruit aromas, seasoned by hints of spice. A brisk palate of crunchy cool climate stonefruit characters, appleseed flavours and satiating savouryness, a fresh and crisp Viognier style exhibiting elegance and restraint, the ideal accompaniement to calamari, braised white meats or fruitbreads and brie.

Dalwhinnie established new vines to choice blocks of undeveloped land in the 1990s, just four kilometres down the road from home vineyards on the Moonambel valley floor. The younger Forest Hut blocks were pampered with care until plantings came of age. Now fully mature, these unirrigated, dry farmed and well canopied, vertically shoot positioned vines are yielding harvests of the most exquisite Pinot Noir, for a richly layered Rosé wine of creamy textures, fragrant fruit and crisp tannins.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN A handsomely hued pink wine fashioned from harvests of Pinot Noir grown to the cooler, slower ripening Forest Hut property. The climes are three to four degrees cooler than Dalwhinnie, all year round, so vintage arrives some three weeks later. Vines make the most of the extra time on offer to ripen grapes fully and develop vibrant fruit characters. The winemaking team know that great Pinot Noir can only come from a healthy, well pruned vine which has the proper balance of fruit to foliage for even ripening. Grapes are treated to thirty six hours maceration for optimal uptake of captivating pink hues, followed by a short term of maturation before bottling.

Very attractive pale eye of partridge red/ orange colour. Slightly savoury nose layered with strawberry fruit characters. Juicy with just the right amount of sweet berries and savoury spice flavours on the palate. The perfect accompaniement to salmon steaks or paella, foie gras, baguettes and cheese.

Dalwhinnie is well into its fourth decade of icon Australian Shiraz. Their parched soils atop the inhospitable climes of the Pyrenees yield restricted harvests of parched berries with aromatic, mouth filling spice characters and intense tannins. Just four kilometres along Taltarni Road on the Moonambel valley floor, Dalwhinnie has been pampering younger plantings at the Forest Hut Vineyard established in the 1990s. Now fully mature, these unirrigated and dry farmed, well canopied, vertically shoot positioned vines are producing intensely flavoured Shiraz.

$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN Crafted from parcels of Shiraz grown to the cooler, slower ripening Forest Hut site. The climes are three to four degrees cooler than Dalwhinnie, all year round, so vintage arrives some three weeks later. Vines make the most of the extra time on offer to ripen grapes fully and develop vibrant fruit characters. The Dalwhinnie team know that great Shiraz can only come from a healthy, well pruned vine which has the proper balance of fruit to foliage for even ripening. Grapes are harvested and gently crushed, destemmed and pumped to fermentation tank for two weeks vinification, followed by transfer to a selection of old, well seasoned French oak barriques for maturation.

Purple black in colour with a lustre and sheen. Freshly ground black pepper, rosemary, bay leaf and dark plum bouquet with a hint of cinnamon. A big, rich savoury wine, well textured with massive tannin structure. A complex, long and lingering finish.

Dalwhinnie vineyard was planted to a unique topographical amphitheatre which precipitates its own meso climate. The site is totally frost free and allows fruit to reach complete physiological ripeness in nine out of ten years. This rare confluence of temperate climes, cooler altitudes and parched Pyrenees soils, sublimate into one of Australia's most enduring and distinctive styles of Cabernet Sauvignon. A stunning wine, the overall impression is of ripe pure black fruits, layered with rich dark chocolate and seasoned by notes of violet and camphor.

$6699each $803DOZEN EACH DOZEN Out in Victoria's west country, planted to rocky scenic uplands, parched vines struggle to survive, yielding tiny little berries of the most concentrated and intensely flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon. Ballarat architect Ewan Jones established Dalwhinnie in 1976, his eldest son David has managed it since 1983. It's the kind of family devotion to winemaking that one finds in the great estates of the world. At 595 metres above sea level, Dalwhinnie is the highest and most remote of the Pyrenees district vineyards. Surrounded and sheltered by the highest crags, this unique bowl of vines is a world unto itself, located in a naturally undulating trough which falls away from the hills.

Dark cherry red. Fine elegant cedar cigar box perfume with lifted dark berry fruits, clean and varietally articulate. Very fresh. Very tight and highly strung, displaying fruit, oak and acid in fine balance. The harmony of these three elements is impeccable for such a young wine. Shows all the character and style of a grand cru left bank bordeaux. The super league of Victorian Cabernet Sauvignon.