The choicest parcels of Pinot Gris are harvested from high altitude King Valley vineyards where the long and sunny autumn days combine with cool nights to yield fully ripened grapes exhibiting crisp fruity acids and well defined varietal expression. The winemaking team at Armchair Critic have taken great effort to fashion an exemplary Pinot Gris without the influence of any oak, to showcase all the prime fruit characters which make this innately food friendly style of wine the first choice to accompany white meats, seafoods and risotto.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Under & Over are crafted through a minimalist approach to vinification, the focus being on maximum expression of distinctive varietal fruit character and heightened regionality. Vines planted to clay loam soils at altitudes of 650 metres above sea level are nourished by ample rainfall and stimulated by the crisp, temperate conditions to grow Pinot Gris with flavour profiles very akin to their siblings in Alsace and the cooler climes of France. Grapes are treated to a brisk tank fermentation at lower temperatures in a quick and precise manner to maximize and retain purity of varietal fruit character. The finished wine is matured unoaked on sedimentery lees to build texture while maintaining freshness and vibrant acidity.

Pale colour with fine clarity. Lovely nose full of rose petal and orange blossoms, exhibiting a clean minerality. The palate is fruit driven, light to medium bodied with pear and nectarine flavours matched by spicey and floral nuances, showing the trademark viscosity and classic Pinot Gris textures.

De Bortoli established their Bellariva vineyard at King River near the base of Victoria's snowfields in 1994. Planted to some of the more exotic Italianate grapes, it is the source of Pinot Grigio and Vermentino for a wine that's more about style than variety, lightly bodied and delicately aromatic, well textured and dry, above all delicious.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN You'll find Pinot Grigio almost everywhere in Italy, Vermentino grows mainly in the south and on the island of Sardinia. Both grapes make the most satisfying dry white wines. In Australia they are very suited to the higher aspects of King Valley. Bellariva Vineyard is planted to sandstone soils covered by shale deposits which have been washed down over time by the river. Vermentino and Pinot Grigio are both whole bunch pressed and crushed to provide a range of phenolics for complexity and texture. Juices are treated to vinification in a mix of seasoned French oak casks and higher solids fermenters. Lees are stirred regularly until completion and the final assemblage.

Light straw colour with green edge. Complex, fresh, slightly nutty nose. Pear fruit characters with nutty undertones. A clean palate with good texture and ample complexity, balanced and refined but ultimately quite gluggable.

Merlot and Sangiovese grow very close to each other in vineyards along the Tyrrhenian coast and up into the foothills of Chianti, where they are famously assembled into the renowned Super Tuscans. Bella Riva is fashioned to be a Merlot Sangiovese accord with style, it's meant to be bright, rustic, savoury, interesting and above all delicious.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Bella Riva are a family of wines in the European tradition that are delicious with food. Bella Riva delivers stylish, mouthfilling wines with robust flavours, crafted from fruit grown to the Bellariva vineyard at King River near the base of the Victorian snowfields. Vines are planted to sandstone and shale deposits which have been carried down over time by the river. Fruit is harvested at complete ripeness, exhibiting balanced levels of alcohol and acidity. Grapes are hand picked and vinified in large static fermenters for ten to twelve days. The wine is pressed, settled and transferred to a selection of well seasoned oak casks for ten months maturation. A component is aged in tank to retain freshness.

Red colour with a garnet edge. Complex, slightly rustic earthy aromas, autumnal and brooding. Sour cherries, earthy flavours and earthiness on a savoury palate with good texture and length, a good red wine that's dreaming of pasta, spaghetti puttanesca would be just the ticket.

Mouthfilling flavours and the natural sweetness of ripe grapes, luscious aromas of pear, pineapple and melon, clean and lively. An irresistible wine of measured sweetness balanced by crispness and refreshing acidity. Crouchen originates from the French Pyrenees where it no longer grows in any appreciable quantity. Brown Brothers are one of the few remaining custodians and have designed some of Australia's favourite wines out of the variety. Perfect at anytime, the ideal accompaniement to seafood or pasta, desserts and cakes or tasty cheese.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Brown Brothers make one of Australia's most popular table whites from a blend of Crouchen and Riesling grapes. Originally from southern France, Crouchen can now be found in parts of Australia where it grows vigorously, producing a wine of fine form and good body with enticing flavours and delicate finish. Riesling, on the other hand, is one of the native grapes of Germany's Mosel River. Blended together they make a stylish and flavoursome wine with super length of flavour and a distinctive stamp of elegance. Brown Brother harvest their fruit parcel by parcel, as grapes became fully physiologically ripe, at the healthiest levels of baumé, bottled immediately after vinification to retain the natural juicy character.

A bright pale straw colour with youthful green tinge. The nose is lifted with passionfruit, ripe pear and peach, honeydew and mild spice. There are persistent floral characters which occupy the senses even as you slurp through this gluggable cup of juicy fruit. To be served well chilled and enjoyed whilst young and fresh.

A lively cépage of Crouchen and Riesling, blushed by a component of the CSIRO hybrid Cienna, an exciting new grape, made by crossing Cabernet with Sumoli. Brown Brothers are renowned for their innovative approach to winemaking and passion for the development of styles that are uniquely Australian. Crouchen Riesling Rosé complements fish and chips, melon with prosciutto or chicken avocado pasta. A flavoursome and vogueish, candy coloured wine offering great length of flavour, in the distinctive, refreshing style of Brown Brothers.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Brown Brothers combine Riesling grapes grown to cooler sites in the King Valley with Crouchen from sunnier aspects along the Murray. Cienna grapes are sourced from the sun drenched Mystic Park vineyard where the vines thrive, yielding ripe, juicy fruit that's made to measure for the fresh supple, and easy drinking everyday style Brown Brothers is aiming for. Harvested at a range of baumé levels from 12°C to 14°C, immediately crushed, inoculated and vinified under cool temperatures to capture the sensational natural expressions of Crouchen, Riesling and Ciena. Bottled immediately after fermentation to retain all the vivacious characters of the vibrant fruit. Alcohol 10.0%

A vibrant, lively salmon pink colour. The nose is lifted with perfumes of strawberry, lemons and passionfruit. The aroma follow through to the palate with mouth filling natural grape sweetness and a crisp balancing acidity. A delicious fruity style of wine that tastes as good as it looks, a Rosé of invigorating flavours and fine body with enticing hints of ripe melon before a long delicate finish. Crouchen Riesling Rosé should be served well chilled and enjoyed whilst young and fresh. This approachable and versatile Rosé is a great accompaniment to a variety of piquant dishes such as a Thai red chicken curry or a chillied Indian marsala, as the natural fruit sweetness helps balance the bight of spicy food.

Brown Brothers are the pre-eminent custodians of Crouchen in Australia. Their viticultural team have established vineyards in the Mallee which are highly specialised to yield the best fruit. Bringing Crouchen and Sauvignon Blanc together in a bright and juicy, refreshingly fruit driven wine achieves the consummate accompaniement to today's contemporary styles of cuisine. An exciting new twist on two long time favourites which are marvelously suited to each other. Plainly wonderful with an Asian chilli, a chicken caesar or cheese and rocquet pizza.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Crouchen is a white grape which originated in the western Pyrenees of France but, due to growing difficulties, is no longer there in any quantity. Sauvignon Blanc originates in the picturesque Loire Valley where it is responsible for the aromatic, deeply flavoured dry whites of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. An assembly of roughly equal components, harvested at a range of baumé levels from 11° to 13°, immediately crushed, inoculated and vinified in tank under cool temperature controlled conditions to capture the sensational natural expressions of Crouchen and Sauvignon Blanc. It was bottled soon after fermentation was complete to retain all the bright, zingy characters of the fresh fruit.

Bright straw colour, green tinges. Lifted aromas of asparagus and capsicum, courtesy of Sauvignon Blanc, passionfruit and ripe pear from Crouchen. The aromas follow through to the palate which is fresh, lively and delicate. Serve well chilled whilst young and fresh.

A stately Victorian Cabernet Sauvignon and the Brown Brothers flagship, released at five years of age. The most superlative parcels are vinified and assembled each vintage into a powerhouse of a wine with intense blackberry palate and juicy tannins. Fruit is sourced from outstanding sites, the Ray and Politini vineyards on King Valley, Zantvoort at Mornington Peninsula, Glenkara in the Pyrenees and Taylor Vineyard at Beechworth. A rich and concentrated Cabernet with sweet berry flavours and fine oak characters to compliment a long dry finish.

$5499each $657DOZEN EACH DOZEN In 1885 at the age of eighteen, John Francis Brown planted Shiraz grapes on his Milawa property, located in the lower reaches of King Valley. Several generations of winemaking expertise have since accumulated and are brought to bear on this most illustrious edition within the Brown Brothers portfolio. Grapes are destemmed and crushed to fermenters with the use of some juice run off to concentrate fruit flavours and intensity. Select small batches are cared for at the Brown Brothers Kindergarten Winery before assembling into an intense and concentrated wine. Patricia was matured eighteen months in a selection of mostly new French oak barriques before bottling and a further spell of cellar ageing. Alcohol 14.0%

Deep crimson colour. Complex aromas of red berries and blackcurrant, while the influence of French contributes a gentle cedar lift. The palate is rich and concentrated with sweet fruit and hints of nutmeg. Exhibits great length and is well structured with ripe flavours and seamless elegant finish. Patricia has evolved beautifully after several years ageing under the Brown Brothers cellars, softening the palate and integrating tannins.

Patricia is the culmination of Brown Brothers commitment to excellence in winemaking and viticultural. A slow and painstaking selection of fruit from the finest blocks of vine is followed by the utmost care throughout vinification, aimed at maximizing palate structure and achieving true elegance. A Pinot Noir dominated wine, from grapes grown to the high altitude Whitlands vineyard, crafted with strict adherence to traditional Methode Champeniose. A splendid effort, complex and rich with toasty fruit and yeast characters, Patricia is intended to impress.

$4999each $597DOZEN EACH DOZEN The climate at Whitlands is ideal for retaining the type of acidity so essential to this style of wine. The property sits at eight hundred metres above sea level in the sub alpine area at the top end of the King Valley. Fruit is hand picked and whole bunch pressed through an air bag. Grapes are treated gently to yield a scant five hundred litres of juice per tonne, minimising the impact of harsher compounds from skins. Base wines are treated to full malolactic for complexity. The secondary ferments are deliberately extended to produce a fine bead, then rested an extravagant five years on lees to develop further complexity. Patricia is then disgorged and liqueured, at an alcohol of 12.5%

Light straw colour with fine persistent bead. Llifted nose with a rich yeast autolysis character and hints of citrus and apple. The palate is full bodied, complex and rich with prominent lemon/ lime flavours and a bready character which lingers. The mouthfeel is creamy and elegant before a crisp, dry finish and with refreshing acidity. This complex and rich sparkling wine deserves to be accompanied by the finest faire, hors d'oeuvres or scallops, soufflé or brie.

Patricia is a muscular and complex Shiraz, named for the estate's matriarch, displaying sagacious handling of fruit from some of Victoria's most exclusive vineyards. Exuding aromas of blackberry, virile spice and fresh ground pepper, as well as vanillin oak characters, Patricia finishes with great length, elegance and finely grained tannins. Immensely suited to peppered beef and ripe, tangy cheese.

$4999each $597DOZEN EACH DOZEN The Patricia Shiraz grapes were sourced from the estate's central Victorian Heathcote Vineyard, Glenkara Vineyard in the Pyrenees, the Banksdale site and the award winning Dinning's Vineyard in the King Valley. The fruit was harvested in parcels determined by physiological ripeness, from mid to late March at Baumés between 13.1° and 14.5º. A component of the wine was barrel fermented for better oak integration, delivering the recognizeable hallmarks of Patricia, great intensity and fine elegance. Following barrel fermentation, the parcels were treated eighteen months under mostly new oak barriques and puncheons (mainly American with some French) before bottling with an alcohol of 14.5%

Patricia Shiraz shows intense, dense, round, supple and ripe fruit balanced with integrated oak flavours. Spicey, charry oak moves onto the palate, brilliantly offset by sweet plum and blackberry fruit, good mouthfeel and texture. Patricia is a complex and concentrated, mint and peppery Shiraz. American oak was chosen as it complements the berry and spice flavours of these Shiraz grapes.

A premium Cuvée, and a standout regional sparkling wine, fashioned from the holy trinity varietals of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. An assemblage of elite parcels of fruit from the estate Whitlands Vineyard and selected cool climate sites around the King Valley. Pinot Noir has brought fullness, weight and length to this tasteful sparkler while the Pinot Meunier adds fruityness and roundness.

$1799each $21588/DOZ EACH DOZEN Milawa is the birth place of the Brown Brothers company, whence the first Brown Brothers wines were released in 1889. It is also the current site of the Brown Brothers winemaking facilities where grapes are received and vinified. All grapes are gently whole bunch pressed to minimise contact between the juice, the skins, and the seeds. 100% of the fruit underwent malolactic, following vinification, the component wines are assessed and a final Cuvée is determined. The assembled wine is then treated to a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Brown Brothers Milawa is then rested on sedimentery lees to add complexity and to allow greater time for the merging of aged and yeast autolysis characters. Approx 13.0%

An attractive pale green-gold colour and persistent bead. lifted aromas of green apples and citrus. Chardonnay from cool regions provides finesse, lightness and elegance, a detectably romatic lift and lavish intensity of fruit. One sip and the wine explodes in the mouth, with citrus flavours accompanied by a soft creaminess. The ideal aperitif, and as an accompaniment to a range of appetisers, natural oysters, smoked salmon or cheese and canapes.

The Brown Brothers Pretty in Pink” is exclusively 100% Pinot Noir. This delicious mouth-watering wine makes the perfect partner to a wide range of dishes. It would be fabulous with a pasta dish or a pizza garnished with savoury elements such as anchovies, olives and capers. Equally suited as a delicious partner to smoked salmon, or as a wonderful accompaniment to a platter of goat's cheese – the slight tartness of the wine working fantastically with the bite of an acidic and flavoursome cheese style.

$1799each $213DOZEN EACH DOZEN The juice of the King Valley Pinot was macerated with the skins of the dark-coloured grapes until the required colour was reached. The juice was then separated from the skins and fermented in the white wine manner. The fruit was harvested in parcels from early March until mid March 2006 at a range of baumé levels from 11.7° to 14.2°. It was bottled soon after fermentation was completed with an alcohol of 12.5%, a pH of 3.33, and an acid level of 8.5gr/l.

The 2006 Rosé is a bright, attractive, vibrant watermelon colour. Hand picked from the King Valley this Pinot Noir Rosé has aromas of watermelon combined with hints of rose petal and a touch of strawberries. The palate inspires words such vibrant, racy, fresh and zesty. Classic in the European Rosé style the wine is almost savoury with a hint of citrus; a lip-smacking wine that makes your mouth water with desire for more. With a crisp refreshing finish, chill and enjoy this wine with or without food.

Prosecco is a variety of grape and style of wine, as well as Denominazione di origine controllata in northeast Italy. Sparkling Prosecco is made using the traditional Charmat method and the best examples come from cooler, slow ripening sites. Some of the Brown Brothers finest vineyards are fortuitously positioned on elevated aspects in the King Valley, where Prosecco has found a new home in climes so very similar to it's origins in the Veneto region of Italy.

$1699each $201DOZEN EACH DOZEN Prosecco grapes thrive in cool growing conditions, inspiring the Brown Brothers team to plant vines on the chilly slopes of their Banksdale property, 485 metres above sea level in the upper reaches of the King Valley. The fruit is picked later and at a slightly higher baume, to deliver a soft and well rounded, approachable young wine. Although the wine is fermented to dry, the extra time fruit spends hanging on the vine allows grapes to develop more intense flavours and aromas. After primary vinification the wine was fermented, Metodo Italiano or Charmat method, in tank to five atmospheres of pressure and bottled promptly to retain the bubbles, achieving an easier to enjoy style of sparkling. Alcohol 11.5%

Straw colour with subtle green hues. Delicate nose displaying pear and apple characters. Exhibits the freshness and vibrancy for which Prosecco is renowned, late picked fruit achieves a softer, rounder palate full of crisp citrus notes. This refreshing sparkler is made to drink young while at its light and delicate best. Prosecco is a great drink to kick off an evening and enjoy throughout the night. Delicious on it's own, perfect with freshly shucked oysters or sushi.