The winemaking at Dominique Portet has one foot planted firmly in tradition and the other in the latest developments. It is ultimately an empathy for the grape and respect for the shared experiences of winemaking pioneers which drive the Portet wineworks, nestled amongst the flourishing vineyards of Victoria. It is from these propitious sites on the benign aspects of Yarra Valley, that Dominique Portet identifies auspicious parcels, so akin to the peerless quality of harvest that he husbanded during his childhood amongst the vines of Château Lafite.

$6899each $827DOZEN EACH DOZEN Making wine has always been a family affair for the Portets. Dominique is the ninth recorded generation in a family of vignerons dating back to eighteenth century France. A love of winemaking traditions developed from growing up amongst the vineyards. Arriving in Australia 1976, Portet quickly became an integral part of the Victorian wine industry. For the Porterts, wine is life, it has a cycle from earth to table, it is the first love. Ben Portet has worked under the direction of Brian Croser and Con Moshos at Petaluma, at Taltarni with his father, the Napa Valley and South Africa, in Bordeaux with Philippe Blanc of Chateau Beychevelle, in Reims with Louis Roederer, and the Rhone Valley where he specialised in Hermitage Syrah.

Beet red hues, darker robes. Bouqets of currant and cassis, dark cherry and coffee/ cocoa complexed by light dusty spice and pencil notes. A finely structured Cabernet of solid, savoury yet silky tannins, blackcurrants and bay leaf/ green peppercorn/ spice notes over a backdrop of controlled oak. Unequivocally Yarra Valley in its articulation of Cabernet Sauvignon, drink magnificently on release whilst relatively young.

Dominique Portet comes from a great lineage of notable winemakers, he clearly shines at Sauvignon Blanc, honing his style during tours of duty at Taltarni and Napa Valley's Clos du Val. Totally unworried about competition from across the Tasman, Portet's style of Sauvignon Blanc enjoys a growing demand in Qantas business class and throughout the world. Fashioned to be vital and exhilarating in it's youth, while appealing to those who are excited by what the French term a sauvage style of Sauvignon Blanc.

$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN Totally unworried about competition from across the Tasman, Portet's style of Sauvignon Blanc enjoys a growing demand in Qantas Business class and throughout the world. Dominique Portet has brought flair and fancy French styling to harvests of the most splendid Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Parcels are collated from the family vineyard at Coldstream, a unique terroir which achieves a Sauvignon Blanc that's a bit unique. Firstly, grapes are left on the vine a little longer, picked by hand and pressed at cooler temperatures for a different kind of flavour. A long cool vinification retains the crispness of Sauvignon Blanc on the vine, a course of regular lees stirring adds aromatics and infuses gentle creaminess.

Bright, light lime/ straw colour. Aromas of lime blossom, white peaches and spring flower. The flavours are clear and crisp, a lovely creamy texture, especially on the mid palate. Fresh, dry and so refined, completely ideal as an aperitif, day or night with canape of salmon, seafood ceviche or antipasto. Enjoy at any time and match with or without food.

From harvests of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, assembled off the salubrious Dominique Portet vineyards. The temperate seasons of Yarra Valley allow for complete ripening of fruit, components grown to climes further afield at Heathcote or the Pyreness encourage the development of fragrant pepper spice and the most graceful tannins. The lucky grapes are all hand picked, destemmed and very gently crushed, to be fashioned into a sublimely integrated accord, showing suppleness on the palate after an engaging nose of delicate perfumes.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN Dominique Portet did his training at some of the world's most illustrious red winemaking estates. He qualified at the Montpellier University of Oenology and during a compulsory one year military service was the Legion's wine purchasing adviser. Portet spent vintages in the Medoc, Rhone Valley, Provence and with Moet et Chandon. Following vintages in the Napa Valley, the founding of Taltarni and Clover Hill, vintage 2000 would see the establishment of the Dominique Portet label. Choice harvests of Cabernet Sauvignon are treated to a three day cold soak, vinified and left on skins for two to three weeks before maturation, mostly in a selection of fine French oak barrels.

Bright purple red in the glass. Juicy dark fruit aromas and flavours that focus on blackberry, plums and red cherry with a floral lift. A wine of supple texture and intense fruit, clear crisp acidity makes the flavours evolve over lovely soft tannins, making this elegant red blend so very easy to drink right now, ideally alongside pink butterfly lamb, Coq au vin or egg ribbon pasta with meatballs.

$2699each $323DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Named for a stylized French stone fountain which stands outside the Portet wineworks, Fontaine is an entirely appropriate adjective for this effortlessly luscious wine. Fontaine Rose is tickled pink, the colour just blushes through the glass, a visually stunning wine with chic and panache, as designed by Monsieur Portet. Parcels of Yarra Valley Merlot and Cabernet infuse the wine with delectable flavours of mixed summer berry, a component of Pyrenees Shiraz adds a sprinkling of revitalizing spice to the lightness of the easy drinking pink style.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN Dominique Portet calls Australia home, but his bond with Bordeaux cannot be broken. His family has been in the wine industry since 1780 and before. It is actually longer but any official records were lost during the revolution. The earliest remaining document dates back to 1720, relating to the sale of Eaux de Vie by the Portet family to Martell. Fontaine is sagaciously fashioned to emulate the French penchant for leisurely drinking, where Rose sipping is venerated as the most rejuvenating pastime. Savouring a chilled, blush coloured wine on balmy evenings is considered de rigueur amongst the bon vivant of Provence, it's now an essential part of today's relaxed Australian lifestyle.

A blushing, rose coloured wine. Scented with plum, cherry, jujube and spice characters, made complex by lighter fragrances of biscuit and confection, rosewater and glace. A mouthful showing fruits of the forest and spice, ripe black cherry, blueberries, red apple and stalk. Delightfully fruit driven in moreish styling, a fresh, elegant wine with a superb red berry fragrance and delicious drying, savoury finish.

Heathcote produces the most distinctive Shiraz wines, lined by noble tannins and carrying a serious weight of fruit. The rich terra rosa soils and favourably sunny climes make the region so exciting for protagonists of world class Shiraz, that it beckoned Dominique Portet to impart continental flair and skill into parcels of the choicest local fruit. A solidly structured wine, instantly recognizable as Heathcote, endowed with showroom tannins and an intensity of bramble flavours, luxuriously refined oak and minarets of peppery, aromatic spice.

$4999each $599DOZEN EACH DOZEN Dominique Portet is the ninth generation of his family committed to winemaking, yet he is the first to establish a winery and label bearing the family name. His training began early, at one of the world's most illustrious estates. Portet's father was regisseur (vineyard and winery manager) of the great Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Shiraz is harvested as the fruit reaches the desired levels of physiological ripeness. Following selection and sorting, grapes are inoculated and macerated in fermenters, followed by transfer to a selection of the most luxurious Allier, Nevers and Tronçais French oak barrels for an extended maturation and term of bottle age underneath the Dominique Portet cellars.

Deep garnet colour. Nose of bright, ripe red and black fruit, liquorice and freshly milled spice over red and black cherry notes. Delightfully approachable in its youth, the distinctive plum and spicy pepper flavours are supported by smooth but firm tannins. New French oak enhances the complexity of flavour, Portet is a master in the fine art of handling oak without destroying the fruit. A match to duck, steak and the finest cheese.

$3699each $443DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Dominique Portet grew up amongst the vineyards of France and appreciates the rejuvenating qualities of blush coloured wines. The vibrance of Yarra Valley Chardonnay is dominated by a slightly larger component of savoury Pinot Noir, all grown to good local vineyards and fashioned into the cultivated French interpretation of Rosé. The tide has turned in Australia towards the refreshing, savoury styles which have always been heralded in France. Ready to drink when slightly chilled, Dominique Portet is the pink sparkler of choice to enjoy at every occasion.

$4199each $503DOZEN EACH DOZEN Portet is the ninth generation of his family to be committed to winemaking, yet he is the first to establish a winery and label bearing the family name. Brut Rose is a cepage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, grown exclusively to fine vineyards in the cool districts of Yarra Valley. Brut Rose draws on centuries of French tradition, bottled fermented and disgorged shortly before release, receiving only a small amount of red wine and a light addition of liqueur tirage. Grapes are all hand picked, gently pressed and vinified before being treated to secondary fermentation inside its own bottle. Aged and tiraged for two years under the Dominique Portet cellars, disgorged and lightly dosed prior to resealing and release.

Deep salmon pink colour with a a creamy mousse and persistent bead. Fresh strawberries and rose petals on the nose, nuances of stonefruit and hints of light bread spice. Red berry flavours and tangy rhubarb characters, peaches and red delicious apple follow through to the fresh and dry, creamy finish. Without a doubt, this sparkling sensation will add something special to boardroom luncheons, long languid dinners and discrete soirées.

Elgee Park is the oldest vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula. The picturesque property is situated at the end of Wallaces Road, amidst the protected gentle hills of Merricks North, one of the warmest sites on the peninsula. Established in 1972 by Baillieu Myer and family, the five hectare property was the first in a new era of distinguished Mornington vineyards. The splendid maritime conditions which surround the vines are so very similar to that of Bordeaux. Limited quantities of exceptional wine are released each year under the Family Reserve label.

$2299each $275DOZEN EACH DOZEN Elgee Park vineyard covers the north facing slope of a natural amphitheatre, with a view across Port Phillip Bay to the Melbourne skyline, as depicted on the label. Surrounded by gardens, the vineyard is adorned by a gazebo and sculptures, hand hewn fences and an array of roses at the end of each vine row. There's normally good rainfall throughout the growing season and the climate offers an extended ripening period, ideal for premium grape growing. After being harvested at perfect ripeness, grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, drained, pressed and settled. The free run juices are cool fermented, settled and racked, filtered and bottled to arrive at a wonderfully fresh, crisp and aromatic style. Alcohol 13.0%

Pale straw colour. Perfumed bouquet of lime, passionfruits and rose. Wonderful cool climate citrus and lime, apple and a hint of peach as well as dry, savoury mineral. The palate is crisp, delicate and dry, showing great length, abundant with citrus and floral flavours.

$5899each $707DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Euroa Creeks is a hand crafted single vineyard Shiraz, only sixty cases of the inaugural vintage were available in Australia. The eight acres of vine are nourished by a number of creeks that have traditionally brought just enough water to make the land arable. In recent years the area has been drier than usual, vines have truly struggled and tonnages are at their lowest, but the grapes have been packed with flavour. Vintage 2006 was an almost perfect growing season and 110 cases of Reserve were produced. Vintage 2007 was totally wiped out by frost.

$5599each $671DOZEN EACH DOZEN Exclusively Goulburn Shiraz, grown by Jo and Andrew Gall, vinified by David Lloyd, owner operator of Mornington's Eldridge Estate. Lloyd was keen to see what happens when a cool climate winemaker delves into warm climate Shiraz. Located a little east of the township of Euroa, the vineyard produces intensely flavoured grapes which are hand picked and crushed in the field over the course of several days. The batches of juices and skins are then brought back to the winery at Red Hill for fermentation, pressing, ageing and bottling. Treated to an extended maturation, Euroa Creek wines are aged in a selection of American and French oak barrels, a high proportion of which are always new.

Dark brooding red colour, plum and dark berry hues. An intensely flavoured and perfumed Shiraz in the Rhone style, rich red berry nose with a little cinnamon, vanillan and spice, flavours of plum which follow through to the palate. Euroa Creeks is always rich and powerful, endowed with the classic blackberry Shiraz characters, firm tanins and great length. Vintage 2006 claimed Gold Medal at the 2008 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge.

From a stately bequeath of the original Halls Gap plantings, established 1969 on the inhospitable slopes of the Victorian Grampians. The highly precious, single block of fully mature vines yields a meagre crop of extraordinary Riesling grapes, the parched berries are ripened to perfection by the clear skies and frigid climes, forming an indulgence of profound esters and intense flavours. Gloriously perfumed yet magnificently dry, lustrous and textural to the palate, populated on the tongue with delicate notes of ripe green apple and soft white fruits, citrus rind and sprays of fresh acidity.

$3499each $419DOZEN EACH DOZEN