A passion is shared by the entire Sticks team for crafting vintages of the finest Yarra Valley wine. Their work is their pastime, as they stroll amongst the vineyard, nurturing each planting by hand, in anticipation of a healthy harvest. The range of expression on offer from their canon of auspicious sites, affords the team an opportunity to fashion a finely textured Cabernet Sauvignon with engaging black cherry perfumes, a plush, bramble filled palate and gentle, velvet tannins.

$2099each $251DOZEN EACH DOZEN Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested predominantly from a block of hanging cane vines grown to the estate E Block and a small parcel at Upper Ngumby Vineyard. Grapes are destemmed and crushed into static fermenters for inoculation and vinification. Upon completion of ferments, a component is pressed and returned, the batches are treated to an extended maceration of three weeks on skins and tasted daily to determine optimal extraction of fine tannins. Parcels are filled to a combination of maturation vessels and 300L oak barrels for thirteen months.

Deep crimson red. Mulberries, blackberry and black currant bouquets. Savoury spices, freshly roasted coffee and dark chocolate make for a complex wine. A palate of ripe berries and currant, long, fine grained tannins adding structure and finesse. A medium weighted and firmly structured wine, striking the balance between strength, palate weight and cool climate elegance.

Sticks Dolan developed a passion for making good wine whilst playing Aussie Rules footy for Port Adelaide! Sticks is a vibrant Chardonnay with exemplary integration of oak, sourced from premium vineyards operated by some of the Yarra Valley's finest growers. With access to the best Yarra Valley Chardonnay, Dolan's role as winemaker is very straightforward, to craft a wine that allows the outstanding quality of fruit to speak for itself.

$2099each $251DOZEN EACH DOZEN Chardonnay is sourced from estate blocks and the Upper Ngumby vineyard, all planted at the foot of Christmas Hills range. Hand picked grapes showing outstanding acid balance and varietal character are the basis for the wine, harvested on the very day they achieve maximum ripeness. Fruit is whole bunch pressed, juices are treated to a day of cold soak, followed by racking into a selection of seasoned and new 300L French oak hogsheads, 500L French oak puncheons and controlled fermenters. Batches are vinified on gross solids to infuse savouryness and complexity. Upon completion, components are aged nine months on sedimentery lees before assemblage into the finished wine.

Pale lemon with green hues. A very attractive wine offering a panoply of white peach and citrus, brioche and light oak caramel cashew oak inflenced aromatics. Flavours of stonefruit, nectarine and peach, limes, crisp apple and grapefruit are complimented by toastyness stemming from the judicious time spent in oak.

Sticks stands amongst Victoria's preeminent and innovative winemakers, operating out of a single site located in the heart of the picturesque Yarra Valley. Great wines begin in the vineyard, the quality of the fruit source is pivotal to the consummation of the final wine. Nobody is better positioned than Sticks Dolan, through his association with the best Yarra Valley growers, to appropriate the finest grapes. The Sticks style of Pinot Grigio is thoroughly fruit driven, eminently fresh, and marries beautifully with food.

$2099each $251DOZEN EACH DOZEN Pinot Grigio is harvested from late February to early March, throughout the chill of early morning. Grapes are pressed and dejuiced into fermentation vessels, inoculated to wild indigenous yeasts for eighteen days of vinification on gross solids. Upon completion, components are held on yeast lees and stirred every few days for six weeks before bottling.

Pale straw with a salmon hue. Pear, white flowers, flint, apple and mineral aromas, a tickle of perfumed strudel spice. Crunchy white pear and fragrant straw notes, rich mid palate with a touch of honey suckle and a crisp mineral finish. Match with grilled scallops, schnapper and garlic aioli salad.

Rob Sticks Dolan's career in the wine industry began under the tutelage of Greg Clayfield and John Vickery at the enduring Rouge Homme. Dolan established his affinity for Pinot Noir on the international stage when he claimed the prestigious Bouchard-Finlayson Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir at the prestigious London International. Sticks represents an immensely satisfying and approachable Pinot Noir, crafted from fruit grown to some of Yarra Valley's most splendid vineyards, tended by loyal friends and long time associates.

$2299each $275DOZEN EACH DOZEN After qualifying at Roseworthy, Rob worked at Arrowfield and Rothbury before taking on chief winemaker at Yarra Ridge. His skill was rewarded on the national show circuit when he won top gold at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show and placed in the Jimmy Watson taste-off. Pinot Noir grapes are destemmed and the whole berries are pumped into open pots and static fermenters. A gentle vinification is essential for a wine of delicacy and finesse. Upon completion, just before dryness to minimise big tannin extraction, batches are pressed and racked into a combination of French oak hogsheads for a course of malolactic and a year on sedimentery lees.

Vibrant bright red with purple hues. Dark cherry and plum, spice and red berries on the bouquet. Rhubarb, wild cherries, jube fruits and nutmeg, a textural Pinot Noir in a light spicy/ savoury style with mid palate vinosity. Mellow vanilla and cocoa oak around a core of of multi fresh red berry characters, textured spice and savoury flavours over lingering fine tannins at the finish. Have Sticks Pinot Noir with anything you crave, duck, salmon or cheese.

Rob Dolan is a charismatic winemaker and towering sportsman to boot. At 6 foot 6, Rob acquired the nickname Sticks during his dual premiership for Port Adelaide. He ultimately pursued his passion for making great wine, working alongside some of the most accomplished names in the industry. Dolan settled on a tally of superb sites in the Yarra Valley from which to draw fruit for his self titled label. Citrus and stonefruits, jasmine notes and flor, guava and grapefruits, the greenness of snap pea, lemongrass and thyme.

$2099each $251DOZEN EACH DOZEN The lion's share of the Sticks winemaking operation grew out of the eminent Yarra Ridge vineyards and wineworks, one of the most successful brands and picturesque estates in all Yarra Valley. Parcels of Sauvignon Blanc from Yarra Glen and Healesville are loaded directly into the press, crushed, racked for clarity and seeded, a portion of cloudy juices and barrel ferments infuse complexity, batches are rested on sedimentery yeast lees for several months to build richness and texture.

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN

A cool climate Cabernet wine of impeccable integration and exceptional balance. Sourced from the Trevor's Cabernet Block on Fowles Plunkett Whitegate Vineyard in Strathbogie Ranges, where harvesting generally occurs from late February through to early May. The sandy loam soils on the elevated and undulating, gently inclined site stimulate the vines into yielding the most intensely flavoured Cabernet berries with pungent aromatics and toothsome tannins. A very well balanced, full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a long flavourful finish.

$2699each $323DOZEN EACH DOZEN Following harvest and the crush, fruit is inoculated through the action of Saccharomyces cerevisiae AWRI 796, a relatively neutral yeast originally isolated in South Africa, it allows the richness of Cabernet Sauvignon to express itself. AWRI 796 produces above average amounts of glycerol, which contributes a sweetness and roundness to the mouthfeel. Parcels were treated to vinification in high tech sweep-arm fermenters to maximise colour and flavour intensity. Ferments were kept at a temperature controlled 25ËšC to preserve primary fruit flavours. Stone Dwellers is matured in small one year old, mostly French oak barrels with a smaller percentage of American oaks.

Dense, plum red color. The vibrant, varietal bouquet offers chocolate aromas with oak and spice. The palate shows dark fruits and chocolate, supported by a solid structure that finishes long and lingering. Stone Dweller carries no residual sugar, whilst delivering a good balance of alcohol, meaty tannins and refreshing acid. To accompany oxtail pie with roast chestnut and red wine jus.

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Following decades of devoted viticulture, Plunkett Fowles have accumulated extensive local knowledge of soils and microclimes peculiar to the Strathbogie Ranges. Their efforts have crystallised into some of Victoria's most memorable wines. Stone Dwellers represents the fruits of labour and of experience, the best varietal expressions from Strathbogie Ranges each and every vintage. Roughly equal portions Shiraz are sourced from the estate's Whitegate and Upton Run Vineyards, to construct a wine with a generous palate and vibrant aromatic lift.

$2699each $323DOZEN EACH DOZEN The Strathbogie Ranges are inland, cool and elevated, characterised by ancient granite boulders. The soils are typically sandy clay loam overlying orange clays of varying depths. Shiraz is sourced from a number of blocks from within the Whitegate and Upton Run properties to increase complexity. Grapes are harvested and crushed, inoculated to a Cote du Rhone isolate yeast and vinified at 23ËšC to 28ËšC in high tech sweep arm fermenters to maximise colour and flavour intensity while preserving primary fruit flavours. Upon completion, the finished wine is matured in a mix of American and French new oak barrels and older 300 litre oak hogsheads.

A deep, dark red. Aromas of dark chocolate, red fruits and that characteristic pepper and spice from the Strathbogie Ranges. Big, rich and dense with lovely fine grained tannins. Stone Dwellers is pleasingly dry, has balanced alcohol, graceful tannins and refreshing acids. A medium to full bodied wine with structure and very good length, ideally suited to seared beef with kipflers & redwine jus.

The pictuesque Plunkett Fowles vineyards occupy choice sites throughout the rolling plateaux at the heights of the Strathbogie Ranges. The quality of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown here are clearly within the Ivy League of the finest Victorian fruit. An assemblage of roughly equaly proportions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white grapes share their origin equally between a variety of blocks within the Plunkett Fowles Upton Run and Whitegate Vineyards. The black grapes are drawn exclusively from the Trevor's Block at Whitegate.

$2699each $323DOZEN EACH DOZEN Grapes are picked early and harvested throughout the cool of the night to ensure fruit temperature are low , thereby preserving primary fruit characters. The Pinot Noir grapes were whole bunch pressed, a process which minimises phenollic extraction and bitterness, leading to a more delicate wine. Batches are inoculated to culture EC1118, a strong competitive yeast which possesses the ability to ferment at low temperatures, create good flocculation and has excellent alcohol tolerance. Vinified in tank at 15ËšC to preserve primary fruit flavours, fermented to dryness, the wine was kept on its lees to add complexity. Stone Dwellers was held on secondary fermentation lees for a short period prior to bottling.

Lively appearance, creamy and long lasting with a continual fine bread. Bouquet shows bright citrus aromas with peach notes and some yeasty complexity. It has off-dry residual sugar, balanced alcohol, soft balanced tannins and refreshing acid. To accompany hors d'oeuvre, a pungent camembert or smoked mussels.

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN