Gapsted have taken the opportunity to acquire superior harvests, grown to the upper and middle reaches of Valley King, constructing a Cabernet Sauvignon of wonderful warmth, integrity and charm. A component of exquisite Barossa fruit contributes comforting chocolatey richness, a precious parcel from a choice site in Heathcote adds palate weight and splendid savouryness. A whole that's greater than the sum of parts, suede textural mouthfeel, generosity of fruit and sound structure, finishing in precisely the right direction.

$2999each $359DOZEN EACH DOZEN Gapsted are owner operated by winemakers and growers who were raised on neighbouring farms. They know King Valley well and settled down with loved ones to plant vines. Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested at night from fine vineyards in Heathcote and Barossa Valley, to be assembled alongside a backbone of cool ripened fruit from the higher aspects of Valley King. Grapes are cold sealed prior to a warm ferment. Batches are pressed off skins after a term of maceration and racked to barrel for completion of malolactic. Components are treated to an extravagant two years maturation in a selection small French and American oak barriques, followed by a light fining for bottling.

Deep black red colour. Dark, ripe, brambleberry and forest floor aromas with hints of spicy cinnamon and earthy beetroot. A rich full flavoured palate brimming with cassis and blackcurrant fruit leading to a lucsious velvety mocha finish. Gapsted fills the whole mouth with fruit weight and finishes on well rounded tannins. Serve Gapsted with rosemary thyme lamb and roast vegetable.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$1799each $215DOZEN EACH DOZEN

In exceptional years, parcels of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot are separately fermented. The best lots are assembled into a multiple trophy winer named Harry's Monster and treated to an extravagant maturation in the finest oak. Very strong in primary fruit, generosity and mouthfeel, its ripe seed tannins are simply singing in its youth, showing exceptional balance on a long lasting finish.

$5399each $647DOZEN EACH DOZEN Grapes are hand picked, destemmed and crushed to small open fermenters. A mix of indigenous and cultured yeasts initiate several days of warm vinification to dryness. Ferments are well aerated, hand plunged and gravity rack returns for a fortnight. Upon completion, the cap is submerged for a two or three weeks to integrate and polymerize tannins. Batches are treated to an airbag press and racked off gross lees to a mix of seasoned and new French oak barriques for malolactic and eighten months maturation.

Deep crimson colour. A dark, brooding bouquet of black cherries and kalamata, violets and bramble. Full palate, densely layered with rich dark fruits and earthy, gamey complexity over a structure of sleek, polished oak and extensive tannins.

$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The auspicious soils of Yarra Valley can be quite old and weathered, so much so that Cabernet Sauvignon may struggle to develop the solid tannins which are so beloved of Australian enthusiasts. A component of Sangiovese is included to contribute good natural tannin and some savouriness. A dulcet rendition of Melba which will inspire you to sing, Lucia resonates alongside grilled meats, braised rabbit or pasta with porcini e olio di tartufo.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN Cabernet Sauvignon from fully mature vines twenty years of age and a component of slightly younger Sangiovese. The Cabernet blocks are cane pruned and shoot thinned to eighteen bunches per vine, the newer Sangiovese to six bunches each. Grapes are hand picked into 8kg buckets and transported to the winery. Fruit is destemmed, partially crushed and tipped into closed fourteen tonnes fermenters. The wine is naturally vinified on skins for a month at a minimum temperature of 25C, pressed upon completion, settled overnight and gravity filled to a selection of new and seasoned oak casks where it matures at 16C for a year or more. Barrels are racked by gravity and assembled into the finished wine.

Bright red with purple hues. Fragrant complex bramble fruit bouquets, dark chocolates, tapenade and cherry ripe aromas. Savoury palate with fine integrated tannins, a touch of undergrowth and rustic charm. An excellent food wine with a penchant for flavoursome, old world styles of cuisine.

De Bortoli retain some of the finest Cabernet vineyards in Yarra Valley. To make the consumate Victorian claret, parcels are assembled with a component of Syrah for suppleness and spice, while the addition of Nebbiolo contributes tannin structure and mouthfilling, old world savouryness. Resonating with fruit and filled with the weight of tiitillating pastoral complexities which will delight aspirants of truly engaging wines, match your Mimi to veal, cutlets of lamb or Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN Mimi's Cabernet vines were planted in 1990, the Syrah in 1994, all are cane pruned and shoot thinned to sixteen bunches, the younger Nebbiolo plantings are trimmed to six bunches each. Grapes are hand picked into 8kg buckets and transported to the winery. Fruit is destemmed, crushed and tipped into a mix of open and closed fermenters. The wines are naturally vinified at warmer temperatures of 25C to 30C and remain on skins over the course of a fortnight for optimal extraction. Mimi is pressed, settled overnight and gravity filled to a selection of seasoned and new oak casks where she gracefully reposes at 16C for over a year. Components are then gravity racked from cask and assembled.

Bright red, garnet edge. Juicy Cabernet nose with lovely savoury, black cherry notes. Very medium bodied with structure and acidity. Richly textured, long, rustic and fine with good tannin. The Syrah and Nebbiolo are quite gentle on the Cabernet, so there is a lovely little leafy note to the blend and a touch of stylish Italianate bitterness.

A superb accord of elite parcels Cabernet Sauvignon from the oldest De Bortoli blocks in Yarra Valley. Fruit is sourced from two estate vineyards, suitably named Old Hill and Old Back, both established 1971. A beguiling overture of seductive dark Cabernet fragrances and fragrant jube berry flavours over fine integrated tannins. Like her eponymous opera star, Melba is conspicuous for her alluring perfumes, exceptional taste and intense crescendos, before an exquisite, memorable finish.

$4999each $599DOZEN EACH DOZEN Vines are cane pruned to twenty bunches each and shoot thinned at the ten to fifteen centimetre stage so that there are no more than fifteen per planting. Grapes are hand picked into 8kg buckets and transported to the Dixon Road wineworks. Fruit is destemmed, crushed and tipped into six tonnes open fermenters. The musts are treated to a natural fermentation on skins at a minimum temperatures of 25C, followed by a spell of three weeks maceration. Batches are pressed, settled overnight and gravity filled to a selection of seasoned and new fine oak casks where they mature for a year or more at a very temperate 16C.

Bright crimson red with traces of garnet. Fragrant seductive varietal aromas with a nuance of cigar box and leaf, rich and complex nose, leafiness and blueberry over a background of sweet earth and cedary oak. Full fleshy texture, sweet black and red fruit flavours with complex notes of dusty earth, leaf and dried herbs, fine grain, well integrated tannins before a long harmonious finish. Enjoy alongside roast pork or lamb.

$13999each $1679DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Cabernet Sauvignon are among the earliest planting at Mitchelton, they have thrived under the balmy climes and yield an outstanding harvest with each vintage. A compilation of fruit from some of the oldest blocks have been treated to a traditional vinification and term of age in the pick of luxury oak barriques. Elegantly structured, intense savoury aromas are complemented by sweet leather and musk, the palate is all about concentrated black and red fruits layered over tasty tar and savoury black olives, fine, chewy tannins draw the palate out to exquisite length.

$2799each $335DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$3299each $395DOZEN EACH DOZEN