In 1871 Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell proposed a thought experiment which involved a hypothetical creature known to physicists as Maxwell's little demon, it has stirred debate in the science community ever since. Maxwell of Mclaren Vale have built a solid reputation for hand made, rich and robust red wines that combine exquisite fruit with solid structure and finesse. Little Demon is a triple entente of Shiraz Grenache and Mourverdre, rich, round and effusive, absolutely exquisite, even in its youth.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN Maxwell is an estate with a history and a global reach which belies it's modest size. One notable block of vine originates from stock imported to South Australia by John Reynell over 150 years ago. Maxwell's cuttings were taken directly from the original Reynella vineyard, planted over three decades ago into the shallow topsoil over solid limestone soils on the crest of the estate. The property makes the most of an early ripening, even in extreme weather conditions, grapes are harvested with generous flavours, fine tannins and deep colours. Little Demon is a mostly Shiraz wine, seamless with Grenache and Mourverdre, matured eighteen months in a selection of seasoned French oak hogsheads.

Dark red purple hue. Floral bouquet abundant with black cherry and plum fruits over hints of aniseed, black olive and tar. Dark berry fruits and cherry persist on the palate with hints of black pepper and long savoury tannins. The Little Demon exhibits great weight of fruit, superb length and remarkable balance. Made to enjoy upon release, a good match with risottos, carpetbag and farced vegetables.

Named for the labyrinthine conifer maze along old Ellen Street adjacent to the Maxwell wineworks, Minotaur is a McLaren Vale icon, treated to a minimalist old world vinification and two years repose in a selection of the finest French oak puncheons. Exquisitely perfumed with dark tarry fruit bouquets, cherries, cigar box and caravan spice, its voluminous palate continues to unravel layers of complexity as the wine breathes and evolves. Fewer than 200 dozen are ever vintaged, an immense Shiraz of power, purity and persistence.

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Since 1979 Maxwell have built a reputation for producing hand made, rich and robust red wines that combine exquisite fruit quality with structure and finesse. Shiraz is a specialty and their superlative efforts have brought Maxwell much acclaim for their definitive McLaren Vale regionality and purity of expression. The shared sentiment around the Maxwell wineworks, is that life's too short to drink bad wine. A generously proportioned Shiraz with excellent depth of flavour, long, velvety tannins and splendid palate length.

$2299each $275DOZEN EACH DOZEN Situated right at the original heart of McLaren Vale, just north of main street on gently rolling hills, Maxwell's is the perfect place to make wine. There are five unique open fermenters, the idea being to recreate the gentle hand plunging methods of years gone by. Vinified over the course of several days to dryness, these fermenters provide a soft method of extraction, colour, flavour and tannin, from the skins and seeds into the juices. Holding only two tonnes each, they afford the team an opportunity to focus on premium small batch vinification techniques and to treat each parcel of fruit individually. The finished wine is matured sixteen months in a mix of seasoned and new French and American oak hogsheads.

Deep dark red with crimson hues. The bouquet is abundant with dark plum and blackberry fruits, coupled by hints of mocha, spice and a dash of liquorice. Delivers all the virtues of the finest McLaren Vale Shiraz, a plush palate showing rich dark berry fruits, mulberry and dark chocolates with underlying notes of freshly ground black pepper, matched by subtle oak.

Whilst the main McGuigan winery is situated within the heart of the picturesque Hunter Valley, McGuigan's multi award winning wines can source fruit from a wide and varied expanse of good vineyards. The primary aim of the innovative winemaking team is to produce a range of complimentary wine styles that deliver exceptional quality and consistency. To achieve this goal, parcels of Merlot grapes from choice sites have been assembled into Bin 3000, achieving a vibrant plummy wine with luxurious mouthfeel and gentle tannins.

$1499each $179DOZEN EACH DOZEN McGuigan Simeon Wines, being Australia's third biggest listed winemaker, retains an impressive inventory of prestigious vineyards. To ensure quality of fruit is consistent for Bin 3000, winemakers spend a considerable amount of time amongst the vines. Grapes are sourced from various irrigated and dry land vineyards, harvested at optimum flavour ripeness throughout the cool of night. The must is vinified for several days at moderate temperatures. After primary fermentation, the grapes are pressed then clarified before being inoculated with malolactic bacteria. Once this secondary fermentation is complete the wine is assembled and matured in oak barrels prior to finishing, filtration and bottling.

Plum colour with a deep red hue. Mocha and caramel aromas over a bouquet of raspberry jam, dark cherry and complex fruits of the forest. Rounded vanilla and caramel palate is balanced by intense fruit flavours of raspberry, cherry and ripe plum. A great accompaniment to dishes such as lamb sausages and roast duck legs. A fully balanced wine, the subtle oak flavours integrate perfectly with the lifted raspberry and persistent dark ripe plum fruit flavours. The rich and rounded palate has good depth and intensity of flavour. Bin 3000 delivers a solidly structured red wine with a well rounded finish to be enjoyed now alongsde lamb or lasagna, succulent roasts or runny, washed rind cheese.

In commemoration of the year Samual McWilliams planted his first vines, 1877 is a national flagship, crafted from the best fruit of vintage. The choicest parcels of estate grown Shiraz are sourced from superior mature vines on the original McWilliams plantings at Barwang among the Hilltops. Since inaugural release, 1877 has accumulated a breathtaking list of wine show trophy wins and countless gold medals. A wine of immense power and drive, its refined line of tannin holding it all together in an act of balance and precision.

$7499each $899DOZEN EACH DOZEN McWilliams 1877 represents a no expenses spared approach by one of the nation's most accomplished and enduring winemakers. Grapes are all picked by hand throughout the cool of early morning. Small parcels of the best and boldest Shiraz are crushed and cold soaked in open top fermenters for three days, a third are included as whole bunches. Batches gently warm before inoculation to choice yeasts, hand plunged on skins over the course of a fortnight. Upon completion, batches are gently pressed and racked to a high proportion of new French oak puncheons and hogsheads for ten months maturation on fine lees. Components are assembled in January and treated to a light fining prior to bottling.

Vibrant red purple hues. Bright fruits of dark cherry, pepper and charcuturie, coupled with lifted florals and fresh toasty nutmeg oak. Medium bodied, brightly lit acidity and fine slatey tannins, perfumed fruits and meatiness continue to evolve. An immense, powerful palate in complete balance and harmony, judicious oak matches the boldness of fruit, before a long plush finish.

Peter Robertson was a Lancaster gunner during World War II. Over the course of thirty missions, he was introduced to wine by his pilot, John Seppelt of Great Western. Robertson turned to farming after the war and planted the Hilltops first vines in 1969. Robertson's Barwang property has since produced some of the most memorable vintages. Parcels from two elite blocks are vinified into a richly concentrated, classically structured Cabernet Sauvignon, showing great length of black fruit flavours, olives, currants and eucalypt, over a structure of elegant oak and sound tannins, a wine of opulence and grace.

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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.

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