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Mandoon are a Swan Valley operation of great provenance, their homestead vineyard being an ancient block established on the first rural grant in Western Australia, circa 1929 at a property named Sandalford. Always on the lookout for exceptional parcels of fruit, the highly decorated Mandoon team have focused on a northern block of Research Station Vineyard in Margaret River. Mandoon» |
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What fine Riesling Clare Valley does make, internationally recognized for wines of immaculate fruit character and delicate pastoral charm. Reillys manage many of Clare Valley's most exquisite vineyards, they bring a range of the most satisfying and approachable wines to enthusiasts with every vintage. Reillys» |
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Pietro D’orsa found work in Australia as a winegrower circa 1868, quenching the thirst of miners during the Victorian gold rush. Several generations later, Pietro's progeny returned to viticulture. Sanguine» |
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The first and final word in world class Barossa Cabernet, aged in a luxurious selection of completely new French oak hogsheads. The Ashmead block is so low yielding that it was almost gutted and re established to more productive plantings. Elderton» |
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A wine of pure Barossa fruit by a master who loves Shiraz and is devoted to the valley he calls home. Grant Burge has been awarded every major trophy and medal in Australia, including the Montgomery, Stodart, Brisbane Club and Jimmy Watson. Grant Burge» |
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There's a single block of Montepulciano along Bird In Hand Road at Woodside in the northern Adelaide Hills, a warmer site with rocky, well drained soils, perfectly suited for Italians. The seaside influence of Gulf of St. Bird In Hand» |
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The Daisy Hill district thrived throughout the 1850s, due to its location along the main route to and from gold fields. The Amherst property sits atop old alluvial tailings, ancient diggings can still be seen around the property dressed in rich quartz soils. Amherst» |
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Peter Lehmann has always been Riesling's most outspoken advocate, he has claimed best Riesling trophy at the prestigious London International on more occasions than any other, he declares Riesling to be his wine of choice if marooned on the proverbial desert island. Early picking of fruit from a superior single vineyard in the salubrious climes of Eden Valley has produced a fresh, lively Riesling, expect this captivating wine to exhibit genuine charm and offer great longevity as it narrowly missed being bottled behind Lehmann's flagship Riesling label.. Peter Lehmann» |
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Characterized by its controlled power, elegance and finesse, a very special Pyrenees wine which redefines the great Cabernet virtues of stature, structure and length. The inaugural release claimed Gold and Best Wine ahead of two timeless Bordeaux icons, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Cos d'Estournel. Taltarni» |
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Given the scarcity of Best's prestige, limited release, old vineyard icons, Bin #1 affords enthusiasts their first taste of the Great Western Shiraz style and leaves them eager to discover more. A classic, cool climate, aromatic wine, floral and spicy, peppery and elegant, retaining vital Great Western fruit character. Bests» |
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An exciting innovation in a Methode traditionnelle, enriched by strawberry. A component of Pinot Noir is treated to extended time on skins for perfect uptake of charming rose colour, to be blended back with Chardonnay after primary ferments. Lindauer» |
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An eminent Cabernet wine which can lay claim to coveted accolades such as Blue Gold Sydney International and Gold Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Jacobs Creek retain South Australia's finest vineyards and aim to improve the quality of wine every year. Jacobs Creek» |
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About Keith Brien - the Winery
Keith Brien
A former commercial pilot, Keith Brien gave up his career in the clouds to start a new life from the ground up
Keith trained with prestigious winemakers in the Burgundy commune of Pommard, founding the Cleveland wineworks on the Macedon Ranges in 1989. He continues to observe, teach and participate in viticultural and winemaking experiences throughout the world. Brien quickly learned that a combination of the most up to date technology and traditional practices produce the finest wines. He also learned that as vines grow older, they begin to struggle and produce lesser yields of more expressive grapes. The fruit of Old Vines is highly prized because of its intensity and depth of character, a quality for which there is no substitute in the art of winemaking. The fruit for the Old Vines Vincenzo range comes from plantings established in the early 1960s. The gnarled, fully mature vines show a natural suitability to the rugged soils and warm climate.
When Brien began working with the late Vincenzo Conte’s eldest son in 2003, the vineyard required extensive re-working to achieve maximum quality fruit. Since then, Brien and Vince have worked to establish new trellis and pruning techniques to improve the viticultural management. Through continued care and dedication, the reinvigorated vines will lay new quality standards. It brings Brien great pleasure to walk amongst these old vines which display their struggle for survival through gnarled and twisted trunks rising from the meagre soil that feeds them.
The Macedon ranges create a unique environment in Australian terms with climatic conditions similar to those of Rheims in the Champagne area of France. Three hectares of vineyard were planted on the Cleveland property in 1984 to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the lower northern paddock. The first vintage was in 1988 and the remaining samples of Chardonnay still drink extraordinarily well to this date.
The Croucher vineyard at Whitlands lies on the back road to Mt. Buller at the high end of the King Valley at an altitude of 780m above sea level presenting as the highest Riesling vineyard in Australia. The rich red volcanic loams are set in a mountainous, ultra cool climate and no irrigation ensures the vines are not too vigorous. The site was previously source for Brown Bros Patricia Reserve, its longer ripening period yelds some of the highest quality Riesling to be found anywhere.
Keith Brien has been a winemaker for decades. He left Cleveland Estate in 2003 after twenty five years of meritorious service and established his own label under the banner of Silver Wings. He now serves as chief winemaker for Marquee Artisan, acting as consultant for the brand since its inception. Brien continues to pursue his passion for making long lived single estate wines. He is consumed by his love for the old vines styles of the Valley Rhone, Shiraz, Mourverdre and Grenache, assembling the noble trio into exquisite wines of rich, spicy rich flavours supported by deep and delicious, tannic complexities. He has also established a new genre of luxury sparkling with a highly praiseworthy Late Disgorged Macedon, liquering the Cuvee with X.O. Cognac, aged eighteen years on lees, it exists in a class of its own.
Brien takes great interest in offering a taste of rare and interesting wines from his own personal and private collections at the estate Cellar Door, quartered in a restored art deco warehouse at Munster Terrace in North Melbourne. Keen enthusiasts should avail themselves of the opportunity savour a unique experience across a hand chosen range of truly exciting wines.
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