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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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The dedicated team at Bird in Hand are driven by a determination to grow into one of the world's great wineries. Proprietor Andrew Nugent lives and works among the vines and the winery. Bird In Hand» |
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So popular are the wines of Pepperjack, that the label hosts its own society of dedicated enthusiasts. This devout cohort of zealots, converges at bespoke venues to discuss matters Pepperjack, they dine on prime beef and imbibe in their cherished libation. Pepperjack» |
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Pete Yealands is a natural viticulturalist, happiest at work on the land, he has established many of Marlborough's most splendid vineyards. Single site Awatere Pinot Noir from an exposed terrace on the upper ridge of Seaview Vineyard, planted to some marvelous Dijon clones. Yealands Estate» |
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Don Lewis spent thirty five years crafting the nation's most memorable vintages while at Mitchelton. Nowadays he travels to Spain each year where he makes wine for Merum Priorati, returning to Australia just in time for vintage. Tar Roses» |
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A passionate, family owned and operated winery who've been rewarded with highly coveted Royal Melbourne Gold for their impressive Langhorne Creek reds. Temple Bruer have been waving the magic wand with their brilliant efforts at Merlot, scoring further medals at the Small Winemakers and Rutherglen Wine Shows. Temple Bruer» |
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Warre's have re-established themselves as the most innovative marque in Port, balancing a long tradition with innovation and ongoing appeal to new generations of enthusiasts. The clean, modern style makes an excellent fortified wine that continues to claim gold medals at the world's leading competitions year after year.. Warres» |
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Amherst is a town rich with colourful history and local folklore, site of the first official gold find in 1851, it launched a mining rush which expanded throughout central Victoria. The district's long association with viticulture is also prolific and colourful. Amherst» |
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Twice Gold Medal Challenge International du Vin! Moscatel and Gewürtztraminer grapes, grown to estate vineyards on the mountains of the Upper Penedes, form the backbone of fruit for Viña Esmeralda, a delicate but strunningly fragrant wine. The dry fig and raisin characters of Moscatel de AlejandrÃa give Esmerelda it's luscious and flavourful palate, fleshed out by the orange of Frontignac or Moscatel de Grano Menudo as the Spanish say, further enhanced by the complex aromaticness and spice of the vivacious Traminer.. Torres» |
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There are two superb high altitude sites in Carey Gully and Piccadilly Valley, which yield an extraordinary quality of Sauvignon Blanc. Knappstein take the top cut of each harvest, crushing the fruit for a long cool vinification, treating a batch to the added richness of oak barrel ferments for texture, complexity and weight. Riposte» |
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Serafino Maglieri came to McLaren Vale in 1968 and devoted his life to wine. From picking to pruning to cellarhand, he worked his way up to plant his own vines and build his first winery. Serafino» |
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The highly opportune Pinot Noir vines at Bird In Hand are planted on the site of an ancient gold mine, a godsend of fortuitously fertile soils, magnificent growing conditions for stellar quality Adelaide Hill wines. Fermented in own bottle and aged five years on lees in true Méthode champenoise, the term of extended maturation imparts luxurious biscuit notes, chantilly crème and frais de bois. Bird In Hand» |
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About Bellvale - the Winery
Bellvale
Established 1998, Bellvale are a family owned winery vineyard operated by principal, winemaker and viticulturalist, John Ellis
Situated along the lush Tarwin River valley of South Gippsland, the area is acknowledged as one of Australia's best Pinot-Noir producing regions. This is reflected in Bellvale's numerous international and national awards over the last decade. The name, Bellvale, is derived from the Ellis family's rich agricultural heritage, which may be traced back to a farm in Nieuw Amsterdam (the New York area), in the late 1600s. The Bellvale label features two majestic oak trees that grace the centre of its vineyard. Exposure to Australian wines sparked an interest in terroir down under. What followed was a lengthy period of research and the selection of South Gippsland's cool climate. John now produces wines that are acknowledged as some of the regions finest, in keeping with the premium producers of the Burgundy region.
John Ellis spent many years on Long Island, in southeast New York, before emigrating to Australia in the 1980s. His abiding passion for fine wine and viticulture stem from extensive free time spent in Europe during a 25 year career as a commercial pilot. To maintain his interest, John followed several agricultural paths during that time, including planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to supply the first vineyard in the Hamptons during the 1970s. Over time came many trips to Burgundy to hone his knowledge of traditional French winemaking methods and traditional viticulture.
Ellis chooses to adhere to the traditional methods of the premium producers in the Burgundy region, where vine density is high and crop load limited to sacrifice quantity for quality. He manages 10 hectares of Pinot Noir and 5 hectares of Chardonnay, a number of clones used for each variety, adding subtlety and complexity.
Bellvale's flavour profiles present the full expression of a vineyard tended the artisan way. Ellis ensures that the vineyard creates the wine, there are no fancy tricks in the winery. The only embellishments are maturation in a combination of new and used French oak barriques for a minimum of 12 months.
Not so long ago, the South Gippsland region along Australia's southeast coast represented brave new territory for Pinot Noir grape growers. It is now acknowledged as one of the country's leading Pinot Noir-producing regions, with Bellvale's own vineyard rated as one of the top two for the region. There are a combination of warm days and cool evenings because of the southwesterly flow off the Southern Ocean, which is beneficial to the ripening process. Irrigation is unnecessary and the vineyard enjoys excellent drainage, a propitious north facing hillside position, large natural terraces, basaltic red clay loam soil of ancient volcanic. These are all conditions which yield exemplary harvests for the crafting of outstanding Victorian wines.
Bellvale's Pinot Noir is elegant and well structured, featuring a powerful palate of rich, ripe black fruits, with a fine oak influence. Her cool climate Chardonnay is crisper, due to higher acidity, tightly structured, with a well defined balance between fruit, secondary characters and integrated oak. The estate's vines have extensive and very deep root systems, which allow the fruit to more effectively express the terroir. John Ellis concurs with the French masters that great wine is made in the vineyard. The knowledge and experience Ellis gained working vintages in Burgundy translate into Australian wines of amazing richness, seamless integration and the most wonderful complexity.
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