Hubert de Castella's passion for Yarra Valley saw him establish St Huberts in 1862. By the late 1800s it had grown to be the largest winemaking estate, the wines enjoyed immediate success in markets local and abroad. The onset of the Great Depression, the increasing popularity of fortified wine and the emerging profitability of dairy farming saw the vineyard revert to grazing in the 1920s. It wasn't until the 1960s that Yarra Valley again rose to prominence as a wine producing region and St Huberts was once again, one of the leading protagonists.

$2799each $335DOZEN EACH DOZEN Sourced primarily from vineyard sites on the lower slopes of Yarra Valley, which provide the warmth required to produce rich, flavoursome Cabernet and Merlot grapes. The individual vineyard parcels are vinified in a range of fermentation vessels to enhance the complex flavour and tannin profiles of the fruit. Parcels are separately pressed off skins and racked into French oak to develop further depth and complexity. The aim is to construct a wine true to the regional style whilst highlighting the harmony and splendour of the synergy between Cabernet and Merlot. The finished wine is treated to an extended term in a selection of seasoned and new French and American oak barriques.

Deep red with crimson hues. Lifted Merlot red currant and cherry notes are married with the leafy plum Yarra Valley Cabernet. Toasty, cola oak, complex with earthy, black olive characters. Medium bodied, a round and even palate, the Cabernet component shows cassis, Merlot's offers fleshy red fruits, the tannins are soft and supple yet persistent, subtle oak derived notes of bacon and smoke in the background.

St Huberts won much fame in Europe during the latter part of the 1800s, for the extraordinary quality of their new world wine. In the twentieth century, this noble estate lead the Yarra Valley's second golden age. The present day property boasts old vines planted in 1966 which generally yield low crops of intense fruit, brimming with rich flavours. A mere twenty one hectares of vine are crafted into one of Victoria's most enduring Cabernets. A tribute to the quality is the assertion by local growers that these vines produce the best Cabernet Sauvignon in Yarra Valley.

$3799each $455DOZEN EACH DOZEN The precious St Hubert Cabernet blocks were reclaimed after the property reverted to grazing and dairy in the 1920s. The soil is relatively deficient in some nutrients, thus the vines are not overly vigorous. The scarce winter rainfall is collected in a dam at the vineyard and used for irrigation as required in summer using a trickle irrigation system. Fruit is primarily sourced from St Huberts Block, with the inclusion of parcels from Yarra Valley flats. Individual batches are vinified in open vats and closed static fermenters, each in turn is pressed off and racked into a high proportion of new French oak barriques for fifteen months maturation, developing superb depth and wonderful complexity.

Dark red, crimson hues. A brooding example of Yarra Valley Cabernet, intense dark berry fruit notes of blueberry and cassis, violets intertwine with reserved, integrated oak and just a hint of mocha. The palate is medium to full bodied, showing lovely roundness and depth. Tannins from the fruit and oak are ripe and powdery, providing excellent structure and length. A stately wine to be enjoyed alongside aged sirloin and jus.

Originally established in the nineteenth century, essentially on the basis of its magnificent wine growing potential, St Hubert remains to this day one of the finest viticultural sites in Yarra Valley. Vines are all managed by hand and the fortuitous mesoclimes yield the finest fruit. The property enjoys a long tradition for splendid Pinot Noir, recent show successes include back to back wins as best Pinot Noir at the Yarra Valley wine show.

$3499each $419DOZEN EACH DOZEN St Huberts are blessed by the most favourable winegrowing conditions in Yarra Valley. The land is gently sloping, maximizing drainage and preventing vines from getting wet feet, allowing an even spring growth and greater vine balance. The northwest aspect maximises exposure to the sun, vital for slow, even ripening and good acid retention within a cool climate region. Vines are all hand pruned, extremely labour intensive but it achieves harvests of the finest wine grapes. Pinot Noir is hand picked and vinified in small, open fermenters, using whole bunches to add complexity. Upon completion, the finished wine is matured in a selection of new and seasoned, exclusively French oak barriques.

Medium red with crimson hues. Fruit characters of dark cherries and macerated plum, overlayed with earthy, forest floor notes. These are complexed by spicey oak and some stalky aromas from whole bunch inclusion. A lovely example of Yarra Valley Pinot Noir with fleshy cherries and red berries to the palate, medium bodied with a round middle palate and soft velvety tannins. Spicey oak, with a little toast adds length to the finish.

$2099each $251DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Meet the biggest personality in Pinot Noir to come out of Yarra Valley, Hubert the Stag. With a history dating back to 1862, it's suffice to say St Hubert know from good Yarra Valley Pinot Noir. Vines are planted to some of the most fortuitous aspects in Victoria, closely husbanded to yield limited harvests of the most splendid fruit. The St Huberts team craft the Stag to be unpretentious and approachable yet exuberant and bright, affable and urbane yet packed with character and charm. Everything that fine Yarra Valley Pinot Noir should be and nothing it should not.

$2399each $287DOZEN EACH DOZEN Pinot Noir has to be hand made and it's fun to make, temperamental and challenging. At St Huberts, the job is made a little more rewarding by the bounties of the soil, well drained clays and loams which are relatively deficient in some nutrients, keeping the vines from becoming overly vigorous, perfect for Pinot Noir. Fertilizer is applied every two or three years to replace the nutrients that the vines take out of the soil. The overall objective is to maximize the potential of one of the best vineyard sites in the Yarra Valley. The Stag is vinified in small, open fermenters, including whole bunches to add complexity, followed by several months maturation in a mix of seasoned and new French oak barrels.

Bright red with crimson hues. Attractive macerated dark berry fruits and ripe cherry notes on the bouquet mingle with underlying game and spice characters followed by a hint of oak. Soft fleshy fruit notes follow, the structure is light to medium bodied, the palate is framed by subtle dusty tannins. Hints of oak and plum persist on the finish. A fruit driven style with enough complexity to entice most Pinot lovers to enjoy everyday.

St Mary's Winery is situated on a strip of Terra rossa soil, some fifteen kilometres west of the township of Penola. Originally a grazing property, the poor topsoils working in combination with rich Terra rossa underneath, yield scant quantities of the most powerfully flavoured wine grapes. Exclusively estate grown Cabernet is harvested for the creation of St Mary's House Block, a wine of overall richness and fine palate structure, dense with varietal fruit character and Coonawarra charm, harmoniously integrated after extended ageing.

$3099each $371DOZEN EACH DOZEN The exclusive little vineyard is sited on part of a grazing propertry that has been owned and operated by the Mulligan family since 1937. The vines are planted on an elevated area of Terra Rossa soil over limestone. The soils are generally very stony. Some of the more austere parts of the vineyard are virtually pure rock. The vines that have survived on these stony areas produce relatively small tonnages compared to local averages. Small batches of hand picked grapes are fermented in open vats, basket pressed and barrel matured in climate controlled storage before being bottled on premises. Treated to an extended maturation in a selection of American and French oak hogsheads.

Black cherry colour with deep ruby hues. The bouquet is an enticing mixture of ripe, blackcurrant fruit characters complemented by gentle integrated French oak. House Block Cabernet demonstrates exquisite balance, fine Coonawarra richness persists, sultry aromatics expressing regional mint along with pepper and new leather over olives and graceful vanillan oak culminate on lingering and supportive tannins.

One of Australia's finest examples of the abstruse hybrid grape, the progeny of a matrimony, Peloursin & Shiraz, grown to one of the world's most exclusive appellations, crafted by one of Australia's most capable custodians of Durif. A history of phyloxera has served to quarantine the vines and preserve the sacred old rootstock. Rutherglen is fortuitously endowed with the most precious productive parcels of Durif anywhere in the world. A meaty, toothsome wine of dense loganberry fruit flavours, dusky pastille and mouthcoating bitter chocolate tannins.

$3799each $455DOZEN EACH DOZEN Rutherglen has gained a reputation for full bodied dry reds with singular ageing potential. The Stanton & Killeen property sprawls over a roll of picturesque, gently undulating farm country. It is the local history and traditions that make Stanton & Killeen central to the history of Rutherglen and development of winemaking in Australia. Some of the original vineyards planted by Jack Stanton in 1921 are still in production and yield some of the finest fruit in the district. Norman Killeen married Jack's daughter and joined in the family business to establish Stanton and Killeen. A harvest of Rutherglen's finest Durif is vinified and aged fifteen months in a combination of new and prior use French and American oak barrels.

Dark scarlet colour. A strong varietal bouquet displaying hints of violet, cinnamon and cloves with a mix of crushed dark berries. The full bodied palate shows great appeal with spicy fruit flavours including berries and plums which are rounded out with some clean toasty oak. An outstanding balance of fruit, acid and tannin structure.

$6199each $743DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Stefano Lubiana believes that every sip of wine should tell you a story, like a movie or good book. It should have a beginning, a middle and an end, one that builds gradually to meet the expectation of a high level satisfaction and enjoyment. Truly great vineyards manage to tell a compelling story each and every year. Located in the Granton region, along River Derwent, Lubiana's closely cossetted block of Merlot is planted to a patch of propitious silty gravel loams. It speaks of healthy soils, fertile with the elements which infuse the wine with redolent plum blueberry flavours, gentle textures and velvet tannins.

$3599each $431DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Primavera gets better every year, Lubiana experiments with wild or cultured yeasts and employs whole bunch ferments where appropriate to create remarkable wines. He is mindful that Great Pinot Noir is never a blockbuster, Primavera opens with engaging bouquets of red floral fruit, the story that follows tells a tale of juicy berries, fine grained tannins and a touch of undergrowth. Inspiring improvements throughout the vintages have been achieved, without compromising the seamlessness and balance of a forward drinking, limited production Pinot Noir in light Beaujolais styling.

$4099each $491DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Vibrant crimson red, purple hues. Engaging aromas of red fruits and a touch of undergrowth, the story that follows tells a tale of juicy ripe fruit, fine grained tannins and lingering natural acidity. Tthe palate shows a neat balance of sweet fruit and ripe savoury tannins. Good Pinot Noir is never a blockbuster, Primavera is always made to be enjoyed in its first flush of youth. Stefano recommends sharing over lunch with smoked meats, pancetta quails or fresh tuna.

$11599each $1391DOZEN EACH DOZEN

There are a few parcels of Shiraz on the Lubiana property which lend themselves very nicely, to the finely boned styles of Cotes du Rhone. Selection of fruit is the genesis, the manner of vinification plays an essential role. The timing of macerations are cardinal to the extraction of fruit, building velvet texture and infusing fine tannin, ferments for the most part, must be carried out without moving or disturbing the wine as it evolves. A judicious term in fine French oak has trimmed and shaped the palate to perfection, Stefano recommends smoked meats, suckling pig sausages or quail in pancetta and polenta.

$6199each $743DOZEN EACH DOZEN