Jimmy Watson Finalist 2006, Gold Medals Sydney International + Royal Melbourne, Silver National Wine Show. Shiraz for this wine came from superior Blocks 6 and 7, positioned to a north south aspect. The vines were planted in the nineties, making them the oldest and most balanced in the vineyard. Winemaker Michael Clayden has taken home gold and silver at many events, where he often participates as an associate judge. He has worked at several major Lindemans wineries, and his special passion is for Shiraz.

Mostly a Marsanne Cuvee with a smaller proportion of Roussanne, the only white varietals allowed in France's northern Rhône appellations. Traditionally mated together, they produce a flavoursome white for those who like to experience a challenging and robust palate, preferably to the accompaniement of fine food.

The best Chardonnay always exhibit conspicuous balance. Those fortunate enough to have countenanced the wines of Tallarook will understand why Terra Felix are so well received. The objective is to create a robust style of Chardonnay which can be enjoyed in its youth, without evolving too rapidly while in bottle. A measure of oak is perceptible yet inseparable from the fruit, characters derived from vinification contribute complexity without dominating.

Tallarook vineyards are situated on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Ranges in Central Victoria. Originally planted in the mid eighties, some of the estate's sites have been specialized to grow Rhone varietals such as the esoteric Rousanne, winning much recognition and acclaim for Tallarook.

A smooth, powerful and intense Chardonnay of great complexity. Wild yeast, lees and elegant, well-integrated oak combine with Tallarook's intense green melon and citrus flavours, to form a harmonious palate with deeply satisfying texture and lingering, savoury aftertaste.

The stately wineworks, beautiful gardens and scenic finger lakes of Tahbilk, would not look out of place amongst the great vineyards of the old world. Bundles of Viognier cuttings from the distinguished Rhone Valley appellation of Condrieu, were amongst the first vines established at Tahbilk in the 1860s. They continue to outperform, yielding an absorbing white wine with an exquisite mix of nutty, mineral characters, the accompaniement of choice, to match all mussel and shellfish recipes, succulent baked pork with apple dressing or artisanal white meat terrines.

There's something very old world about the imposing wineworks and ancient cellars of Tahbilk. It should be no surprise that the indigenous Rhone Valley white varietals, planted by Tahbilk's founders, have performed so well within the temperate climes of Goulburn and Nagambie. An exciting cépage of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier, in true Cotes du Rhône styling, seamlessly assembled into a beautiful drink of charming perfumes and dulcet flavours.

Tahbilk are one of Australia's historically significant, grand old winemaking estates. Founded in 1860 and labelled as Chateau Tahbilk until recent years, it is the home of seriously old, white varietal vineyards. Riesling is a style that Tahbilk do extremely well, cleanly fragrant and soft on the palate, with the distinctive presence of Goulburn Valley fruit, its crisp lime acid backbone supports an extended length of flavour, exquisite varietal complexity and graceful arcadian charm.

Tahbilk have the magic touch with old vines, custodians of a priceless prephylloxera block established in 1860 and productive to this day. Sourced from parcels averaging thirty to forty years of age, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are treated to a traditional old world style of open ferments in an ancient collection of 150 year old oak vats, followed by extended maturation in a mix of the finest French and American oak. The perfect accompaniement to seared rib, kipflers and red wine jus.

Tahbilk are a bulwark of Victorian Shiraz, the original plantings are some of Australia's eldest productive vines. Traditional vinification techniques, as practised by Tahbilk's winemakers in the 1860s, are still employed, the original Chais of the wineworks remain to this day a most integral part of the operation. Wine & Spirits Magazine selected Tahbilk's original 1860 Vines Shiraz Vineyard as one of the great twenty five vineyards in the world, along with such illustrious icons as Romanee Conti La Tache and Chateau Lafite, Vega Sicilia and Chateau Y'Quem.

Many of the earliest pioneers to plant vines in the thirsty colonies of young Australia, favoured the characterful styles which were native to the south of France. Tahbilk was originally established with cuttings of the more charismatic varietals from Valley Rhone, bequeathing a legacy of the nation's most venerable Marsanne. Museum Release affords enthusiasts of classically evolved white wine, the opportunity to engage with the sumptuous applecake, nuttyness and flor of an estate matured Marsanne.

Established circa 1860, amongst the scenic Nagambie Lakes, Tahbilk is one of Australia's most historic wineries, with a long and proud history of producing Victoria's most reliable Cabernet Sauvignon. Following his return from service after World War II, Eric Purbrick discovered a cache of wine hidden in 1876 under the Tahbilk cellars. Though pale in colour, it was sound and drinkable after 71 years. The promise of long lived red wine inspired Purbrick to establish new plantings in 1949, today they are some of Victoria's oldest productive Cabernet vines.

Tahbilk's history with Marsanne can be traced back to the 1860s when White Hermitage cuttings were sourced from St Hubert Vineyard. The grapes in fact were Marsanne and although none of these plantings have survived, Tahbilk still produces Marsanne from ancient stock dating back to 1927, some of the oldest in the world. Marsanne has immense individuality of flavour, good body and well worth trying if you want something different. A long and distinguished succession of Tahbilk Marsanne vintages have claimed multi trophy and copious gold.

Victorian accords of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre are sufficiently rare, ideally, an estate must have a heritage which dates back to early settlement before they can consider crafting such a wine. The first nascent plantings at Tahbilk were sown with cuttings from Valley Rhone. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre have taken to the local surrounds and today yield the finest harvests in Victoria. A deeply charismatic wine of provocative sweet and savoury fruit characters, exquisitely balanced over a length of elegant, tensile tannins.

A profuse and intricate, old vines Shiraz, articulating the complex personality and extraordinary depth of character achieved through the legacy of historic estate plantings. The majority of fruit is picked off a precious endowment of vines planted 1933, treated to an old world style of vinification which has changed little since 1860. Stunningly perfumed before a penetrating palate, polished showroom tannins and velvet textures, a truly remarkable Shiraz to match with fragrant red wine braises and seared aged meats.

Crafted from the best of vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, the choicest parcels collated from across the wonderful endowment of Tahbilk vineyards. It was the serendipitous discovery of a very old bottle Cabernet, unearthed just after WWII, from within the ageing Tahbilk wineworks, that inspired Eric Purbrick to re establish opearations after a long period of neglect. Tahbilk remain home to the eldest and most distinguished Cabernet vines. Eric Stevens Purbrick is dressed to impress, intensely flavoured with opaque berry flavours, sheathed in a veneer of graceful oak.

Victorian Chardonnay is known for its affable nature and easy to appreciate apple fruit characters. Tahbilk have been one of the nation's most successful purveyors of Australian white wine since well before Federation. The fruit of their distinguished old vineyards was at the very fore of the resurgence of interest in Victorian table wines during the 1970s. A crystalline textured, beautifully rounded Chardonnay with an elegance of fine oak, seamlessly in support of its crisp, Goulburn Valley fruit palate.

From one of the oldest productive blocks of Marsanne in the world, an opulent white wine of remarkable complexity. The pick of fruit from this very special patch of ancient vines is crafted into a wine that's built to age beautifully in bottle, initially brooding and water white, evolving luxurious caramelled characters while unravelling layers of flavour. Within a few short years of inaugural release, 1927 Vines Marsanne continues to claim a breathtaking number of significant trophies, dozens of gold medals and countless accolades from the industry press.

Outstanding Langtons Classification. From one of the most famous vineyards in the world, a half hectare of ungrafted, prephylloxera plantings, amongst the oldest productive Shiraz vines to be found anywhere. Internationally renowned for its eloquence as well as its historic significance, 1860 Vines Shiraz is treated to an old world vinification in a collection of hundred years old, oak fermentation vats. 1860 is crafted to remain true to its ancient heritage, the smells and flavours of an old fashioned wine, within a structure of enduring elegance and timeless refinement.

A refreshingly unoaked assembly of Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc, sourced from the Strathbogie Ranges and Barooga in Victoria, with further parcels from the Barossa Valley. An even ripening produces excellent fruit intensity, while retaining excellent balanced natural acidity. Passionate about the obscure and about fashioning a spectrum of styles, T'Gallant is driven by an extraordinary commitment to quality. The very best European winemaking techniques and philosophies have been applied in the vinification and it shows in the glass.

Sugarloaf Creek Vineyard is situated within the rolling hills of the Great Dividing Range, on the boundary of three geographical regions, the Goulburn Valley, Upper Goulburn, and Macedon Ranges. The cooloer climes here translate into a long and slow ripening period for the fruit. Established by the Blyth and Hunter families in 1998, the vines have been planted and nurtured to maturity completely by hand. The entire vineyard is planted with Shiraz PT23 vines on their own roots and is a labour of love, maintained by the two families.

The pictuesque Plunkett Fowles vineyards occupy choice sites throughout the rolling plateaux at the heights of the Strathbogie Ranges. The quality of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown here are clearly within the Ivy League of the finest Victorian fruit. An assemblage of roughly equaly proportions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white grapes share their origin equally between a variety of blocks within the Plunkett Fowles Upton Run and Whitegate Vineyards. The black grapes are drawn exclusively from the Trevor's Block at Whitegate.

Following decades of devoted viticulture, Plunkett Fowles have accumulated extensive local knowledge of soils and microclimes peculiar to the Strathbogie Ranges. Their efforts have crystallised into some of Victoria's most memorable wines. Stone Dwellers represents the fruits of labour and of experience, the best varietal expressions from Strathbogie Ranges each and every vintage. Roughly equal portions Shiraz are sourced from the estate's Whitegate and Upton Run Vineyards, to construct a wine with a generous palate and vibrant aromatic lift.

A cool climate Cabernet wine of impeccable integration and exceptional balance. Sourced from the Trevor's Cabernet Block on Fowles Plunkett Whitegate Vineyard in Strathbogie Ranges, where harvesting generally occurs from late February through to early May. The sandy loam soils on the elevated and undulating, gently inclined site stimulate the vines into yielding the most intensely flavoured Cabernet berries with pungent aromatics and toothsome tannins. A very well balanced, full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a long flavourful finish.

The House of Seppelt has created some of the most praiseworthy, historically significant, and highly awarded sparkling wines in Australian show history. Fleur de Lys is a popular, non vintage Cuvee, assembled from base wines across several harvests, bottle fermented to a level of complexity and consistency of style from year to year. Fashioned from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown to Seppelt's extensive and specialised cool climate vineyards, Fleur de Lys is soft and elegant in style with subtle, integrated fruit and yeasty aromas.

A boutique, hands on winemaking enterprise of extremely limited production. Sedona take aim each vintage to construct a bold varietal style of Cabernet Sauvignon, showing vibrant characters of blackberry and cassis, with a power and weight of fruit that has become a Victorian benchmark. The superb efforts of Sedona can be found on some of the most exclusive wine lists in the country.

Preece can be proud of a history spanning several decades and representing many of Victoria's most memorable vintage releases. The salubrious fruit growing terroirs of Goullburn are an idyll for the noble Chardonnay grape. Old and new world vinification techniques serve to place the quality of fruit right upfront, as framed by a judicious use of oak and supported by luxurious lees complexity. A generous Chardonnay wine delivering a punch of nectarine, rockmelon and vanilla flavours, offering good structure and lovely creamy textures.

Reams of Goulburn Valley varietal characters, a medium bodied Sauvignon Blanc, juicy with natural sweetness, yet dry on the finish, plenty of savoury personality as well as lively minerality.

Carlo Monichino grew up among the illustrious old vineyards of Asti in Piedmonte. He migrated to Australia 1949 and planted his own rootstock at Katunga in the Goulburn Valley 1962. Carlo's fascination with the opulent styles of Rutherglen delivered him the prestigious Chris Killeen Trophy and a precious block of the most exquisite Durif vines. Treated to the wonderful old world regimens of hand plunging and open ferments, Monichino age their Durif in nothing but the finest, exclusively new French and American oak for a luxurious eighteen months.

Shiraz was one of the first varieties planted by Carlo Monichino in the 1960s, he recognized the suitability of Goulburn Valley for viticulture and set out to make wines as he did, while growing up amongst the undulating vineyards of Italy's Piemonte. Monichino remains a largely family run operation, neighbours and the extended relations all join in at vintage. A splendid Shiraz, crafted exclusively from estate grown fruit and treated to an extended maturation, for a thoroughly charming wine of engaging complexity and exquisite balance.

Monichino are all about honest wines made from good fruit, grown to a dearly loved vineyard, by fair dinkum people with endless passion. The remarkable quality of fruit, harvested off twenty six estate owned and operated hectares of low yielding vines, can only be achieved by close husbandry and hard work. The viticultural team are driven by their enthusiasm to maximise the intensity of flavour and encourage the unique characters of each grape.

Brown Muscat and Black Muscat, treated to a cool ferment on yeast lees alongside a parcel of Mourvedre for colour and complexity. Sunraysia is the place which ripens grapes to heightened levels of flavour and mouth filling complexity. A brisk vinification, aimed at retaining moreish fruit sweetness and capturing the crisp frizzante, is bottled while rejuvenatingly vibrant and preserved under crown seal. Refreshingly low in alcohol and brimming with pastel pink characters, this is the wine to serve alongside fruity nibbles or piquantly spiced Al fresco fare.

A flagship Victoran effort, traditionally crafted from Shiraz grapes picked off the oldest and most superior blocks within the Mitchelton estate vineyard. The vines receive little water so they drive their gnarled roots deep down through the sandy soil layers in search of moisture. These veteran vines are naturally devigorated and unirrigated, meticulosuly managed by hand, ensuring precious yields of small, intensely flavoured berries which are reserved for the creation of this eminent edition of Victorian Shiraz.

The opulence of mature vines Shiraz, grown to the fertile blocks along Goulburn River, banked by mighty red gums and surrounded by propitious billabongs, an essential part of the terroir and clime which make the wines of Mitchelton so structured and refined. Goulburn is a shangri la for winegrowing, harvests are measured but the quality of fruit is breathtaking. Redolent of spice and juicy black plums, mullberries and milkbox, reductions and fruit, supported by the leather savouryness of ripe oak tannins, Shiraz which defines the enduring Victorian style, generously proportioned yet elegant and poised.

The very wine which defines the greater Nagambie Lakes district as a region that's so opportune for the the fleshy white styles of Cotes du Rhône. Marsanne was an early pioneer of Goulburn Valley viticulture, it has found a home away from home in the Victorian midlands, evolving into a refreshing, yet engagingly complex genre of table white that goes astonishingly well with fine food. Its radiant goldish hues presage a blossoming bouquet of peaches and white floral, a textured, mineral palate of juicy savouryness, almonds and nougat, before a refined, delicate finish.

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.

Half Shiraz with a quarter each Grenache and Mourvedre, all treated to a separate ferment and course of age before assembling into the final Cuvée. Victoria grows structured yet elegant Shiraz, the Rhonesque Mourvedre and Grenache require a sultry clime to encourage full development of piquant varietal characters, Mitchelton's plenitude of scenic lakes provide the optimal environment. An engaging mix of juicy red fruits and ripe black cherry, mocha notes and exotic spice, layers of complexity over a length of lovely silky tannins, coating the palate with peppery bramble, seamless and refined.