Sam Coverdale’s first premium pinot captures the linear focus and cooler expression of Mornington that comes from the lofty position of its highest vineyard. It’s an attractively textural style that harmonises perfumed elegance with well-textured structure. Powerful red fruits and rose hip fragrance are supported by tangy acidity and fine, supple tannins. $46 direct.

read

There is both confidence and grace here, a difficult combination to achieve in SSB fermented entirely in new oak – surely a testimony to both the predominance of semillon in the blend and to the expertise of the estate. This is a tightly focused style that completely soaks up very classy new oak, expressing itself […]

read

The more I come to know Mt Difficulty and see its wines at various stages of life, the more I appreciate that these are pinots engineered for the long-haul. True to the style of the house, this is a release built more around structure and tannin than fruit and generosity, a refreshing and noble counterpoint […]

read

Gimonnet’s home village of Cuis is a high-tensile expression of the northern Cote des Blancs, rounded out with reserve wines back to 2002, stored in bottles rather than tanks. The result is the quintessential blanc de blancs aperitif, delightfully pristine and pure, with crisp lemon and grapefruit and refined lemon blossom. Notes of almond nut […]

read

Belles Annees was first created for America, a blend of different vintages of Gastronome with significant amounts of reserve vintages to create more complexity and body. A slightly lower pressure produces less bubbles, making for a more vinous, accessible and food-friendly style. It’s powerful by elegant Gimonnet standards, with ripe peach, preserved lemon, rich mixed […]

read

A strong representation of grand cru Cote des Blancs terroirs makes Gastronome a highlight of the Gimonnet line, and the great vintage of 2008 makes this the finest since 2002. Such is the breathtaking delicacy of chardonnay from this vintage that experiencing this wine is akin to the sensation of stepping outside and taking your […]

read

Fleuron is perhaps the most complete picture of Gimonnet, a blend of every village of the estate. The powerful white fruits of the village of Cramant take the lead, leaping out of the glass in a display of starfruit, pear, apple and spice. It quickly pulls into a taut, mineral finish where deep-set chalky minerality […]

read

“Rosé de Blancs” is a statement that even Gimonnet’s pink wine is made in the chardonnay style of the house. The base wine is the Gastronome cuvée, 100% chardonnay, to which is added a 12% dose of pinot noir red wine for colour and a touch of red fruit flavour. This produces a rosé of […]

read

In response to overseas demand, Gimonnet made a champagne with no added sugar. Rather than creating a cuvée for the purpose, Didier Gimonnet instead chooses the cuvée from the year with the best balance to stand without dosage (currently Fleuron 2005). He admits he always prefers the wine with dosage – no surprise. “Champagne without […]

read

Lovedale is one of the great single vineyard semillons of the world, and its pedigree and sheer magnificence only emerge after some years in bottle. 2007 is a grand rendition, maturing ever so slowly, still retaining its pale straw-green hue. Primary cut grass and youthful lemon and lime zest are the themes here, upholding great […]

read