WINES AVAILABLE IN UK STOCK:

• Sauvignon Blanc, Yarra Valley
• Chardonnay, Yarra Valley
• Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley
• Viognier, Heathcote
• Shiraz, Heathcote
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Heathcote

www.shelmerdine.com.au

Whilst Shelmerdine Estate will be a new name to many in the U.K, the Shelmerdine family has a long and illustrious history both in the wine industry of Australia and rather more obscurely, the felt hat industry of both the U.K and Australia!

In 1969, Stephen Shelmerdine's father, Ross, set up the Mitchelton Winery along with Colin Preece.

Though, sadly, neither of them saw Mitchelton at it's peak in the 1980's and 1990's they were visionaries, inspirational for a generation of winemakers that would set Australia firmly on course for becoming one of the leading producers in the world.

Likewise, Stephen Shelmerdine has been an influential figure during some of the most tumultuous years of the Australian wine industry growth. A director of Mitchelton and of the Petaluma group when it took over Mitchelton, Stephen has also been heavily involved with many of the key trade bodies.

More recently, Stephen has been concentrating on his family vineyards in the Yarra Valley and in Heathcote, where the family property has been since the 1950's and it is these three properties that provide all the fruit for the Shelmerdine Estate wines.

The Lusatia Park Vineyard was established in 1985 on the Lone Star Creek, at Woori Yallock, in the Upper Yarra Valley. Its elevated north facing aspect, deep free-draining red soils, and close spaced vines ensure intense varietal flavours derived from long consistent ripening.

The Shelmerdine Heathcote Vineyards, while still young, have already established a significant reputation for premium quality. Merindoc Vineyard consists of four separate granitic soil sites on the original family farm at Tooborac, south of Heathcote. It sits on McIvor Creek, site of the mid 19th century gold diggings and the earliest vineyards in Victoria.

Willoughby Bridge Vineyard is situated on the famous cambrian red soil at colbinabbin, north of Heathcote, on the Mount Camel Range and was one of the first new vineyards to be planted in the 1990's as this area was re-discovered.

The wines produced from these remarkable "terroirs" are of a very high quality and as befits both the Shelmerdine family and the vineyards from which they came, they exude understated class.

At the Lusatia Park vineyard the cool growing conditions, elevated site and state of the art canopy management ensure that the winemakers have the best fruit from which to work their magic. The Sauvignon Blanc is typically racy, flinty and zesty with fresh gooseberry & citrus characters. The Chardonnay is elegant and restrained, with maturation in fine-grained French oak barrels adding complexity to the intensely flavoured fruit. The Pinot from Lusatia Park is refined and exquisitely perfumed, showcasing the suitability of the vineyard for this mercurial variety. Matured in the finest French oak, the wines reflect the low cropping, small berry/small bunch regime that restricts the crop to a miserly 2 tonnes to the acre or less.

The Heathcote Viognier captures the very essence (apricots, musk and dried wildflowers) of this exceptional and ultra sensitive Northern Rhone variety. Very limited in production, the Viognier is also used to co-ferment with Shiraz in the manner made famous in Cote Rotie. The Heathcote Shiraz is deceptively powerful, exhibiting classic varietal fruit definition of plums, raspberries and violets, pepper and spice - all wrapped up seamlessly in fine grained French oak. The Heathcote Cabernet Sauvignon displays a deep purple colour with dark berry, briar and blackcurrant aromas: refined palate weight and texture with a soft rounded finish.

Click on the wine labels for larger versions:

SHELMERDINE

		Sauvignon Blanc, Yarra Valley, Shelmerdine Vineyards This Yarra Valley Sauvignon has all the racy, vibrant grassy mineral fruit one would expect but the palate opens up to give wonderful hints of lime and citrus fruits. Subtle notes of lemon blossom, guava and gooseberry add to the aromatic quality of this wine whilst the zesty finish keeps you coming back for more.
		Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Shelmerdine Vineyards The Yarra Vlley has long been home to some of the finest Chardonnays in Australia and this elegant, finely crafted example is no exception. On the nose there are hints of white peach and apricot kernel coupled with subtle, toasty, oak driven notes. The palate is full and complex yet also restrained and balanced so as not to overpower. The creamy texture of the wine is tempered with a crisp, minerally finish.
		Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Shelmerdine Vineyards Low yields resulted in concentrated fully ripe grapes which offer up flavours of ripe cherry and strawberry combining with subtle notes of cloves and spice. The restrained French oak add some toasty, savoury complexity as well as hints of coffee and mocha. The finish is lifted and pure with wild strawberry notes and a warm, velvety texture.
		Viognier, Heathcote, Shelmerdine Vineyards This most enigmatic of grapes often gets swamped with too much oak but this example positively sings with heady aromatic apricot, fig and quince aromas as a result of never seeing an oak barrel! Richly textured, with an almost silky mouthfeel, this wine is restrained yet luscious and exotic - one of the finest examples of the variety in Australia.
		Shiraz, Heathcote, Shelmerdine Vineyards A little Viognier is blended into this Shiraz, in the same way that they do in Cote Rotie. This adds a little lift to the fruit and improves the aromatic profile of the wine. Not that this particularly needs improving! Full, rich, savoury, fruit filled but not over blown and therefore well balanced and elegant. Aromatic berry, violet and black cherry fruit characters dominate which when combined with the meaty, fine grained oak makes for a beautiful wine.
		Cabernet Sauvignon, Heathcote, Shelmerdine Vineyards The Heathcote region's unique soil profile makes for a wine of great depth, concentration and character. The colour is deep and brooding whilst the palate is a swirling mix of dark berry fruit, blackcurrant, spice and tobacco leaf - all mixed in with a hint of savoury, vanillin laced oak. Well balanced, with a firm, savoury finish.
		Merindoc Heathcote Shiraz, Shelmerdine Vineyards Shelmerdine have shot to fame with a series of high profile gold medals and trophies and their star will rise further with the launch of this single vineyard wine. Sourced from a fine "piece of dirt" based on granitic soils, this intense, multi layered Shiraz has very pure cassis, bramble and spice laden character with a beautiful, fine grained texture. Immensely complex and long.
PHI WINES
		Sauvignon Blanc Lusatia Park Vineyard, PHI Made in a style more akin to the finest wines of the Loire, Phi Sauvignon is the result of a collaboration of two of the best wine minds in Oz. Drawing on fruit from the Lusatia Park vineyard, this is aromatic, finely textured stuff with crisp, flinty citrus fruit followed by a rounded, slightly honeyed finish.
		Chardonnay Lusatia Park Vineyard, PHI Australia has moved a long way from the blousy chardonnays of the 80's and 90's. This fine example from the Yarra has more in common with Chablis Grand Cru than much of it's Aussie peer group. Complex, nutty, mineral hints on the nose follows through to a beautifully textured, crisp palate with touches of citrus, pineapple, brioche and flint. Outstanding.
		Pinot Noir Lusatia Park Vineyard, PHI Winemaker Steve Webber has become somewhat fixated with all things Burgundian of late and it shows through in this extraordinary Pinot. The aromas of violet, strawberry, mineral and delicate spicy wood lead through to a palate that simply dances across the tongue leaving a silky trail of forest fruits.

^ TOP OF PAGE