Richard Hamilton LOT 148 Merlot McLaren Vale South Australia

Richard Hamilton SYNERGY Chardonnay McLaren Vale South Australia from Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale by Richard Hamilton Fruity Dry Whites

Richard Hamilton SYNERGY Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia from Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale by Richard Hamilton Soft & Supple Reds

Gumprs' Hotel was the original name of McLaren Vale's favourite and most famous regional restaurant the Salopian Inn, which sits diagonally opposite our old Vineyard and has long been a meeting point of wine people in the region. Hamilton's Gumprs' Block Shiraz is sourced from the 'Gumprs Block' vineyard that produces low yield and intensely flavoured Shiraz. The wine is deep, dark crimson in colour with a brilliant purple hue and has an earthy, inky perfume with violets, ripe raspberries, pepper and mixed spices. This 2001 vintage reflects an excellent vintage producing a wine very rich and full in flavour. It was also fermented over an extended period with generous proportions of whole bunches and stems. The wine finishes with long, fine persistent tannins and is truly a Shiraz wine meant to be savoured.

With a strong heritage and long family history in grape-growing and winemaking Richard and Jette Hamilton established the family business in 1972. In that year they built a small winery in McLaren Vale and with grapes from his own and his father's vineyards, produced the first of the Richard Hamilton wines. Wine quality starts in the vineyard and this has been the driving force behind vineyard developments by Dr Richard Hamilton and his family over five generations. The result is a collection of vineyards that represent some of the best old vine material in the country, the oldest dating back to 1892.

Made from 100% Estate owned fruit from the McLaren Vale wine region of South Australia, the 'Hut Block' vineyard is planted on an open lace in free draining soils, unusual amongst the clay and loams of the district. This produces a wine of intense berry aroma and flavour. The 'Hut Block' is named after the old 'pickers' hut, which has sat on the property for over fifty years. The wine is a blend of Cabemet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc matured in selected French and American Oak casks for twelve months prior to bottling. Traditionally the wine is deeply coloured, with ripe berry flavours, a full rich, robust wine balanced with a supple mid palate and a fine tannin finish. This wine is a full dense red colour with vibrant crimson highlights and an intense ripe Cabernet Sauvignon nose with excellent expression of fine oak. Clean and vibrant, this is a great example of full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale. On the palate the varietal characters from the nose follow through on the palate to give a wine of great length. The wine finishes cleanly with tannins, acidity and flavour in harmony. (12 x 75 cl)

'Light to medium yellow-green; the bouquet is of moderate intensity, quite smooth, with subtle oak, but not a great deal of aromaticity. A pleasant McLaren Vale-style on the palate, again with soft chardonnay fruit providing the major taste activity, and only minimal oak.'

Shiraz grapes flourish in McLaren Vale; they are almost weeds. They always ripen and with correct vineyard management, produces wines of depth, flavour and structure. This wine is a pure expression of the vineyard which is minimalist intervention. The result is a rich Satsuma plum coloured wine with a heady cassis, black olive and anise aroma. The tannins are velvety, integrated and balanced with the fruit, while the mouthfeel of the wine is showing juicy berry flavours, the hint of pepper and spice. Hugh is the fifth generation of the family that planted the first vineyards at Glenelg in 1837, less than one year after European settlement in South Australia. As with all families one is a black sheep and Hugh Hamilton is it. You can expect therefore to enjoy the difference. Hugh has a clear vision about the way he sees wines and he produces accordingly. He is a firm believer in the wine and food experience. Neither is magic. Both are great, especially in the company of good friends and lively conversation. His wines are therefore eminently drinkable and certainly very more-ish. (6 x 75 cl)

As the name suggests this is an unusual blend of three disparate grape varieties all grown on the Hamilton Estate. This is an exciting blend that combines intensity and delicacy in bouquet and flavour. Sangiovese is the Italian variety native to Tuscany and makes up 85% of the blend. Merlot, the French variety, and Tempranillo the Spanish grape, are in the proportion of 10% and 5% respectively. It is the Sangiovese that dominates the blend in bouquet, flavour and structure. The other two varieties add body, complexity and interest to the blend. With a multi-cultural heritage like that it's no wonder we call this wine 'The Mongrel'. The colour is a deep cherry red, and the aroma has a mushroom-truffle character, with a suggestion of spice. The palate is young and vibrant and shows the soft texture and the influence of a short exposure to new oak barriques. This is a stylish, medium weighted wine with a bold flavour and a persistent finish. Hugh is the fifth generation of the family that planted the first vineyards at Glenelg in 1837, less than one year after European settlement in South Australia. As with all families one is a black sheep and Hugh Hamilton is it. You can expect therefore to enjoy the difference. Hugh has a clear vision about the way he sees wines and he produces accordingly. He is a firm believer in the wine and food experience. Neither is magic. Both are great, especially in the company of good friends and lively conversation. His wines are therefore eminently drinkable and certainly very more-ish. (6 x 75 cl)

Deep rich plim colour, aromas of berry fruits with hints of capsicum. Smooth silky tannins combine with spicy oak and exceptional fruit. This wine is full of intrigue and fills which fills the palate with its persistance. Hugh is the fifth generation of the family that planted the first vineyards at Glenelg in 1837, less than one year after European settlement in South Australia. As with all families one is a black sheep and Hugh Hamilton is it. You can expect therefore to enjoy the difference. Hugh has a clear vision about the way he sees wines and he produces accordingly. He is a firm believer in the wine and food experience. Neither is magic. Both are great, especially in the company of good friends and lively conversation. His wines are therefore eminently drinkable and certainly very more-ish. (6 x 75 cl)