Merlot

Summary: The Elephant in the Room wines are proudly large in scale and expansive in flavour. Ignoring fashion and braving the scorn  “wine thought police” Elephant in the Room was created to give consumers exactly what they want – full bodied and mouth-filling wines that deliver maximum pleasure. Each wine is sourced from slow-ripening cool climate vineyards in the Limestone Coast of South Australia and partially matured in French Oak before final blending and bottling by Corey Ryan. 

Vineyards: Sourced from established vineyards in the cooler limestone coast of South Australia’s South East corner. The consistent daily temperatures and cooler nights combine to ensure the retention of natural acidity in the elegant fruit harvested whilst promoting long, slow flavour development. 

Winemaking: Partially hand harvested before de-stemming primarily in closed fermenters with pump overs with a portion of open fermenters., All components blended post fermentation before two thirds were matured in stainless steel and one third was matured in French oak for nine months before bottling with minimal fining, filtration and sulphur addition.

Vintage 2022: A cool, wet spring helped with soil moisture followed by a warm November ensuring no damaging weather conditions. Cool and calm weather followed that meant even ripening and good acid retention. A mild end to summer and a cool Autumn saw fruit hanging with no disease or extreme heat posing a problem. Yields and quality were up across the board.  

Tasting Note: A classic rendition of Merlot, medium bodied but not lacking in flavour showing aromas of dark berry fruit, plum and chocolate. The palate has a soft richness with a fine tannin structure as well as fresh acidity tying it all together. Great with slow roasted pork belly.    

Brand Summary: Mullet wines deliver bolder ripe fruit flavours up front with a bigger body and mouthfeel driving a big, long finish. Or like any great mullet, it’s business at the front, party at the back. Hand-crafted and purpose built, these are wines doing all they can to be big on flavour and big on drinkability. Mullet wines putting good times and enjoyment above all else!

Winemaking: Selected parcels of the vineyard displaying bigger, riper fruit flavour are handpicked purposely for the blend. Harvested early in the morning to ensure freshness is retained before destemming entirely prior to fermentation and racking to mostly new and used French oak barriques. Four months in oak with selected barrels blended back with a smaller component that was left in tank on lees for a fresh yet well-rounded wine, offering maximum flavour impact with full palate coverage! Bottled with minimal fuss and minimal handling.

Vintage 2024: A brilliant vintage for Mullet wines. An early cold period leading to a mild temperature growing season ensured full and even ripeness was achieved across red and white varieties alike. Yields were down, but flavours were bold. These big riper flavours arrived in the berry later in the season allowing for picking at higher Baume resulting in above average ABV.

Tasting Note: Big aromas of plum, mulberry, cedar and red florals. Teh palate is fleshy and bold showcasing all the juicy forest berry flavors wrapped up in a softly woven light tannin cushion. Delicious now, on its own or with richer red meat dishes.

Summary: Of the many dark stories from these troubled times none is more notorious than that of convict Francis Morgan, who was executed on Pinchgut island and his skeleton then left to hang for four years. According to folklore, knowing his fate, Morgan told the hangman he was consoled by what would be his magnificent view of the harbour. Today we’re still obsessed with rum but “harbour views to die for” luckily has quite a different meaning

Tasting Note: Rich and indulgent, this chocolate-infused Tawny harmonises velvety milk chocolate, toffee, and vanilla with the deep, barrel-aged complexity of the wine. Enticing aromas of creamy cocoa, toasted hazelnut, and caramelized sugar rise from the glass, leading into a smooth, full-bodied palate. Each sip reveals layers of milk chocolate truffle, buttery toffee, and oak laced with a hint of rum, offering depth and warmth. The finish is long and lingering, leaving behind delicate notes of cocoa, caramel, and roasted almond.

Summary: Of the many dark stories from these troubled times none is more notorious than that of convict Francis Morgan, who was executed on Pinchgut island and his skeleton then left to hang for four years. According to folklore, knowing his fate, Morgan told the hangman he was consoled by what would be his magnificent view of the harbour. Today we’re still obsessed with rum but “harbour views to die for” luckily has quite a different meaning

Tasting Note: A bold twist on the dark-hearted Pinchgut, this cinnamon-infused spiced rum ignites the senses with intensity, warmth, and intrigue. Aromas of cinnamon sticks, clove, and burnt orange rise from the glass, layered with rich vanilla and caramelised brown sugar. The palate is full and refined, revealing waves of maple, toffee, and nutmeg, all carried by the fiery warmth of cinnamon spice. Mid-palate complexity deepens with oak char and dried fruit, leading to a long, smouldering finish of dark treacle, toasted vanilla, and lingering spice. A fiery indulgence with a bold edge.

Summary: Sweet Caroline wines are thoughtfully crafted for an easy-drinking and sophisticated wine experience. These are a refreshing range of wines entirely for those of us who love the softer, light and fruity taste of wine. Each variety is a pure and classic expression showing bright, elegant and gentle sweet fruit flavour that finishes light, soft and very long. You ‘ll know even before you take your first sip, Sweet Caroline is just what you’ve been looking for!

Winemaking: Sourced from a number of vineyards in South Australia and Victoria enabling a selection across a number of microclimates. Each providing a good blend of vibrant, expressive fruit focusing on fruit purity and aromatics. Primarily hand-picked before vinification in a combination of large open fermenters and steel tank. After a cool fermentation the process is ceased to ensure a light touch of fruit sweetness remains to support flavour and mouthfeel. A short maturation for integration and to soften before blending and bottling.

Vintage 2024: Is a wonderful vintage to craft Sweet Caroline wines. An early cold period leading to a mild temperature growing season ensured full and even ripeness was achieved across red and white varieties alike. Yields were down, but flavours were bold and energetic. Parcel selection in the vineyard enabled timely picking of bright, sweet-fruited berries that are perfect for the soft and fruit driven wine style being crafted.

Tasting Note: Bright purple with raspberry red hue. The wine has lifted aromatics of blackberry, plum and vanilla. The palate is bright and juicy with dark berry fruit flavours supported by light brown spices in a softly rounded, fleshy wine. Long and satisfying, finishing refreshing and flavoursome.

Summary: Tread Softly are a naturally lighter in alcohol wine brand that is ‘Sustainable Wine Growing’ certified and sustainably focused. The brand delivers a range of wines that are naturally medium weighted and consist of naturally lighter in ABV, mid and 0%. Since 2019, the brand has planted a tree for every case sold in efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and to date, has planted 2 million trees in the ‘Tread Softly Forest’ (and counting)….

Vineyards: Sourced from established vineyards of the rich soils of the border of Victoria and South Australia. The vines are mostly dry-grown and utilise expert canopy management to help to control ripening and vigour.

Winemaking: Harvested in the morning to avoid the warm temperatures of the day. The fruit is quickly delivered to the winery for destemming and crushing. The wine fermets in stainless steel tanks and is gently pumped over twice daily to softly extract tannins and colour. The wine goes through malolactic fermentation (MLF) in tank and stays on MLF lees for an extra three months before bottling and early release.

2024 Vintage: A cooler than average growing season, frost, the lack of rain and poor weather during flowering including strong winds throughout November and December resulted in lower yields however, the dry and consistent weather during picking resulted in a vintage of high-quality fruit.

Tasting Note: This light-bodied Merlot offers a perfect balance of vibrant red berry flavours and subtle elegance. Its refined aromatics are beautifully complemented by smooth fruit notes and soft tannins, making it a true crowd favorite. Perfect for pairing with a cheese platter.