Bancroft

In Western Australia, at the meeting point of the Indian and Southern Oceans, is Margaret River and the latest Australian addition to our portfolio, Cape Mentelle. One of the original five wineries in the region, Cape Mentelle is known for expressive, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.  
 
Then we move to Langhorne Creek in South Australia which, unusually for the wider region, is also tempered by the Southern Ocean’s influence, and is where the refined wines of  Heartland can be found. This joint venture from industry veterans and lifelong mates Ben Glaetzer (of Glaetzer Wines fame) and Nick Keukenmeester. From its inception in 1999, Heartland’s ethos has been to create wines of balance, texture and a distinctive Australian identity, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. 
 
Also in South Australia is  Chapel Hill of McLaren Vale. Perched on the edge of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge, shallow rocky soils are a feature with sweeping views back over Gulf St Vincent. The beautiful Chapel Hill vineyard overlooking sea views boasts elevation, ancient rocks, contoured plantings and moderating sea breezes. The undulating landscape results in a series of small blocks with unique combinations of geology, soil, aspect and climate.  
 
And, mentioning his name once more, the wines of Ben Glaetzer, who makes super-premium, site-specific red wine in small volumes. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, non-grafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible. The resulting wines are particularly balanced and elegant while retaining an unmistakably Barossa character. 
 
Another short-haul flight to Hunter Valley on the east coast, north of Sydney, for the delights of Semillon from Brokenwood and one of the most unique combination of terroir and varietal alchemy anywhere in the world. Despite growth over the years, the winemaking team remain fiercely committed to producing unique and high-quality expressions of Australian terroir; in addition to their Semillion, they make richly textured Chardonnay and Shiraz.  
 
Then to Melbourne, and in particular, Mornington Peninsula. Mornington gives the lie to any thought that the ‘new world’ is big and brash. This is definitely cool climate territory, rain-lashed by winds coming up from the Southern Ocean, and at the most southerly point of mainland Australia. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here are refined, elegant but intense. Here Ten Minutes by Tractor has one of the most documented examples of terroir experimentation in all of the ‘new world’. The estate grows both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in exactly the same way, using exactly the same clones, and vinified with the same proportion of stainless steel and oak, with the only difference being the vineyard site from which the grapes are picked; and, you guessed it, they were originally all but ten minutes by tractor from each other.