Take it from folk who have tried it
David Pearce
Babyface KitchenBest Selling Bottled Sunshine
" Delicious, acclaimed, low intervention wines. Hand crafted by our family to
exacting standards to capture the McLaren Vale sunshine. "
From $41.50 /Per Bottle
A very limited, very special museum release vertical pack. As Grenache specialists this pack showcases our focus with a retrospective. This is the best way for you to discover the longevity of flavour possible from Grenache grown in Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale.
Each six pack includes:
1 x bottles Confluence Grenache 2018
1 x bottles Confluence Grenache 2019
1 x bottles Confluence Grenache 2020
1 x bottles Affinity GMS 2018
1 x bottles Affinity GMS 2019
1 x bottles Affinity GMS 2020
Special pack price: $249 six pack.
Special pack price: $469 12 bottle case - SAVE $29.
(N.B: 12 bottle cases contain double these amounts).
Our two flagship Grenache wines. The two we are most famous for. Presented over three consecutive years.
Why not gather some friends and open all six bottles at once?
About The Wines
Confluence 2018 Grenache has crunchy strawberry and Campari aromatics. A juicy
palate full of ripe cranberries and a herbal edge thanks to the whole bunch
component of this wine. Great length from juicy acidity and a pure crystalline core of red berry fruit.
Confluence 2019 Grenache is the coming together of premium Grenache from a number of vineyards in the sandy soil dress-circle of Blewitt Springs. It showcases the best of McLaren Vale's elegant, savoury Grenache style.
Confluence 2020 Raspberry,
cinnamon spice, and red liquorice aromatics jump from the glass and an
herbal edge gives great interest. On the palate Satsuma plum, wild
strawberry and fine sandalwood dominate with fine tannins giving the
wine exemplary length. The palate shows great intensity and
concentration without being heavy or cloying. A wine that shows great
poise and balance.
Affinity 2018 GMS has a beautiful and crisp savoury edge from aroma to palate. The extended ferment characters appear in the form of spicy meaty complexity whilst the youthful Grenache component keeps the feel fresh and vibrant. Savoury, spicy, complex. Winner: Best Mediterranean Blend, McLaren Vale Wine Show 2019. Winner: Best Small Producer, McLaren Vale Wine Show 2019
Affinity 2019 GMS is a very Rob Mack take on the classic Rhone / Chateauneuf du Pape blend. Here select parcels and premium barrels of Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz are brought together to make a truly rounded and balanced wine with juicy acid, powdery tannin and the best of juicy red berries from Grenache and earthy mid and back palate from Mataro and Shiraz.
Affinity 2020
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Affinity & Confluence Vertical Mixed Pack.
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Affinity 2019 Grenache Mataro Shiraz is a key flagstone wine for us. We are known for our Grenache based wines and our Affinity is a perfect example of complex, delicious wine that is much greater than the sum of it's premium parts.
Variety: A 50/45/5 blend of McLaren Vale Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz.
Summary: A blend of 3 parcels of Blewitt Springs Grenache, 4 parcels of McLaren Vale Mataro and 1 parcel of McLaren Vale Shiraz results in a wine with oodles of complexity. Good roundness of fruit flavour on the mid palate leads to a savoury finish with powdery tannin.
Tasting Note: A beautiful and crisp savoury edge runs through this wine from aroma to palate. The extended ferment characters appear in the form of spicy meaty complexity whilst the youthful Grenache component keeps the feel fresh and vibrant. Savoury, spicy, complex.
Goes With Food: Matches well to lighter red meat dishes such as venison or rare lamb, but is equally well suited to a vegetarian lasagne. Versatility is a key component of this wine.
Goes With Cheese: An aged cloth bound cheddar or mid strength parmesan matches the subtle tannin profile of The Affinity.
Goes With Music: PJ Harvey – Down By The Water.
Goes With Life: Pleases the crowds and the aficionado – a safe bet for both sides of the fence.
Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2035.
Winemaking: All eight parcels that make up this wine were fermented and aged separately before blending. The Grenache components come from 3 separate Blewitt Springs vineyards. Whole bunch and whole berry ferments were used along with extended skin contact post ferment (four months). The Mataro parcels are from 3 separate vineyards with some whole bunch and some pre-ferment cold soak used. The Shiraz component is from a single vineyard on the southern edge of the McLaren Vale township. The Shiraz portion was aged in a brand new French Oak Demi Muid (600L) barrel. The wine was then matured for 9 months in neutral French puncheons and hogsheads prior to bottling in January 2020. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production: 413 dozen produced under screwcap.
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Affinity 2019 Grenache Mataro Shiraz. Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($32.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
Variety: A 50/45/5 blend of McLaren Vale Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz.
Summary: A blend of 3 parcels of Blewitt Springs Grenache, 4 parcels of McLaren Vale Mataro and 1 parcel of McLaren Vale Shiraz results in a wine with oodles of complexity. Good roundness of fruit flavour on the mid palate leads to a savoury finish with powdery tannin.
Tasting Note: A beautiful and crisp savoury edge runs through this wine from aroma to palate. The extended ferment characters appear in the form of spicy meaty complexity whilst the youthful Grenache component keeps the feel fresh and vibrant. Savoury, spicy, complex.
Goes With Food: Matches well to lighter red meat dishes such as venison or rare lamb, but is equally well suited to a vegetarian lasagne. Versatility is a key component of this wine.
Goes With Cheese: An aged cloth bound cheddar or mid strength parmesan matches the subtle tannin profile of The Affinity.
Goes With Music: PJ Harvey – Down By The Water.
Goes With Life: Pleases the crowds and the aficionado – a safe bet for both sides of the fence.
Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2035.
Winemaking: All eight parcels that make up this wine were fermented and aged separately before blending. The Grenache components come from 3 separate Blewitt Springs vineyards. Whole bunch and whole berry ferments were used along with extended skin contact post ferment (four months). The Mataro parcels are from 3 separate vineyards with some whole bunch and some pre-ferment cold soak used. The Shiraz component is from a single vineyard on the southern edge of the McLaren Vale township. The Shiraz portion was aged in a brand new French Oak Demi Muid (600L) barrel. The wine was then matured for 9 months in neutral French puncheons and hogsheads prior to bottling in January 2020. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production: 413 dozen produced under screwcap.
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Affinity 2019 Grenache Mataro Shiraz. Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($32.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
Sale
-10%
From $36.66 /Per Bottle
$244.00
A very limited, very special collaboration with our friends and fellow Grenache fiends at Thistledown.
As two of the Vale's best Grenache specialists this pack showcases just what McLaren Vale Grenache can do.
Each six pack includes:
1 x bottles Aphelion Pir Chenin Blanc 2020 RRP $38
1 x bottles Aphelion Confluence Grenache 2018 RRP $45 Museum Release
1 x bottles Aphelion Affinity GMS 2018 RRP $45 Museum Release
1 x bottles Thistledown Cloud Cuckoo Land Fiano/Greco/Zibibbo 2021 RRP $24
1 x bottles Thistledown Thorny Devil Grenache 2020 RRP $32
1 x bottles Thistledown Vagabond Grenache 2020 RRP $60
Total RRP: $244
Special pack price: $220 six pack - SAVE $24 - plus free shipping.
(N.B: 12 bottle cases contain double these amounts).
Why not gather some friends and open all six bottles at once?
About The Wines
Pir 2020 Chenin Blanc - Rob works his magic on the pristine fruit from exquisite 50 year old Blewitt Springs vines. Pir Chenin Blanc 2020 shows unctuous texture, complex layered flavours and supreme food friendliness thanks to Rob's restrained, clever winemaking. Winner: Top in Class 2020 McLaren Vale Wine Show Awarded:
Confluence 2018 Grenache - A very special Museum Release. has crunchy strawberry and Campari aromatics. A juicy palate full of ripe cranberries and a herbal edge thanks to the whole bunch component of this wine. Great length from juicy acidity and a pure crystalline core of red berry fruit. Winner: Trophy winner 2019 Aus and NZ Boutique Wine Show. Gold Medal, 2019 McLaren Vale Wine Show. Awarded: 93pts Mike Bennie Wine Front; 93pts Huon Hooke Real Review and SMH Good Living Insert; 95pts / 5 Stars James Halliday Wine Companion; 94pts Sarah Ahmed, Decanter Magazine.
Affinity 2018 GMS has a beautiful and crisp savoury edge from aroma to palate. The extended ferment characters appear in the form of spicy meaty complexity whilst the youthful Grenache component keeps the feel fresh and vibrant. Savoury, spicy, complex. Winner: Double Trophy Winner McLaren Vale Wine Show 2019. Best Mediterranean Blend, and Best Small Producer. Awarded: 95pts / 5 star James Halliday.
Thistledown Cloud Cuckoo Land Fiano/Greco/Zibibbo 'Cloud Cuckoo Land' is an imaginary state of absurd over optimism. Something the folk at Thistledown are often accused of. A vibrant, textural white with hints of almond blossom, quince and ripe pear. Tangy, almost exotic but pithy and delicious.
Thistledown Thorny Devil Grenache 2020 In 2020, the fruit for Thorny Devil came from a variety of some of the finest vineyards in McLaren Vale. Characteristic McLaren Vale perfume and spice with a beguiling texture and perfume that keeps you interested. Awarded: 91 points The Real Review.
Thistledown Vagabond Grenache 2020 Sourced from three remarkable sites in the famed Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, this wine possesses a beautifully complex, aromatic nose of violets, wild cherry, rosemary and warming spice. The palate is energetic yet polished and smooth with vibrant cherry, spice, wild strawberry and liquorice on the palate. Medium bodied but multi-layered and textural with a very long, aromatic finish. Awarded: 96 points GT Wine (5 stars). 94 points The Wine Front.
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion x Thistledown 2021 Mixed Pack.
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Rare in Australia, bold and aromatic, Sagrantino stole our hearts when we discorvered it in Umbria, the green heart of Italy.
Variety: Sagrantino from two sub-regions in McLaren Vale – White’s Valley in the south and Seaview in the north.
Summary: This wine displays a wonderful balance of intense purple and blue fruit, ripe tannin, juicy natural acidity and delivers great length on the palate.
Tasting Note: Strong herbal and mescal notes match with red fruits and roasted meats. This is a light to medium bodied wine with a slightly firmer tannin structure than its siblings. The palate is dense with flavour impact yet light on its feet and finishes well balanced. Smoky charcuterie and earth herbs mingle on the finish. Outrageously spice driven with clove, cinnamon and five spice all coming to the fore on the nose. A savoury Italianiate palate supports a tight structure and a dry palate to provide a very food friendly wine. Tannins are prominent but in balance.
Goes With Food: A rich mushroom ragout with buttered pasta would balance the assertive tannins of this wine.
Goes With Cheese: An aged clothbound English Cheddar would complement the intensity and complexity of this wine.
Goes With Music: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Almost Cut My Hair.
Goes With Life: Matches equally well as a fine dining partner or whilst watching a Bledisloe Test.
Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius. In its youth we recommend decanting to allow the wine to breathe and its subtleties to shine.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2030.
Vineyard: One tonne of fruit was picked from the White’s Valley vineyard (this vineyard is low yielding, and only has three rows of Sagrantino planted to it). An additional tonne of fruit was picked from a Seaview vineyard with red iron rich rocky soil. The vines on both vineyards are approaching 20 years of age.
Winemaking: The fruit from each vineyard was destemmed and kept as whole berries before being fermented. Free run and light pressings were kept separate and then aged for 20 months in neutral and third-use French oak to round out the wine and soften the tannins. Blended and bottled in December 2018. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production: 110 dozen produced under screwcap.
[TASTING NOTE PDF LINK/BUTTON]
Accolades:
• 94 points Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
• 92 Points Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Ardent Sagrantino 2017.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($31.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $99.00
Regular bottled sunshine deliveries to your door – what could be more convenient than that? We sweeten the deal by making the club totally flexible, offering exclusive benefits, and free gifts as well.
A very special and exclusive set of rewards are in store for the most valued appreciators of our Aphelion wines - our Bottled Sunshine Wine Club Members.
Your commitment to us as a member is so important to the sustainability of our dream to make delicious wines to be enjoyed with food and your life’s best moments, that we offer a host of benefits to you, our Bottled Sun Lovers.
Your commitment to us as a member is so important to the sustainability of our dream to make delicious wines to be enjoyed with food and your life’s best moments, that we offer a host of benefits to you, our Bottled Sun Lovers.
Those benefits start with a handsome discount on your member allocations- fixed and frozen to the time you signed up. No price rises for you!
- 3 bottle packs are at a 5% discount,
- 6 bottle packs at a 10% discount, and,
- 12 bottle packs at a 15% discount below RRP of our core range.
Why Join? How About These Benefits!
- Free Shipping: On your allocations and on any additional purchases throughout the year.
- Complete Flexibility: Choose your frequency and number of wines at the click of a button. And if your needs change, your club changes with you. Want more or less wines? No problem, it's easy to switch. Need a holiday from your deliveries? You've got it! With your members' area, you are in control.
- Very Special Wines: Exclusive access to pre-release and rare museum wines.
- Exclusive Discounts: Your packs will always be higher in value than what you pay. It starts with your pack discount (5, 10 or 15% off core range RRP). Everything additional you purchase from our online store comes at a 10% discount with free shipping. Plus exclusive discounts for our events and wine dinners.
-
Exclusive VIP Cellar Door Tastings: At our cellar door or in the vineyard, tastings are always free for you and your guests accompanying you. Plus we will give you the VIP treatment you deserve, like pre-release, museum and premium tastings.
- Surprise Gifts: Well if we told you - it wouldn't be a surprise would it?
- Low Minimum Term: Our minimum term of membership is just one year and 12 bottles across that year.
- No Exit Fees: Changed your mind? We can reduce your frequency and/or pack size. There are also no exit fees after your one year minimum term.
How Does It Work?
- Your Choice: Choose your frequency of deliveries and the Number of bottles per delivery. You can change your choices whenever you like and even take a subscription “holiday” and skip a delivery. Even tell us if there are any particular wines you would like in your pack when you get your renewal notices, otherwise our winemaker Rob’s expert selection will be hand selected for you.
- Charged On the 1st: Your first pack will be charged for on the first of the month after you sign up. Your first pack will then be hand picked, hand packed and dispatched shortly thereafter. Your renewals will then be processed on the first of the month according to the schedule you chose (monthly, quarterly or six monthly).
- Reminders: You’ll get a handy email reminder a week before your pack is due to be sent – a good time to update your contact or payment details, or to let us know if you would like certain wines in your pack.
- Value Forever: Your pack will always be worth more than what you pay. For starters, you get 5%, 10% or 15% off the core range rrp. Then you have a special free shipping & 10% discount coupon for additional purchases. Then we add value by putting money-can’t-buy exclusives, bonus gifts and our higher value wines in your pack.
- Convenience: You deserve to enjoy receiving delicious wines to your door, sharing them with friends over dinner, at your favourite BYO restaurant, or on cosy nights in.
For Terms & Conditions (there aren’t many, don’t worry!) please view our “Club” page.
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
The Aphelion Confluence 2020 Grenache is a key flagstone wine for us. We are known for our Grenache and our Confluence is a perfect example of complex, delicious wine that works as beautifully with food as it does being savoured on its' own.
Variety: Grenache from Blewitt Springs sub region of McLaren Vale.
Summary: This complex, aromatic, food friendly, but fantastically drinkable wine evolves in your glass. Good structure and length. Carries our signature savoury finish.
Tasting Note: Vibrant red with purple hues in the glass. Raspberry, cinnamon spice, and red liquorice aromatics jump from the glass and an herbal edge gives great interest. On the palate Satsuma plum, wild strawberry and fine sandalwood dominate with fine tannins giving the wine exemplary length. The palate shows great intensity and concentration without being heavy or cloying. A wine that shows great poise and balance.
Goes With Food: Pan seared duck matches the spice and body of the wine well.
Goes With Cheese: The mushroom characters of a quality Camembert or washed rind cheese will complement the wine’s flavours and won’t dominate its delicate structure.
Goes With Music: Nick Cave – Jubilee Street
Goes With Life: Out for a fancy dinner or aperitivo on the back deck.
Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now but will continue evolving through to 2030.
Vineyard: All hand-picked fruit from a single vineyard of 85-year-old bush vines in the highest point of the Blewitt Springs district of McLaren Vale.
Winemaking: A single ferment which contained 55% destemmed whole berries and 45% whole bunches. Majority free run juice with a small percentage of light pressings. Aged in a single 2,400L French oak Foudre for ten months before bottling.
Production: 520 6-packs produced under screwcap.
Accolades: 94 points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Confluence 2020 Grenache.
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Emergent Mataro 2018 has a special place in Rob’s heart. Savoury herbs, dark fruit, aromatic and easy to sip and savour by itself while being bold enough to enhance your meal.
Variety: Mataro from three vineyards running the length of McLaren Vale.
Summary: A beautiful mix of savoury characters and bright red fruits. Complexity builds in the glass.
Tasting Note: The aromatics of this wine jump out the glass with sage, cherry spice and fresh almonds. Powdery tannins provide a canvas for the flavours that wash across the medium bodied palate, and bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and vibrant. Our 2018 Mataro has a very long finish and persistent drive with an elegant fruit profile.
Goes With Food: Very food friendly due to its savoury characters – try with duck rillettes and fresh crusty bread. (We love Little Acre Foods Duck Rillettes!)
Goes With Cheese: An aged Pecorino would match the body of the wine and complement it’s acidity and spiciness.
Goes With Music: Vance Joy – Lay It On Me
Goes With Life: When the inspiration strikes to try something a little left of centre.
Serve At: 16-18 degrees Celsius. Unfined & unfiltered so some sediment may remain - we recommend decanting.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2030.
Vineyard: Sourced from three vineyards. The first is in Blewitt Springs, the climatically coolest part of the Vale. The second vineyard is a couple of kilometres south of Willunga town. The third vineyard is in the Sellicks foothills further South.
Winemaking: All three Mataro batches received different treatment in the winery. The Blewitt Springs Mataro was destemmed and then cold soaked for 2 days pre-ferment to extract vibrant colour. The Willunga ferment was fermented with 50% as whole bunches of grapes. The Sellicks portion was destemmed and fermented as whole berries. All batches were matured in neutral French oak before blending and bottling in July 2019. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production: 180 dozen produced under screwcap.
[TASTING NOTE PDF LINK/BUTTON]
Accolades:
92 points Nick Stock JamesSuckling.com
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Emergent Mataro 2018.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($31.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
Variety: Mataro from three vineyards running the length of McLaren Vale.
Summary: A beautiful mix of savoury characters and bright red fruits. Complexity builds in the glass.
Tasting Note: The aromatics of this wine jump out the glass with sage, cherry spice and fresh almonds. Powdery tannins provide a canvas for the flavours that wash across the medium bodied palate, and bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and vibrant. Our 2018 Mataro has a very long finish and persistent drive with an elegant fruit profile.
Goes With Food: Very food friendly due to its savoury characters – try with duck rillettes and fresh crusty bread. (We love Little Acre Foods Duck Rillettes!)
Goes With Cheese: An aged Pecorino would match the body of the wine and complement it’s acidity and spiciness.
Goes With Music: Vance Joy – Lay It On Me
Goes With Life: When the inspiration strikes to try something a little left of centre.
Serve At: 16-18 degrees Celsius. Unfined & unfiltered so some sediment may remain - we recommend decanting.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2030.
Vineyard: Sourced from three vineyards. The first is in Blewitt Springs, the climatically coolest part of the Vale. The second vineyard is a couple of kilometres south of Willunga town. The third vineyard is in the Sellicks foothills further South.
Winemaking: All three Mataro batches received different treatment in the winery. The Blewitt Springs Mataro was destemmed and then cold soaked for 2 days pre-ferment to extract vibrant colour. The Willunga ferment was fermented with 50% as whole bunches of grapes. The Sellicks portion was destemmed and fermented as whole berries. All batches were matured in neutral French oak before blending and bottling in July 2019. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production: 180 dozen produced under screwcap.
[TASTING NOTE PDF LINK/BUTTON]
Accolades:
92 points Nick Stock JamesSuckling.com
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Emergent Mataro 2018.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($31.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Rob works his magic on the pristine fruit from exquisite 50 year old Blewitt Springs vines. Pir Chenin Blanc 2020 shows unctuous texture, complex layered flavours and supreme food friendliness thanks to Rob's restrained, clever winemaking.
Variety: Chenin Blanc from the Blewitt Springs district of McLaren Vale.
Summary: This wine displays a wonderful balance of fresh acidity and textural interest from fermentation in both oak and tank. Ripe stone fruit characters flow seamlessly across the palate.
Tasting Note: White peach, red apple and flint show on the aroma with cinnamon adding complexity. The palate is a textural delight with a great depth of flavour – time on ferment lees has provided an attractive creamy character to the wine. Use of French oak provides a touch of astringency on the finish. A rounded and complete wine, crisp acidity cleans the finish and provides great length.
Goes With Food: A rich baked salmon dish with green herb sauce would complement the palate roundness of this wine.
Goes With Cheese: A triple cream Camembert will match the body of this wine and complement its flinty aspects.
Goes With Music: Future Islands – Seasons (Waiting On You)
Goes With Life: A great way to finish off a flight of white wines before moving on to the reds, but the body of this wine gives it tremendous versatility.
Serve At: 10-12 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now but will continue evolving through to 2030.
Vineyard: The fruit is from 50-year-old vines in a single vineyard in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale owned by the Brini family. This site is cooler than the rest of the Vale making it an ideal sub-region for white varietals so that they can retain more of their natural acidity.
Winemaking: The fruit was separated in to two different ferments – one in tank, the other in third-use French oak barriques. The oak portion was fermented using wild yeasts and kept on ferment lees unsulphured with weekly battonage for four months. The two portions were blended just prior to bottling in October 2020.
Production: 400 6-packs produced under screwcap.
Accolades: Silver Medal and Top of Class – 2020 McLaren Vale Wine Show
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Pir Chenin Blanc 2020.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($27) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
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