From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Affinity 2020 Grenache Mourvèdre Shiraz is a key flagstone wine for us. We are known for our Grenache and Mataro, and our Affinity is a perfect example of complex, delicious wine that is much greater than the sum of it's premium parts.
Meet the Affinity
Variety: A 40/35/25 blend of McLaren Vale Grenache, Mourvèdre and Shiraz.
Summary: A harmonious blend of the varieties from three distinct regions of the Vale produces a vibrant, complex, and layered style of wine.
Tasting Note: Vibrant purple in the glass. Intense fruit driven aromatics of ripe cherry, vanilla pod, exotic spice and aniseed. The palate shows generosity of flavour without being thick or cloying – red berries are matched by savoury alpine herbs and cedar. The
mouthfeel is rounded but with supportive tannins that open up the food matches for this wine.
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 winning 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 parcels that make up this wine were fermented and aged separately before blending. The Grenache and Shiraz were both destemmed with whole berries
fermented to dryness. The Mourvèdre parcel was fermented with 40% whole bunches.
The wine was then matured for nine months in neutral French puncheons and hogsheads prior to bottling in December 2020.
Unfined & unfiltered.
Vegan.
Low sulphur.
ABV%: 14.2%
Production: 120 dozen produced under screwcap.
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Affinity 2020 Grenache Mourvèdre Shiraz.
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Rare in Australia, bold and aromatic, Sagrantino stole our hearts when we discovered 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.
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 2018.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($31.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $70.00 /Per Bottle
Aphelion began with Grenache.
Our focus is Grenache.
Our future is Grenache.
Our original "Grenache project" has evolved.
Presenting three exceptional McLaren Vale Single Vineyard wines.
Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.
Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.
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The Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 is sourced from the upper tank block owned by the Brini family in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale.
This block has been a staple of Aphelion from our first vintage and forms the backbone of the Confluence Grenache.
The roundest and most intense wine in the range, dark plum fruits dominate with earth and forest floor characters to create a wine of depth and richness. Sandy based loam soils provide fruit that gives intensity and a brooding edge.
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Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2022. Psst...Like the sound of our exclusive pre-sale access, Members pricing ($63) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
The Aphelion Confluence 2022 Grenache is a key flagstone wine for us.
It's been with us from the very beginning.
We are Grenache specialists 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.
Meet the Confluence
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 2035.
Unfined & unfiltered.
Vegan.
Low sulphur.
ABV%: 14.2%
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Confluence 2022 Grenache.
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Emergent Mataro 2019 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 2019 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.
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 December 2020.
Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production: 85 dozen produced under screwcap.
Accolades:
94 points Ned Goodwin – 2022 Halliday Wine Companion
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Emergent Mataro 2019.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($31.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $70.00 /Per Bottle
Aphelion began with Grenache.
Our focus is Grenache.
Our future is Grenache.
Our original "Grenache project" has evolved.
Presenting three exceptional McLaren Vale Single Vineyard wines.
Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.
Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.
_______________________________________________________
Sourced from Blocks 111-113 at the highest elevation of the Hickinbotham vineyard owned by Yangarra in Clarendon, close to the Adelaide Hills.
A southerly aspect provides respite from the hot afternoon sun during ripening ensuring that this fruit is the last Grenache harvested. This produces a very well developed flavour profile.
The highest altitude wine in the range with vibrancy and crisp acid drive, red fruits mingle with herbal briar characters to create a wine of freshness and depth.
Lifted aromatics of cranberry, bramble, and cherry. Herbal characters abound on the palate, with rosehip, just-ripe strawberry, and blood orange flavours. A rasp of light tannin provides good length and a savoury finish.
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Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Hickinbotham Single Vineyard Grenache 2022. Psst...Like the sound of our exclusive pre-sale access, Members pricing ($63) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $100.00 /Per Bottle
Aphelion's Rapture.
Our world class Grenache. Produced right here in McLaren Vale.
The pinnacle of Aphelion's Grenache-focused winemaking.
2022 was an outstanding vintage so a thrilling release.
Extremely limited production.
Tasting Note:
A vibrant purple hue in the glass. Brooding but fleshy aromatics are laced with an herbal spice note. Tannins are prominent but don’t dominate – cherry pip flavours wash over the mid palate. A savoury finish with an immense length and persistence. This wine will blossom with some bottle age.
Goes With Food: Perfect with duck rillettes and crunchy sourdough bread.
Goes With Cheese: An intense washed rind cheese such as Epoisses will match the intensity and savoury aspect of this Grenache well.
Goes With Music: Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
Goes With Life: When you’re looking to impress at a wine dinner you won’t
go wrong pulling this out.
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Rapture 2022.
Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($90) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $930.00
Presenting our latest four exceptional McLaren Vale Reserve Grenache wines.
Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.
Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.
Extremely limited production.
A single pack to sample, taste and compare all four of our new wines in one Reserve Grenache Mixed Pack.
This is the best way for you to discover the breadth of flavour possible from Grenache in McLaren Vale.
Each six pack includes:
3 x bottles Rapture Grenache 2022 @ $100
3 x bottles Wait Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 @ $70
3 x bottles Hickinbotham Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 @ $70
$930.
About The Wines
Rapture Grenache 2022 Rapture is the best of vintage. The pinnacle of what we can produce with Grenache.
Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 The roundest and most intense wine in the range, dark plum fruits dominate with earth and forest floor characters to create a wine of depth and richness. Sandy based loam soils provide fruit that gives intensity and a brooding edge.
Wait Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 The most structural and savoury wine in the range, brooding in character with earth and briary characters dominating the palate.
Hickinbotham Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 The lightest and most aromatic wine in the range, red fruits mingle with herbal briar characters to create a wine of freshness and depth.
From $210.00
Presenting three exceptional McLaren Vale Single Vineyard wines.
Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.
Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.
Extremely limited production.
A single pack to sample, taste and compare all three of our new wines in one Single Vineyard Grenache Mixed Pack.
This is the best way for you to discover the breadth of flavour possible from Grenache in McLaren Vale.
Each six pack includes:
2 x bottles Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 $70
2 x bottles Wait Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 $70
2 x bottles Hickinbotham Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 $70
$420.
(NB: A three pack contains half these amounts, and a 12 pack contains double these amounts)
About The Wines
Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 The roundest and most intense wine in the range, dark plum fruits dominate with earth and forest floor characters to create a wine of depth and richness. Sandy based loam soils provide fruit that gives intensity and a brooding edge.
Wait Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 The most structural and savoury wine in the range, brooding in character with earth and briary characters dominating the palate.
Hickinbotham Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 The lightest and most aromatic wine in the range, red fruits mingle with herbal briar characters to create a wine of freshness and depth.
Select between a 3 bottle, a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Single Vineyard Grenache Mixed Pack
From $38.00 /Per Bottle
Tendance Shiraz 2019 is our Aphelion take on the workhorse of McLaren Vale - Shiraz.
Tending more Rhone in style, Rob seeks out elegance, aromatics, spice and savouriness.
Variety:
Shiraz from two bordering vineyards on McMurtrie Road in the heart of McLaren Vale.
Summary:
A fruit forward wine with good structure and balance showing a finesse that McLaren Vale Shiraz rarely displays.
Tasting Note:
Inky purple with a deep core, violets, brambles and mulberries combine with wood spice on the nose and palate. Savoury notes of olive, cracked coffee, cedar and green herbs add complexity. The wine displays good length on the palate and a supple texture in its medium to full bodied frame.
Goes With Food:
The structure of the wine will work well with red meat dishes – venison and roasted vegetables would be a particularly good match.
Goes With Cheese:
An aged gouda (especially a lightly smoked version) will complement both the fruity and savoury aspects of this Shiraz.
Goes With Music:
Radiohead – Pyramid Song.
Goes With Life:
Bring this one out when main course is served – it won’t shy away from medium to full bodied dishes.
Serve At:
18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink:
Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2035.
Vineyard:
Single cordon trellising and careful hand pruning resulted in low yields and intense flavour in the fruit.
Winemaking:
The two vineyards were picked a week apart in mid-March. The first vineyard’s fruit was destemmed and fermented to dryness before being gently pressed and sent to neutral French oak to mature. The second vineyard was fermented in two batches; one was pressed to a brand-new Dominique Laurent French oak 600L puncheon, the second was kept on skins for four months to impart savoury complexity before pressing to large format (600L) French oak. The parcels were blended prior to bottling in November 2019.
Unfined, unfiltered, vegan, low sulphur.
Production:
300 dozen produced under screwcap.
Accolades:
92 points Nick Stock JamesSuckling.com
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Tendance Shiraz 2019. Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($32.50) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way..
From $70.00 /Per Bottle
Aphelion began with Grenache.
Our focus is Grenache.
Our future is Grenache.
Our original "Grenache project" has evolved.
Presenting three exceptional McLaren Vale Single Vineyard wines.
Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.
Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.
_______________________________________________________
The Wait Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 is sourced from the Top Bush block owned by the Wait family in the northeast corner of the Blewitt Springs area of McLaren Vale.
Planted in the mid 1940’s, this block is dry grown and provides small berries with intense flavour and prominent tannin.
The most structural and savoury wine in the range, brooding in character with earth and briary characters dominating the palate.
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Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Wait Single Vineyard Grenache 2022. Psst...Like the sound of our exclusive pre-sale access, Members pricing ($63) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...
From $28.00 /Per Bottle
The Welkin Grenache By Aphelion 2022 is part of our special range of vibrant, early release, ready to enjoy, but delightfully complex wines.
We like to call the Welkin Grenache "furiously aromatic".
It fairly leaps out of the glass at you!
Delicately hand picked from a 20 year old Grenache vineyard towards the sea in Whites Valley.
Revel in this wine's light body, heady spiciness and juicy acidity.
Meet Welkin Grenache
Tasting Note: Beautifully intense purple colour. Pure fruited aromas of redcurrant and cinnamon follow through on to the palate with fresh acidity keeping the wine lively and
vibrant. A small percentage of whole bunch fermentation in the wine adds a savoury element and herbal notes. The Welkin Grenache is a light bodied wine that works very well in an aperitivo setting.
Goes With Food: Perfect with light tapas or light to medium bodied cuisine.
Goes With Cheese: Fresh chevre matches this wine’s youthful vibrancy.
Goes With Music: Jake Bugg – Lightning Bolt.
Goes With Life: A great wine to kick off with, it’s light body keeps the drinkability factor high.
Unfiltered
Vegan
Serve At: 16-18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now whilst it retains it’s youthful vibrancy but will drink well over the next 5 – 8 years.
ABV%: 13%
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Welkin Grenache by Aphelion 2022.
From $28.00 /Per Bottle
Devil by name, but not by nature.
Beautifully intense purple in colour with aromatics that jump out of the glass.
Pure fruited aromas of redcurrant and spicy plum follow through on to the palate with fresh acidity keeping the wine lively and vibrant.
A slight rasp of powdery tannin mouth-grip adds a savoury element and helps the flavours go on and on.
Dance with the devil and come out the winner with the Welkin Nero d'Avola by Aphelion 2022.
Meet the Welkin Nero
Tasting Note: Beautifully intense purple colour with aromatics that jump out of the glass. Pure fruited aromas of redcurrant and spicy plum follow through on to the palate with fresh acidity keeping the wine lively and vibrant. A slight rasp of powdery tannin a herbal element provide a good palate length.
Goes With Food: Roasted eggplant with orecchiette pasta..
Goes With Cheese: Fetta with olive oil and whole peppercorns match the energy of this wine’s palate.
Goes With Music: The Killers - Bones.
Goes With Life: Fruit driven and energetic, chilled down a little this wine is a perfect choice when the weather turns warm.
Unfiltered & Unfined
Vegan
Serve At: 16-18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now whilst it retains its youthful vibrancy but will drink well over the next 4 – 6 years.
ABV%: 13.2%
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Welkin Nero d'Avola by Aphelion 2022.
From $28.00 /Per Bottle
Devil by name, but not by nature.
Beautifully intense purple in colour with aromatics that jump out of the glass.
Pure fruited aromas of redcurrant and spicy plum follow through on to the palate with fresh acidity keeping the wine lively and vibrant.
A slight rasp of powdery tannin mouth-grip adds a savoury element and helps the flavours go on and on.
Dance with the devil and come out the winner with the Welkin Nero d'Avola by Aphelion 2023.
Meet the Welkin Nero
Tasting Note: Beautifully intense purple colour with aromatics that jump out of the glass. Pure fruited aromas of redcurrant and spicy plum follow through on to the palate with fresh acidity keeping the wine lively and vibrant. A slight rasp of powdery tannin a herbal element provide a good palate length.
Goes With Food: Roasted eggplant with orecchiette pasta..
Goes With Cheese: Fetta with olive oil and whole peppercorns match the energy of this wine’s palate.
Goes With Music: The Killers - Bones.
Goes With Life: Fruit driven and energetic, chilled down a little this wine is a perfect choice when the weather turns warm.
Unfiltered & Unfined
Vegan
Serve At: 16-18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now whilst it retains its youthful vibrancy but will drink well over the next 4 – 6 years.
ABV%: 13.2%
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Welkin Nero d'Avola by Aphelion 2023.
From $28.00 /Per Bottle
Truly unique.
The only one of it's kind (that we are aware of).
Early release Sagrantino (60%) to capture the vibrant violet and blueberry aromas.
Spicy, savoury Mataro to fill in between the tannin and acid of the Sagrantino.
Result?
Bright, fresh, pretty aromatics and juicy purple & blue fruit with a fair whack of nuanced spice followed by that cheek drying tannin that we love Sagrantino for.
Goes With Food: Slow roasted lamb shoulder balances with the tannin in
the wine.
Goes With Cheese: Aged Parmesan complements the spicy characters
of the wine.
Goes With Music: Audioslave - Cochise.
Goes With Life: Bring this one out when the main course is served – BYO
it to your favourite Italian restaurant and you’ll be rewarded!
Serve At: 16-18 degrees Celsius.
When to Drink: Ready to drink now but will soften over the next few years
and become even more approachable.
Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Welkin Sagrantino Mataro by Aphelion 2020.
