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Wine Heroes

This page is dedicated to our wine heroes – the wines, winery, winemakers that have shaped our vinous journey over the past 20 years.
We followed, bought and collected all the wines that feature on this page for many years and their quality vintage upon vintage is without question.
In short, these are the wines we drink, and we hope you will love them as much as we do.

Wine Heroes

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  • 2022 ‘Origin’ Pinot Noir, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2022 ‘Origin’ Pinot Noir, Saint Clair

    £2075

    Dark garnet colour in the glass with aromas layered with blueberry and blackcurrant fruits, intermingled with dark chocolate aromas. The palate is concentrated and fruit-driven with ripe red berries and dark fruits filling the senses. Delicate tannin and savoury oak notes to finish. Well-matched with garlic and rosemary lamb rack with a side of fresh lettuce and pistachio salad.

    Drinking beautifully now, this wine can be enjoyed young or with careful cellaring will mature into a more complex wine that can be enjoyed for the next three years.

    The fruit is sourced from a number of specifically chosen low cropping vineyards from the Southern Valleys region of the Wairau Plain. The vines are grown in very clay-rich, vigour moderating soils. Each vineyard is closely monitored and tasted to determine when the flavours were at their optimum and harvested in the cool of the morning.

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  • 2018 The Derelict Vineyard Grenache, d’Arenberg Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2018 The Derelict Vineyard Grenache, d’Arenberg

    £2095

    2018 was an exceptional year for Grenache in the McLaren Vale. An absolute abundance of fruit on the nose, with all the classics, blueberry, plum, liquorice, spice and earth. The palate too is full of presence. Juicy and generous but with a seam of crunchy tannin and lively acid that add structure and fresh punch to the wine. All of these big rich fruits are wrapped around a graphite almost ferrous like framework. Immediately drinkable but undoubtedly a Grenache built for time. If enjoying young be sure to decant or at a minimum allow it to breath in the glass. Your patience will reward you.

    The name of the wine is inspired by the time in the 1980s and early 90s when Grenache was considered unfashionable, Chester acquired many old bush vine, overgrown and abandoned vineyards. These vineyards still have a slightly dishevelled appearance, but they are back producing very low yields of exceptional fruit.

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  • 2021 Riesling, Skillogalee Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Riesling, Skillogalee

    £2100

    The grapes for this dry Riesling are grown on low-yielding vines, along the contours on the highest slopes of the Skillogalee Estate at about 500 metres above sea level.

    In the glass the nose has a perfumed lift of jasmine, orange blossom spice and lemon zest. The palate is full-flavoured with excellent fruit concentration and texture. Flavours of lemon, lime zest and pith prevail, with hints of citrus spice and succulent, juicy acidity emerging thereafter. Structurally, this wine has impressive length, a lively natural acid backbone and a mouth-wateringly powerful finish.

    Drink now with fish, seafood or white meat dishes, or cellar for 5 years or more.

    With cool and dry weather, the 2021 vintage in the Clare Valley produced lovely fruit with excellent varietal character and natural acidity. The cool growing season was preceded by late-winter and early-spring rains which allowed for good spring growth on the vines. This was followed by below average rainfall and dry conditions for the remainder of the season, resulting in a vintage that produced beautiful and classic Clare wines with smaller bunches and grapes therefore reducing Riesling yield.

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  • 2012 Fiano, Chalmers Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2012 Fiano, Chalmers

    £2200

    The high acid, bold flavoured Campanian grape Fiano has really found it’s second home in Australia, especially in Heathcote where it regularly outshines the red grapes on the same site in a traditional red-wine growing region. Chalmers have a museum of Fiano wines dating back over a decade with even the older wines still singing. The 2012 Chalmers Fiano is no exception, melding delicate stone fruits and almond blossom with savoury lees contact characters and minerality, displaying texture and power in the mouth whilst retaining a fine, fresh finish.

    Chalmers Fiano is whole bunch pressed and fermented on solids, 10% in old French oak barriques, 90% in stainless steel tanks without yeast addition. The temperature of fermentation is limited to 15 degrees. After fermentation is finished the wine rests on lees in tank for 6 – 9 months before being bottled.  The Fiano is then aged in bottle for a further 24 months before release allowing the wine to develop in richness and texture.

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  • 2021 ‘Hen & Chicken’ Chardonnay, Larry Cherubino Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 ‘Hen & Chicken’ Chardonnay, Larry Cherubino

    £2200

    The Ad Hoc range of wines from Larry Cherubino is designed to be your ‘go-to’ wines – dependable, high quality and fit for any occasion.  This 2021 Chardonnay is an inviting and creamy wine with green apple, melon and citrus aromas enhanced by buttered brioche and a lovely freshness on the finish.   The fruit was handpicked, whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts and aged in new two year old French oak prior to bottling.

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  • 2020 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, Cape Mentelle Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2020 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, Cape Mentelle

    £2200

    Cape Mentelle has a rich history of exceptional quality and consistency with Cabernet Sauvignon, from a pioneering producer in Margaret River in the early 1970s to the benchmark winery it is today.
    This 2020 Margaret River series Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic representation of the site selection with perfumed varietal notes underpinned by elegant structure and finesse. This vibrant wine embraces the playful side of Cabernet, inviting you in with an immediate drinkability that is backed by pedigree and longevity.

    In the glass, the bright red berries are on the forefront nicely balanced with fine tannins, complete with blueberries and cranberries suggesting warmth and comfort. A classic example of Margaret River Cabernet made to enhance fruit purity, with elegance and approachable structure.

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  • 2017 Shiraz ‘Watervale Single Vineyard’, Jim Barry Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2017 Shiraz ‘Watervale Single Vineyard’, Jim Barry

    £2250

    This 2017 Shiraz comes from a single-vineyard sourced from the Florita vineyard in Watervale.  The Shiraz block is planted on a gentle northwest facing slope that takes full advantage of Clare Valley climate.

    It is an opulent wine with expressive aromas of rich, bright red fruits that are supported by classic Clare Valley spice. Beautifully structured with fine savoury tannins and terrific length of vibrant fruit on the palate.  This is not your typical Clare Valley Shiraz!   The opulent nature of the wine could be due to winemaking that saw one-third of the grapes being co-fermented with 15% of whole bunch fruit to impart complexity and an aromatic lift to the wine.   The wine then went through malolactic fermentation (a process where tart malic acid in wine converts to softer, creamier lactic acid) before being transferred to oak barrels for 12 months of ageing.

    A terrific mouthful of wine!

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  • 2021 Grenache, Seppeltsfield Red Wine

    2021 Grenache, Seppeltsfield

    £2295

    The 2021 Barossa Grenache is made in a ‘joven’ style – released young and without any oak maturation. The Grenache was vinified through the historic 1888 Gravity Cellar – which is highly regarded for its small batch format and gentle maceration.

    The grapes were sourced from Seppeltsfields iconic bush vine Great Terraced Vineyard in the the Barossa.

    In the glass it is lively, medium crimson with pink hues. Lifted aromas of rosewater and Turkish delight with a strawberry note. Sweet fruited on the palate with a dried herb savoury edge, talcy acidity and plum skin tannins.

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  • 2021 Hunter Valley Semillon, Brokenwood Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Hunter Valley Semillon, Brokenwood

    £2295

    Established in 1970 by Tony Albert, John Beeston and wine critic James Halliday, Brokenwod has evolved from a weekend venture for hobby winemakers into one of the Hunter’s leading estates renowned for producing some of Australia’s most long-lived Semillons.

    Brilliant water-like colour with a faint greenish tinge to the edges. The nose displays punchy aromas of lime zest, lemon and Granny Smith apple followed by some flinty mineral notes. Crunchy lime and green apple fruits are underpinned by crisp, lemony acidity with wet steel and mineral characters flowing onto the zesty aftertaste.

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  • 2019 Cricket Pitch Red, Brokenwood Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2019 Cricket Pitch Red, Brokenwood

    £2295

    The Cricket Pitch wines are the perfect introduction to the wines of the iconic hunter valley winery, Brokenwood.

    The 2019 Cricket Pitch Red is a multi-regional blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz sourced from premium regions including Beechworth, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra.

    In the glass it has a beautiful deep colour with youthful tints, the aromas open with juicy berry fruits and subtle spices.  The palate is juicy and fruit driven with fine long tannins.  All in all a great glass of wine and although it is made as a drink-now style, it always benefits from a few extra years in bottle.

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  • 2020 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Barrique’, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2020 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Barrique’, Saint Clair

    £2300

    The wine displays complex aromas of green coffee bean, vanilla pod and maple syrup are complemented by notes of wildflowers, crushed herbs and just a hint of gunflint. The palate is rich and unctuous with layers of ripe papaya, nectarine, cocoa powder and toasted hazelnut with hints of red berry and cassis.

    The grapes come from three rows of vines in one of Saint Clair’s best vineyards in the lower Wairau sub-region of Marlborough. The vineyard soils are nutrient-rich and free draining. The maritime climate and close proximity to the sea create a high diurnal temperature difference resulting in a long ripening period, concentrating the fruit flavours while retaining refreshing acidity. The fruit is left to hang a week longer than the fruit for Saint Clair’s traditional Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are hand-harvested, with only the highest quality bunches being selected.

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  • 2019 Viña Alberdi Reserva, La Rioja Alta Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2019 Viña Alberdi Reserva, La Rioja Alta

    £2300

    The 2019 Viña Alberdi Reserva is 100% Tempranillo from vineyards that are 40 years old and at a high altitude of 500-600 metres above sea level.

    This vintage stands out for its intense ripe red fruit aromas like strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants complemented by pleasantly sweet spicy notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The palate is round, with lively freshness at the start and sweet, supple tannins, leading to a long, fruity and balsamic finish, so characteristic of Viña Alberdi.

    This wine stands out for its food-pairing versatility. It is the ideal companion to appetizers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pasta and creams, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.

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  • 2021 Block 3 Sauvignon Blanc ’43 Degrees’, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Block 3 Sauvignon Blanc ’43 Degrees’, Saint Clair

    £2375

    This Sauvignon Blanc is distinctively Marlborough with green notes of gooseberry, nettle and blackcurrant bud. The fresh, vibrant palate layers blackcurrant with tropical passion fruit, white peach and a mineral, slightly salty richness which leads to a long, lingering finish.

    The fruit was sourced from the fertile, deep, free-draining silt-loam soils of the lower Wairau Valley. The rows are planted north-east to south-west at a 43-degree angle rather than the typical north to south. This leads to slightly greener characters in grapes on the south facing side and more tropical characters in grapes on the north-facing side. The resulting wine is multi-dimensional and complex. The site is cooler than some other areas of the valley and hence slower to ripen. The distinguishing flavour is of crushed herbs – which is one often associated with the coastal Awatere region. Careful monitoring during ripening and harvesting in the cool of the evening ensures fruit of maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

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  • 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Pioneer Block 1 Foundation, Saint Clair Wine Republic Heros White Wine

    2021 Sauvignon Blanc Pioneer Block 1 Foundation, Saint Clair

    £2395

    This Sauvignon Blanc is a powerful and intense wine with an aromatic nose of white currant, capsicum and fragrant tropical fruit with a hint of thyme. Luscious ripe blackcurrant and lime flavours envelop the palate, which has a chalky texture. This is a pure and focussed Sauvignon Blanc with a long, lingering finish.  Drinking beautifully now and best enjoyed over the next two to five years.

    This vineyard site has been the foundation for some of Saint Clair’s finest wines. This is the vineyard where Saint Clair Family Estate first discovered the fruit to make their flagship Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard in the lower Wairau Valley. The Block One site was previously part of the Wairau flood plain and is renowned for its deep, highly fertile, free-draining soils, which have been built up over time and help to produce the intensity of flavour in the resulting wine. The vineyard has a flat profile and is situated approximately three metres above sea level. It is now protected from flooding by a stopbank. Located in a slightly cooler site than the majority of the Marlborough Valley, the vines have a slower annual ripening period. The fruit is carefully monitored during the ripening stage and is harvested during the cooler evenings, at maximum flavour maturity and physiological ripeness.

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  • 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Xanadu Wine Republic Heros Red Wine

    2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Xanadu

    £2495

    This incredible wine displays vibrant, characteristic Cabernet aromas of cassis, mulberries, and blue fruits entwined with hints of mocha, nori, and potpourri.

    Full-bodied yet refined, the generous palate offers a core of inky berry fruits; boysenberry, blackcurrants and Satsuma plums. Dense and well-structured, the palate is layered with these dark fleshy fruit characteristics and ripe tannins which culminate through to a persistent Cabernet finish

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